Matthew 22: Invitation, Allegiance & Priority

MATTHEW 22 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-14   WEDDING BANQUET PARABLE → Invitation dynamics
    │   ├─► King prepares feast for son
    │   ├─► First invitees refuse, attack servants
    │   ├─► King destroys murderers, burns city
    │   └─► Invites anyone from streets
    │       Guest without wedding clothes ejected
    │       │
    │       └─► MANY INVITED, FEW CHOSEN
    │
    ├─ vv. 15-22  CAESAR'S TAX → Dual allegiance test
    │   ├─► Pharisees + Herodians trap attempt
    │   ├─► "Pay tax to Caesar or not?"
    │   ├─► Jesus: "Show me coin"
    │   └─► "Give Caesar what's Caesar's,
    │        God what's God's"
    │       │
    │       └─► DUAL CITIZENSHIP RESOLVED
    │
    ├─ vv. 23-33  RESURRECTION QUESTION → Category error exposed
    │   ├─► Sadducees: "Whose wife at resurrection?"
    │   ├─► Seven brothers married same woman
    │   ├─► Jesus: "You don't know Scriptures or God's power"
    │   └─► "At resurrection, like angels—
    │        not marrying"
    │       "God of living, not dead"
    │       │
    │       └─► EARTHLY CATEGORIES DON'T APPLY
    │
    ├─ vv. 34-40  GREATEST COMMANDMENT → Priority hierarchy
    │   ├─► Pharisee expert tests Jesus
    │   ├─► "Which greatest commandment?"
    │   ├─► Jesus: "Love God with all..."
    │   └─► "Love neighbor as self"
    │       "All Law and Prophets hang on these two"
    │       │
    │       └─► VERTICAL + HORIZONTAL LOVE
    │
    └─ vv. 41-46  JESUS' QUESTION → Identity revelation
        ├─► "Whose son is Messiah?"
        ├─► Pharisees: "David's"
        ├─► Jesus: "Then why does David call him 'Lord'?"
        └─► No one could answer
            From that day: no more questions
            │
            └─► MESSIAH > DAVIDIC CATEGORIES

CHAPTER 21 ENDS:
    │
    └─► TENANTS PARABLE (21:33-46)
        │
        └─► Kingdom taken from leaders
            Given to fruit-bearing people
            Leaders know He speaks of them
            Want to arrest, fear crowd
            │
            CHAPTER 22 OPENS:
            │
            └─► WEDDING FEAST PARABLE
                │
                └─► Same theme: rejection
                    │
                    ├─ Invited guests REFUSE
                    ├─ Kill messengers
                    └─► Replaced by street people
                        │
                        BUT:
                        │
                        └─► Even "in" people can be "out"
                            Wedding garment required
                            │
                            "Many invited, few chosen"

THE TRAP SEQUENCE:
    │
    ├─ PHARISEES + HERODIANS (vv. 15-22)
    │   └─► Political trap: Caesar's tax
    │       │
    │       ├─ Say "Yes" → Lose Jewish support
    │       └─► Say "No" → Charge with treason
    │           │
    │           Jesus' answer: Transcends trap
    │           "Give both Caesar and God their due"
    │
    ├─ SADDUCEES (vv. 23-33)
    │   └─► Theological trap: Resurrection absurdity
    │       │
    │       Present ridiculous scenario
    │       (Seven brothers, one wife)
    │       │
    │       Jesus' answer: Exposes ignorance
    │       "You don't understand Scripture or power"
    │       │
    │       God of Abraham = God of LIVING
    │
    └─► PHARISEES (vv. 34-40)
        └─► Legal trap: Rank commandments
            │
            613 commands in Torah
            Which is GREATEST?
            │
            Jesus' answer: Two-tier hierarchy
            │
            ├─ First: Love God (vertical)
            └─► Second: Love neighbor (horizontal)
                │
                "All Law hangs on these"

THE REVERSAL: JESUS QUESTIONS THEM
    │
    └─► vv. 41-46: JESUS ASKS
        │
        └─► "Whose son is the Messiah?"
            │
            ├─ They answer: "David's son"
            │   └─► Correct... but incomplete
            │
            └─► Jesus: "Then why David call him 'Lord'?"
                │
                Psalm 110:1:
                "The LORD said to my Lord:
                 'Sit at my right hand...'"
                │
                └─► If Messiah is David's SON,
                    why does David call him LORD?
                    │
                    ├─ SON = descendant, inferior
                    └─► LORD = superior, divine
                        │
                        ANSWER: Messiah is both
                        │
                        └─► Fully human (David's son)
                            Fully divine (David's Lord)
                            │
                            NO ONE could answer
                            │
                            From that day:
                            "No one dared ask any more questions"

THE THREAD: WHAT DO YOU OWE?
    │
    ├─ TO KING (vv. 1-14)
    │   └─► Wedding feast invitation
    │       │
    │       ├─ Owe: RESPONSE to invitation
    │       └─► Consequence: Rejection = judgment
    │           Acceptance = must wear proper garment
    │           │
    │           → Can't ignore OR presume
    │
    ├─ TO CAESAR (vv. 15-22)
    │   └─► Imperial tax
    │       │
    │       └─► Owe: What bears Caesar's image
    │           (The coin)
    │           │
    │           → Civil obligations valid
    │
    ├─ TO GOD (vv. 15-22)
    │   └─► Everything that bears God's image
    │       │
    │       └─► Humans bear God's image (Gen 1:27)
    │           │
    │           → Give YOURSELF to God
    │             Not just taxes/tithes
    │
    ├─ TO GOD (vv. 34-40)
    │   └─► Greatest commandment
    │       │
    │       └─► Owe: Total love
    │           │
    │           ├─ Heart (affection)
    │           ├─ Soul (will)
    │           └─► Mind (thought)
    │               │
    │               → Complete devotion
    │
    └─► TO NEIGHBOR (vv. 34-40)
        │
        └─► Second commandment
            │
            └─► Owe: Love as self
                │
                → Horizontal flows from vertical

THE SETUP (vv. 1-2)
    │
    └─► "Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:
         'The kingdom of heaven is like a king
         who prepared a wedding banquet for his son'"
        │
        └─► Continuity: "again in parables"
            │
            ├─ Ch 21: Two sons, Wicked tenants
            └─► Ch 22: Wedding feast
                │
                Same audience: chief priests, Pharisees
                │
                → Escalating warnings

"WEDDING BANQUET" (γάμος)
    │
    └─► Royal wedding = major event
        │
        ├─ For KING'S SON
        │   └─► Most important celebration
        │       Greatest honor to attend
        │
        └─► In Jewish context:
            │
            └─► Messianic banquet imagery
                │
                Isa 25:6: "LORD... will prepare
                          a feast of rich food for all peoples"
                │
                Luke 14:16-24: Similar parable
                (Great banquet)
                │
                Rev 19:9: "Wedding supper of the Lamb"
                │
                → Kingdom = feast
                  Messiah = bridegroom

SERVANTS SENT (v. 3)
    │
    └─► "He sent his servants to those
         who had been INVITED to the banquet
         to tell them to come,
         but they REFUSED to come"
        │
        └─► Already invited (κεκλημένους)
            │
            └─► Perfect tense: previously invited
                Standing invitation
                │
                NOT: first-time offer
                IS: Follow-up, "Dinner's ready"
                │
                → Israel = pre-invited
                  Through covenant
                  Through prophets
                  │
                  Now: final call
                  │
                  BUT: "They refused" (οὐκ ἤθελον)
                       │
                       → Willful rejection
                         Not: "couldn't come"
                         IS: "wouldn't come"

SECOND ATTEMPT (vv. 4-5)
    │
    └─► "Then he sent some more servants and said,
         'Tell those who have been invited
         that I have prepared my dinner:
         My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered,
         and everything is ready.
         Come to the wedding banquet.'

         But they paid no attention
         and went off—
         one to his field, another to his business"
        │
        └─► King's persistence:
            │
            ├─ Sends MORE servants
            ├─ Emphasizes: "EVERYTHING ready"
            │   │
            │   └─► ἕτοιμα (hetoima) — "ready"
            │       │
            │       Oxen butchered
            │       Feast prepared
            │       │
            │       → No excuse left
            │         Total preparation
            │
            └─► Their response: "Paid no attention"
                │
                ἀμελήσαντες (amelēsantes)
                │
                └─► "Neglected, disregarded, treated as nothing"
                    │
                    Not: hostile rejection (yet)
                    IS: Indifference
                    │
                    "One to field, another to business"
                    │
                    → Priorities elsewhere
                      Too busy for king's feast
                      │
                      Luke 14:18-20: Similar excuses
                      "I have bought field..."
                      "I have bought oxen..."
                      "I just got married..."
                      │
                      → THEIR concerns > KING'S invitation

ESCALATION TO VIOLENCE (v. 6)
    │
    └─► "The rest seized his servants,
         mistreated them and killed them"
        │
        └─► From indifference to MURDER
            │
            ├─ Some: ignored invitation
            └─► Others: attacked messengers
                │
                Parallel to 21:35-36:
                Tenants beat, killed servants
                │
                → Same pattern:
                  Prophets sent
                  Prophets rejected
                  Prophets killed

WRATH UNLEASHED (v. 7)
    │
    └─► "The king was enraged.
         He sent his army and destroyed those murderers
         and burned their city"
        │
        └─► ὠργίσθη (ōrgisthē) — "was angry, enraged"
            │
            → Righteous anger
              │
              ├─ Servants killed
              ├─- Invitation scorned
              └─► Honor of son insulted
                  │
                  RESPONSE:
                  │
                  ├─ "Sent his ARMY" (στρατεύματα)
                  │   │
                  │   Not: more servants
                  │   IS: Military force
                  │
                  ├─ "Destroyed those MURDERERS"
                  │   │
                  │   → Justice for killing messengers
                  │
                  └─► "Burned their CITY"
                      │
                      → Total destruction

HISTORICAL REFERENCE?
    │
    └─► AD 70: Rome destroyed Jerusalem
        │
        ├─ City burned
        ├─- Temple demolished
        └─► Nation scattered
            │
            → Parable prophetic?
              │
              OR: Standard judgment imagery?
              │
              Either way: Rejection = destruction

THE REPLACEMENT (vv. 8-9)
    │
    └─► "Then he said to his servants,
         'The wedding banquet is ready,
         but those I invited did not deserve to come.
         So go to the street corners
         and invite to the banquet ANYONE you find'"
        │
        └─► Feast still ready
            │
            But original guests: "did not deserve" (ἄξιοι)
            │
            NOT: "not worthy enough"
            IS: "proved themselves unworthy"
                 │
                 By rejection + murder
            │
            NEW INSTRUCTION:
            │
            └─► "Street corners" (διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν)
                │
                "Exits of the roads"
                = Crossroads, public places
                │
                "ANYONE you find" (ὅσους ἐὰν εὕρητε)
                │
                → No discrimination
                  No pre-qualification
                  │
                  ALL are invited
                  │
                  ├─ Not: elite only
                  └─► IS: "whoever"
                      │
                      → Radical inclusion

THE GATHERING (v. 10)
    │
    └─► "So the servants went out into the streets
         and gathered ALL the people they could find,
         the BAD as well as the GOOD,
         and the wedding hall was filled with guests"
        │
        └─► πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς
            │
            "Both evil and good"
            │
            └─► Moral spectrum included
                │
                Not: only righteous invited
                IS: All kinds
                │
                ├─ Bad (πονηρούς) — wicked, evil
                └─► Good (ἀγαθούς) — morally good
                    │
                    Both welcomed
                    │
                    → Grace to all
                      │
                      "Wedding hall FILLED"
                      │
                      King's purpose accomplished
                      Different guests, same feast

THE INSPECTION (v. 11)
    │
    └─► "But when the king came in to see the guests,
         he noticed a man there
         who was NOT wearing wedding clothes"
        │
        └─► King enters to inspect
            │
            Finds: οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου
            │
            "Not clothed with wedding garment"
            │
            → Problem: improper dress

WHAT IS "WEDDING GARMENT"?
    │
    ├─ LITERAL reading:
    │   │
    │   └─► Custom: Host provides garments?
    │       │
    │       Some traditions: King gave robes
    │       │
    │       → Refusing garment = insult
    │         Man had access, chose not to wear
    │
    └─► SYMBOLIC reading:
        │
        └─► Wedding garment = righteousness
            │
            Isa 61:10: "He has clothed me with garments of salvation
                        and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness"
            │
            Rev 19:8: "Fine linen... is the righteous acts of saints"
            │
            → Entering kingdom requires:
              │
              ├─ Invitation (grace)
              └─► Proper clothing (righteousness from God)
                  │
                  Can't come on own terms
                  Must accept God's provision

THE CONFRONTATION (v. 12)
    │
    └─► "He asked, 'How did you get in here
         without wedding clothes, friend?'
         The man was SPEECHLESS"
        │
        └─► King's question: "How?" (Πῶς)
            │
            "Friend" (ἑταῖρε) — ironic?
            │
            Or: genuine sadness?
            │
            THE RESPONSE:
            │
            └─► ἐφιμώθη (ephimōthē)
                │
                "Was silenced, muzzled"
                │
                Same word: Matt 22:34 "Sadducees silenced"
                │
                → No defense
                  No excuse
                  │
                  Caught without proper covering

THE EXPULSION (v. 13)
    │
    └─► "Then the king told the attendants,
         'Tie him hand and foot,
         and throw him outside,
         into the DARKNESS,
         where there will be WEEPING and GNASHING of teeth'"
        │
        └─► Severe judgment:
            │
            ├─ "Tie hand and foot"
            │   └─► Bound, helpless
            │
            ├─ "Throw outside"
            │   └─► Expelled from feast
            │       Outside = exclusion
            │
            ├─- "DARKNESS" (σκότος)
            │   │
            │   └─► Feast = light, joy
            │       Outside = dark, alone
            │
            └─► "Weeping and gnashing"
                │
                κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς
                │
                → Grief + rage
                  Sorrow at loss
                  Anger at self
                  │
                  Matt 8:12; 13:42,50; 24:51; 25:30
                  │
                  Standard judgment language

THE WARNING:
    │
    └─► Being "in" doesn't guarantee staying in
        │
        ├─ Man WAS at feast
        └─► But: improper dress = ejected
            │
            → Presumption condemned
              Must have both:
              │
              ├─ Invitation (grace)
              └─► Garment (righteousness)

THE SUMMARY (v. 14)
    │
    └─► "For many are INVITED,
         but few are CHOSEN"
        │
        └─► πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί
            │
            ├─ κλητοὶ (klētoi) — "called, invited"
            │   │
            │   └─► Many receive invitation
            │       Gospel goes to all
            │       │
            │       "Many" not "all"?
            │       Or: "many" = large number?
            │
            └─► ἐκλεκτοί (eklektoi) — "chosen, elect"
                │
                └─► Fewer actually chosen
                    │
                    Why?
                    │
                    ├─ Some refuse invitation (vv. 3-5)
                    ├─ Some attack messengers (v. 6)
                    └─► Some accept but lack garment (vv. 11-13)
                        │
                        → Three ways to miss feast:
                          │
                          1. Reject invitation (open rebellion)
                          2. Kill messengers (violent opposition)
                          3. Come improperly (presumption)

THEOLOGICAL TENSION:
    │
    ├─ Invitation = God's sovereign call
    │   └─► Yet: Can be refused
    │       (Human responsibility)
    │
    └─► Election = God's sovereign choice
        └─► Yet: Connected to response
            (Not arbitrary)
            │
            → Mystery of divine sovereignty + human response
              Both affirmed, not resolved

THE PLOT (v. 15)
    │
    └─► "Then the Pharisees went out
         and laid plans to TRAP him in his words"
        │
        └─► συμβούλιον ἔλαβον (symboulion elabon)
            │
            "Took counsel together"
            │
            → Deliberate conspiracy
              Not: spontaneous question
              IS: Calculated trap
              │
              ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσωσιν
              │
              "In order to ensnare him"
              │
              παγιδεύω (pagideuō) — "trap, catch"
              │
              → Like animal in snare
                One wrong word = captured

THE DELEGATION (v. 16a)
    │
    └─► "They sent their disciples to him
         along with the HERODIANS"
        │
        └─► Two groups:
            │
            ├─ PHARISEES' disciples
            │   │
            │   └─► Strict Jews
            │       Oppose Roman rule
            │       │
            │       Want: Jewish independence
            │       Theological conservatives
            │
            └─► HERODIANS
                │
                └─► Supporters of Herod
                    (Roman puppet king)
                    │
                    Collaborate with Rome
                    │
                    Want: Roman stability
                    Political pragmatists

IRONY:
    │
    └─► Natural enemies unite
        │
        To destroy common threat: Jesus
        │
        → Politics makes strange bedfellows
          │
          Luke 23:12: "Herod and Pilate became friends...
                       before they had been enemies"

BUTTERING UP (v. 16b)
    │
    └─► "Teacher," they said,
         "we know that you are a man of INTEGRITY
         and that you teach the way of God
         in accordance with the TRUTH.
         You aren't swayed by others,
         because you pay no attention to who they are"
        │
        └─► Four claims:
            │
            ├─ "Man of INTEGRITY" (ἀληθής)
            │   │
            │   └─► "Truthful, honest"
            │       Can't be fooled
            │
            ├─- "Teach way of God in TRUTH" (ἀλήθεια)
            │   │
            │   └─► Accurate teacher
            │       No false doctrine
            │
            ├─- "Not swayed by others"
            │   │
            │   └─► οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός
            │       "You don't care about anyone"
            │       │
            │       → Fearless
            │         Won't be intimidated
            │
            └─► "Pay no attention to who they are"
                │
                └─► οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον
                    │
                    "Don't look at face/person"
                    │
                    No favoritism
                    No respect of persons
                    │
                    → Impartial

THE IRONY:
    │
    └─► Everything they say = TRUE
        │
        But: Said to manipulate
        │
        → Flattery before trap
          "Since you're SO honest and fearless...
           answer THIS..."
          │
          Setting him up

THE DILEMMA (v. 17)
    │
    └─► "Tell us then, what is your opinion?
         Is it RIGHT to pay the imperial tax to Caesar
         or not?"
        │
        └─► "Imperial tax" (κῆνσος)
            │
            └─► Latin: census
                │
                Poll tax
                │
                Every person pays annually
                To Caesar
                │
                Introduced: AD 6
                │
                Sparked: Judas of Galilee's revolt
                (Acts 5:37)
                │
                → Hated symbol of Roman occupation

THE HORNS OF DILEMMA:
    │
    ├─ SAY "YES, pay tax":
    │   │
    │   └─► Consequences:
    │       │
    │       ├─ Lose Jewish support
    │       │   └─► Seen as collaborator
    │       │       Traitor to Israel
    │       │       │
    │       │       Pharisees turn crowd against him
    │       │
    │       └─► Undermines Messianic claim
    │           │
    │           └─► True Messiah would liberate
    │               Not submit to Rome
    │
    └─► SAY "NO, don't pay":
        │
        └─► Consequences:
            │
            ├─ Herodians report to Rome
            │   └─► Charge: Sedition
            │       Inciting tax revolt
            │       │
            │       Roman response: Crucifixion
            │
            └─► Validates later charges
                │
                Luke 23:2: "Forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar"
                │
                → Death sentence

PERFECT TRAP:
    │
    └─► Either answer = destroyed
        │
        ├─ Say yes → Religious ruin
        └─► Say no → Political execution
            │
            → No escape (they think)

SEEING THROUGH IT (v. 18)
    │
    └─► "But Jesus, knowing their EVIL INTENT, said,
         'You hypocrites, why are you trying to TRAP me?'"
        │
        └─► γνοὺς... τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν
            │
            "Knowing their wickedness"
            │
            → Not fooled
              Sees hearts
              │
              "Hypocrites" (ὑποκριταί)
              │
              "Actors, pretenders"
              │
              → Flattery exposed
                "You say I'm honest...
                 while trying to trap me?"
                │
                "Why TRAP me?" (πειράζετε)
                │
                Same word: Satan's temptation (4:1,3)
                │
                → Demonic plot

THE REQUEST (v. 19)
    │
    └─► "Show me the coin used for paying the tax."
         They brought him a denarius"
        │
        └─► Brilliant move:
            │
            └─► Makes THEM produce coin
                │
                Not: Jesus pulls out coin
                │
                → They have it
                  They use it
                  │
                  Already participating in Roman economy
                  │
                  Hypocrisy exposed further

THE QUESTION (v. 20)
    │
    └─► "And he asked them,
         'Whose IMAGE is this?
         And whose INSCRIPTION?'"
        │
        └─► εἰκών (eikōn) — "image"
            ἐπιγραφή (epigraphē) — "inscription"
            │
            On denarius:
            │
            ├─ Image: Caesar's head
            │   └─► Tiberius Caesar
            │
            └─► Inscription:
                │
                "TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AUGUSTUS"
                │
                "Tiberius Caesar, son of divine Augustus"
                │
                → Blasphemous to Jews
                  Claims divinity
                  Graven image (Exod 20:4)

THEIR ANSWER (v. 21a)
    │
    └─► "'Caesar's,' they replied"
        │
        └─► Simple admission
            Coin = Caesar's
            │
            Bears his image
            His inscription
            │
            → His property
              His medium of exchange

THE SOLUTION (v. 21b)
    │
    └─► "Then he said to them,
         'So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's,
         and to God what is God's'"
        │
        └─► ἀπόδοτε (apodote) — "Give back, render"
            │
            Not: "Pay for first time"
            IS: "Return what belongs"
            │
            TWO OBLIGATIONS:
            │
            ├─ TO CAESAR: "What is Caesar's"
            │   │
            │   └─► What bears Caesar's image?
            │       The COIN
            │       │
            │       → Pay tax with Caesar's coin
            │         Using his currency
            │         In his empire
            │         │
            │         Civil authority = legitimate
            │         Rom 13:1,7: "Submit to authorities...
            │                      give everyone what you owe"
            │
            └─► TO GOD: "What is God's"
                │
                └─► What bears GOD'S image?
                    │
                    HUMANS (Gen 1:27)
                    │
                    "God created mankind in his image"
                    │
                    → Give YOURSELF to God
                      Not just money
                      │
                      Total allegiance
                      │
                      Coin to Caesar
                      Life to God

THE BRILLIANCE:
    │
    └─► Escapes both horns:
        │
        ├─ Affirms tax payment (satisfies Rome)
        └─► Affirms God's supremacy (satisfies Jews)
            │
            BUT:
            │
            └─► Reframes question entirely
                │
                Not: Either/or
                IS: Both/and
                │
                Different jurisdictions
                │
                └─► Dual citizenship:
                    │
                    ├─ Earthly kingdom (Caesar)
                    └─► Heavenly kingdom (God)
                        │
                        → Both legitimate
                          In proper sphere
                          │
                          But: God > Caesar
                          When conflict arises

AMAZED & DEPARTED (v. 22)
    │
    └─► "When they heard this, they were AMAZED.
         So they left him and went away"
        │
        └─► ἐθαύμασαν (ethaumasan)
            │
            "Marveled, were astonished"
            │
            → Trap failed
              Expected: Caught in words
              Reality: Wisdom confounded them
              │
              "Left him and went away"
              │
              → Retreat
                Can't counter
                │
                But: Not converted
                Still plotting

THE SADDUCEES (v. 23a)
    │
    └─► "That same day the Sadducees,
         who say there is NO RESURRECTION,
         came to him with a question"
        │
        └─► Who are Sadducees?
            │
            ├─ Religious party
            │   └─► Aristocratic, wealthy
            │       Temple establishment
            │       High priestly families
            │
            ├─ Theologically:
            │   │
            │   └─► Accept ONLY Torah (5 books)
            │       Reject: Prophets, Writings (as binding)
            │       │
            │       → Reject oral tradition
            │         (Unlike Pharisees)
            │
            └─► Key belief: NO resurrection
                │
                Acts 23:8: "Sadducees say there is no resurrection,
                            and neither angel nor spirit,
                            but Pharisees believe all these"
                │
                → Materialists
                  Death = end
                  │
                  No afterlife
                  No spiritual realm

WHY NO RESURRECTION?
    │
    └─► Torah never explicitly teaches it
        │
        (Developed in later books:
         Dan 12:2, Isa 26:19)
        │
        → If not in Torah, not binding
          │
          This is their test case

CITING MOSES (v. 24)
    │
    └─► "'Teacher,' they said,
         'Moses told us that if a man dies without having children,
         his brother must marry the widow
         and raise up offspring for him'"
        │
        └─► Deut 25:5-6 (Levirate marriage)
            │
            "If brothers dwell together,
             and one dies without a son,
             the wife of the dead shall not marry outside...
             her husband's brother shall go in to her...
             first son she bears shall succeed
             to name of his dead brother"
            │
            → Purpose: Preserve family line
              Protect widow
              │
              Property stays in family

THE RIDICULOUS SCENARIO (vv. 25-28)
    │
    └─► "Now there were seven brothers among us.
         The first one married and died,
         and since he had no children,
         he left his wife to his brother.
         The same thing happened to the second and third brother,
         right on down to the seventh.
         Finally, the woman died.
         Now then, at the resurrection,
         whose wife will she be of the seven,
         since all of them were married to her?"
        │
        └─► Absurd multiplication:
            │
            ├─ SEVEN brothers
            │   └─► Not 2 or 3
            │       SEVEN
            │       │
            │       → Maximally ridiculous
            │
            ├─ ALL marry same woman
            │   └─► Each dies
            │       Each childless
            │       │
            │       Woman survives all 7
            │
            └─► Question: "Whose wife at resurrection?"
                │
                → Designed to show absurdity
                  │
                  Resurrection = impossible complications
                  │
                  Better: No resurrection
                  Problem solved!

THEIR ASSUMPTION:
    │
    └─► Resurrection = continuation of earthly life
        │
        Same bodies
        Same relationships
        Same structures
        │
        → If resurrection, then:
          Polyandry in heaven?
          (One woman, multiple husbands)
          │
          Ridiculous!
          │
          Therefore: No resurrection
          │
          → Category error:
            Assuming heaven = earth

THE DIAGNOSIS (v. 29)
    │
    └─► "Jesus replied,
         'You are in ERROR
         because you do not know the SCRIPTURES
         or the POWER of God'"
        │
        └─► πλανᾶσθε (planasthe)
            │
            "You are deceived, led astray"
            │
            → Not: honest mistake
              IS: Fundamental error
              │
              TWO IGNORANCES:
              │
              ├─ "Do not know SCRIPTURES"
              │   │
              │   └─► μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς
              │       │
              │       They claim: Torah experts
              │       Reality: Miss the point
              │       │
              │       → Read letter, miss spirit
              │         │
              │         Exod 3:6: "I am God of Abraham..."
              │         (Jesus will cite this, v. 32)
              │         │
              │         Present tense = living relationship
              │         They missed it
              │
              └─► "Do not know POWER of God"
                  │
                  μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ
                  │
                  → God's power to:
                    │
                    ├─ Raise dead
                    ├─ Transform bodies
                    └─► Create new mode of existence
                        │
                        They limit God
                        To earthly categories
                        │
                        "Can't imagine it, therefore impossible"
                        │
                        → Failure of imagination
                          = Failure of faith

THE CORRECTION (v. 30)
    │
    └─► "At the resurrection
         people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;
         they will be like the ANGELS in heaven"
        │
        └─► Resurrection reality:
            │
            ├─ "Neither marry nor given in marriage"
            │   │
            │   └─► No new marriages
            │       No continuation of marriage
            │       │
            │       NOT: Marriages annulled
            │       IS: Marriage institution = earthly
            │           │
            │           For procreation (Gen 1:28)
            │           For companionship (Gen 2:18)
            │           │
            │           In resurrection:
            │           │
            │           ├─- No procreation needed
            │           │   (Death defeated)
            │           │
            │           └─► Perfect communion with God + saints
            │               (No loneliness)
            │
            └─► "Like the ANGELS in heaven"
                │
                ὡς ἄγγελοι (hōs aggeloi)
                │
                → Not: BECOME angels
                  IS: LIKE angels
                  │
                  In what way?
                  │
                  └─► Angels don't marry
                      Angels don't die
                      Angels live in God's presence
                      │
                      → Resurrection = higher mode
                        Not: earthly life 2.0
                        IS: Transformed existence
                        │
                        1 Cor 15:42-44: "Sown perishable,
                                         raised imperishable...
                                         sown natural body,
                                         raised spiritual body"

THE ARGUMENT (vv. 31-32)
    │
    └─► "But about the RESURRECTION of the dead—
         have you not read what God said to you,
         'I AM the God of Abraham,
         the God of Isaac,
         and the God of Jacob'?
         He is not the God of the DEAD
         but of the LIVING"
        │
        └─► "Have you not read?" (οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε)
            │
            → Ironic
              They're the readers
              Experts in Torah
              │
              Yet: Haven't READ properly

CITATION: EXODUS 3:6
    │
    └─► Burning bush
        God reveals name to Moses
        │
        "I AM the God of Abraham,
         the God of Isaac,
         and the God of Jacob"
        │
        KEY: Present tense
        │
        "I AM" (ἐγώ εἰμι)
        │
        NOT: "I WAS their God"
        IS: "I AM their God"
        │
        → At time of Moses:
          │
          Abraham dead 400+ years
          Isaac dead 300+ years
          Jacob dead 200+ years
          │
          Yet God says: "I AM their God"
          │
          Present, ongoing relationship

THE LOGIC:
    │
    └─► "He is not God of DEAD but of LIVING"
        │
        οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ θεὸς νεκρῶν ἀλλὰ ζώντων
        │
        → If God = their God (present)
          Then: They must be alive (somehow)
          │
          Not: Ceased to exist
          IS: Living in God's presence
          │
          Awaiting resurrection
          │
          Luke 20:38: "He is not God of the dead,
                       but of the living,
                       for to him ALL are alive"
          │
          → In God's perspective: All alive
            │
            Death = temporary
            Resurrection = certain
            │
            Based on: God's covenant faithfulness

IMPLICIT ARGUMENT:
    │
    └─► Sadducees accept: Torah only
        │
        Jesus uses: Torah only (Exodus)
        │
        Beats them on own ground
        │
        → Can't dismiss as "later tradition"
          It's in MOSES
          │
          They missed it

ASTONISHMENT (v. 33)
    │
    └─► "When the crowds heard this,
         they were ASTONISHED at his teaching"
        │
        └─► ἐξεπλήσσοντο (exeplēssonto)
            │
            "Were astounded, amazed"
            │
            Imperfect tense: Ongoing amazement
            │
            → Not just clever answer
              Profound teaching
              │
              ├─ Resurrection affirmed
              ├─ From Torah itself
              └─► Transformed existence explained
                  │
                  Crowds recognize: Wisdom
                  │
                  Sadducees: Silenced

THE CONTEXT (v. 34)
    │
    └─► "Hearing that Jesus had SILENCED the Sadducees,
         the Pharisees got together"
        │
        └─► ἐφίμωσεν (ephimōsen)
            │
            "Muzzled, silenced"
            │
            Same word: Wedding guest speechless (v. 12)
            │
            → Sadducees defeated
              │
              Pharisees see opportunity
              │
              "Got together" (συνήχθησαν)
              │
              → Strategic gathering
                Plan next attack

THE TESTER (v. 35)
    │
    └─► "One of them, an expert in the law,
         TESTED him with this question"
        │
        └─► νομικός (nomikos)
            │
            "Lawyer, legal expert"
            │
            Expert in Torah
            Scribal scholar
            │
            "Tested" (πειράζων)
            │
            → Same word: Satan tempted Jesus (4:1)
              Pharisees tried to trap (22:18)
              │
              Hostile intent

THE QUESTION (v. 36)
    │
    └─► "Teacher, which is the GREATEST commandment
         in the Law?"
        │
        └─► ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη
            │
            "Which commandment great?"
            │
            THE TRAP:
            │
            └─► 613 commandments in Torah
                │
                Rabbis debated:
                │
                ├─ "Heavy" vs "light" commands
                │   └─► Sabbath, idolatry = heavy
                │       Shooing mother bird (Deut 22:6) = light
                │
                └─► Which is GREATEST?
                    │
                    → No consensus
                      │
                      If Jesus picks ONE:
                      │
                      ├─ Diminishes others?
                      ├─ Offends some school?
                      └─► Opens to criticism
                          │
                          "You neglect X commandment!"
                          │
                          OR: If says "all equal"
                          → Seems evasive
                          │
                          → Designed to trap

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT (vv. 37-38)
    │
    └─► "Jesus replied:
         'Love the Lord your God
         with all your HEART
         and with all your SOUL
         and with all your MIND.
         This is the first and greatest commandment'"
        │
        └─► CITATION: Deuteronomy 6:4-5
            │
            "Hear, O Israel:
             The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
             Love the LORD your God
             with all your heart
             and with all your soul
             and with all your strength"
            │
            → The SHEMA
              │
              Central confession of Judaism
              Recited daily
              │
              Jesus selects: Core of Torah

"LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD"
    │
    └─► ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου
        │
        Future tense = imperative force
        "You shall love"
        │
        → Command to love
          │
          Not: Emotion only
          IS: Total allegiance
          │
          Covenant commitment

WITH ALL YOUR...
    │
    ├─ HEART (καρδία)
    │   │
    │   └─► Center of person
    │       Seat of will, emotion
    │       │
    │       → Affectional devotion
    │         Heart-level love
    │
    ├─ SOUL (ψυχή)
    │   │
    │   └─► Life, self
    │       Essential being
    │       │
    │       → Give your life
    │         Whole self
    │
    ├─ MIND (διάνοια)
    │   │
    │   └─► Intellect, understanding
    │       Thoughts, reasoning
    │       │
    │       Matthew adds this
    │       (Not in Hebrew original)
    │       │
    │       → Mental devotion
    │         Think rightly about God
    │
    └─► [STRENGTH in Mark/Luke]
        │
        → TOTAL person
          Every capacity
          Every faculty
          │
          Nothing held back

"FIRST AND GREATEST"
    │
    └─► πρώτη καὶ μεγάλη
        │
        ├─ First in priority
        └─► Greatest in importance
            │
            → All else flows from this
              Foundation of everything

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT (v. 39)
    │
    └─► "And the second is like it:
         'Love your neighbor as yourself'"
        │
        └─► CITATION: Leviticus 19:18
            │
            "Do not seek revenge...
             but love your neighbor as yourself"
            │
            → From holiness code
              Practical righteousness

"SECOND IS LIKE IT"
    │
    └─► δευτέρα ὁμοία αὐτῇ
        │
        "Similar to it"
        │
        → Not: Equal importance
          IS: Same KIND
          │
          Both about love
          │
          └─► Vertical (God)
              Horizontal (neighbor)
              │
              Connected:
              │
              1 John 4:20: "Whoever claims to love God
                            yet hates brother...
                            is a liar"
              │
              Can't separate
              │
              Love God → Love neighbor
              (Natural overflow)

"LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR"
    │
    └─► ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου
        │
        Who is "neighbor" (πλησίον)?
        │
        → Luke 10:29-37: Good Samaritan
          Neighbor = anyone in need
          │
          Not: Just fellow Jew
          IS: All people

"AS YOURSELF"
    │
    └─► ὡς σεαυτόν
        │
        → Standard: Self-love
          │
          Not: narcissism
          IS: Proper self-care
          │
          "As you care for yourself,
           care for neighbor"
          │
          → Equal regard
            Same concern

THE SYNTHESIS (v. 40)
    │
    └─► "All the Law and the Prophets
         HANG on these two commandments"
        │
        └─► κρέμαται (krematai)
            │
            "Hang, depend on"
            │
            → Like door on hinge
              Like body on skeleton
              │
              ALL Law = application of these two
              │
              ├─ Commands about God
              │   └─► Flow from: Love God
              │       (Worship, Sabbath, etc.)
              │
              └─► Commands about others
                  └─► Flow from: Love neighbor
                      (Don't steal, murder, etc.)
                      │
                      → Two commands contain ALL
                        │
                        Not: Replace 613
                        IS: Summarize 613
                        │
                        Fulfill these → Fulfill all

THE BRILLIANCE:
    │
    └─► Escapes trap by:
        │
        ├─ Giving clear answer (not evasive)
        ├─ Using Scripture itself (unassailable)
        └─► Showing unity of Law (not arbitrary)
            │
            → Can't criticize
              Can't refute
              │
              Perfect summary

THE TABLES TURN (v. 41)
    │
    └─► "While the Pharisees were gathered together,
         Jesus asked them"
        │
        └─► Up to now: They ask questions
            │
            Trying to trap Him
            │
            NOW: Jesus asks THEM
            │
            → Reversal
              He takes offensive

THE QUESTION (v. 42a)
    │
    └─► "What do you think about the Messiah?
         Whose son is he?"
        │
        └─► τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ
            │
            "What seems to you about the Christ?"
            │
            → Not abstract theology
              Direct: Who is Messiah?
              │
              τίνος υἱός ἐστιν
              │
              "Whose son is he?"
              │
              → Lineage question
                Identity question

THEIR ANSWER (v. 42b)
    │
    └─► "'The son of David,' they replied"
        │
        └─► τοῦ Δαυίδ (tou Dauid)
            │
            Standard answer
            │
            CORRECT:
            │
            ├─ 2 Sam 7:12-13: Davidic covenant
            │   "Your son... will build house for my Name
            │    I will establish throne of his kingdom forever"
            │
            ├─ Isa 9:7: "On throne of David...
            │            to establish with justice"
            │
            ├─ Jer 23:5: "I will raise up... righteous Branch,
            │             a King who will reign wisely"
            │
            └─► Messiah = from David's line
                │
                → But: Incomplete understanding

THE PUZZLE (vv. 43-44)
    │
    └─► "He said to them,
         'How is it then that David,
         speaking by the Spirit,
         calls him "Lord"?

         For he says,
         "The Lord said to my Lord:
         'Sit at my right hand
         until I put your enemies
         under your feet'"'"
        │
        └─► CITATION: Psalm 110:1
            │
            Most quoted OT verse in NT
            │
            ├─ Matt 22:44; 26:64
            ├─ Acts 2:34-35
            ├─ 1 Cor 15:25
            ├─ Heb 1:13; 10:12-13
            └─► Eph 1:20-22
                │
                → Central Messianic text

"SPEAKING BY THE SPIRIT"
    │
    └─► ἐν πνεύματι (en pneumati)
        │
        → David = inspired
          Not: personal opinion
          IS: God's revelation
          │
          → Psalm 110 = prophetic
            About Messiah

THE PUZZLE:
    │
    └─► "The LORD said to my Lord"
        │
        ├─ First "LORD" (κύριος)
        │   │
        │   └─► Hebrew: YHWH (יהוה)
        │       │
        │       → GOD speaks
        │
        └─► Second "Lord" (κύριός μου)
            │
            Hebrew: אדני (Adonai)
            │
            "My Lord"
            │
            → God addresses SOMEONE
              │
              Who?
              │
              └─► The MESSIAH
                  │
                  God tells Messiah:
                  "Sit at my right hand"

"SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND"
    │
    └─► κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου
        │
        → Position of:
          │
          ├─ Honor (highest place)
          ├─ Authority (co-regent)
          └─► Power (shares throne)
              │
              → Divine status implied
                │
                No mere human sits at God's right hand

"UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES UNDER YOUR FEET"
    │
    └─► ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου
         ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου
        │
        "Footstool" (ὑποπόδιον)
        │
        → Ancient conquest imagery
          │
          Victor puts foot on neck of defeated king
          │
          → Total victory
            Complete subjugation
            │
            God will subdue Messiah's enemies

THE CONTRADICTION? (v. 45)
    │
    └─► "If then David calls him 'Lord,'
         how can he be his son?"
        │
        └─► The dilemma:
            │
            ├─ If Messiah = David's SON
            │   │
            │   └─► Then: Descendant
            │       Inferior to David
            │       Later generation
            │
            └─► But: David calls him LORD
                │
                └─► Then: Superior to David
                    │
                    → How can descendant be superior?
                      How can son be lord?
                      │
                      ANSWER:
                      │
                      └─► Messiah is BOTH:
                          │
                          ├─ David's son (humanity)
                          │   │
                          │   └─► Born from David's line
                          │       True human
                          │       │
                          │       Rom 1:3: "Descended from David
                          │                 according to flesh"
                          │
                          └─► David's Lord (divinity)
                              │
                              └─► Pre-existent
                                  Divine being
                                  │
                                  Rom 1:4: "Declared to be Son of God
                                           in power... by resurrection"
                                  │
                                  John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, I AM"
                                  │
                                  → INCARNATION
                                    │
                                    God becomes human
                                    │
                                    Fully divine
                                    Fully human
                                    │
                                    Phil 2:6-8: "Being in form of God...
                                                 made himself nothing...
                                                 being made in human likeness"

NO ANSWER (v. 46a)
    │
    └─► "No one could say a word in reply"
        │
        └─► οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι αὐτῷ λόγον
            │
            "No one was able to answer him a word"
            │
            → Total silence
              │
              Can't solve puzzle
              Can't refute logic
              │
              → Trapped by own Scripture
                By own Messiah expectations

THE END OF QUESTIONS (v. 46b)
    │
    └─► "And from that day on
         no one dared to ask him any more questions"
        │
        └─► οὐδὲ ἐτόλμησέν τις (oude etolmēsen tis)
            │
            "Neither did anyone dare"
            │
            → Completely silenced
              │
              ├─ Pharisees: Tried tax trap → Failed
              ├─ Sadducees: Tried resurrection trap → Failed
              ├─ Pharisees: Tried commandment trap → Failed
              └─► Jesus' counter: → No answer possible
                  │
                  → ALL opponents defeated
                    In public
                    Before crowds
                    │
                    No more debates
                    │
                    NOW: Only option left
                    │
                    → VIOLENCE
                      (ch 26-27)

MATTHEW 22 ARCHITECTURE:
    │
    ├─ PARABLE (vv. 1-14)
    │   └─► Wedding feast invitation
    │       │
    │       ├─ Invited guests refuse
    │       ├─ Kill messengers → destroyed
    │       ├─- New guests from streets
    │       └─► Man without garment → expelled
    │           │
    │           "Many invited, few chosen"
    │
    ├─ TRAP #1: Political (vv. 15-22)
    │   └─► Caesar's tax question
    │       │
    │       ├─ Pharisees + Herodians unite
    │       ├─ "Pay tax or not?"
    │       └─► Jesus: "Give Caesar his, God his"
    │           │
    │           Escapes trap, amazes crowd
    │
    ├─ TRAP #2: Theological (vv. 23-33)
    │   └─► Resurrection absurdity
    │       │
    │       ├─ Sadducees: "Seven brothers, one wife"
    │       ├─ "Whose wife at resurrection?"
    │       └─► Jesus: "Like angels—don't marry"
    │           "God of living, not dead"
    │           │
    │           Silences Sadducees, crowds astonished
    │
    ├─ TRAP #3: Legal (vv. 34-40)
    │   └─► Greatest commandment
    │       │
    │       ├─ Expert tests Jesus
    │       ├─ "Which commandment greatest?"
    │       └─► Jesus: "Love God + love neighbor"
    │           "All Law hangs on these"
    │           │
    │           Perfect summary
    │
    └─► COUNTER-ATTACK (vv. 41-46)
        └─► Jesus questions them
            │
            ├─ "Whose son is Messiah?"
            ├─ "David's" → "Then why call him Lord?"
            └─► No answer possible
                │
                No more questions dared

THE SINGLE THREAD: RESPONDING TO JESUS
    │
    ├─ INVITATION (vv. 1-14)
    │   │
    │   └─► How do you respond to God's call?
    │       │
    │       ├─ Ignore it? (First guests)
    │       ├─ Reject it violently? (Kill servants)
    │       ├─- Accept it genuinely? (Street people)
    │       └─► Presume on it? (No garment)
    │           │
    │           → Response determines destiny
    │
    ├─ ALLEGIANCE (vv. 15-22)
    │   │
    │   └─► Who gets your loyalty?
    │       │
    │       ├─ Caesar (civil authority)
    │       └─► God (ultimate authority)
    │           │
    │           → Both legitimate
    │             But: God supreme
    │
    ├─ UNDERSTANDING (vv. 23-33)
    │   │
    │   └─► Do you know Scripture & power?
    │       │
    │       ├─ Sadducees: Neither
    │       │   └─► Led to error
    │       │
    │       └─► Must know:
    │           ├─ What Scripture says
    │           └─► What God can do
    │               │
    │               → Knowledge = foundation
    │
    ├─ PRIORITY (vv. 34-40)
    │   │
    │   └─► What's most important?
    │       │
    │       ├─ Love God (first)
    │       └─► Love neighbor (second)
    │           │
    │           → Hierarchy of devotion
    │             God first, then others
    │
    └─► IDENTITY (vv. 41-46)
        │
        └─► Who is Jesus?
            │
            ├─ David's son? (Human)
            └─► David's Lord? (Divine)
                │
                → BOTH
                  │
                  God incarnate
                  │
                  This is the question
                  Everything hinges on it

INVITATION QUESTION (vv. 1-14):
    │
    └─► What happens when you reject God's invitation?
        │
        ├─ First refusal: Indifference
        │   └─► Too busy with own concerns
        │       Field, business
        │       │
        │       → Priorities misplaced
        │
        ├─ Second refusal: Violence
        │   └─► Kill messengers
        │       Attack truth-tellers
        │       │
        │       → Active rebellion
        │
        └─► Result: Judgment
            │
            └─► Army destroys
                City burned
                │
                → Rejection = destruction
                │
                BUT: Feast continues
                │
                New guests invited
                │
                → God's purpose not thwarted
                  Just executed with different people

GARMENT QUESTION (vv. 11-14):
    │
    └─► Can you enter kingdom on your own terms?
        │
        NO.
        │
        └─► Must have proper clothing
            │
            ├─ Invitation gets you IN
            └─► Garment keeps you IN
                │
                → Grace to enter
                  Righteousness to stay
                  │
                  Both necessary
                  │
                  ├─ Can't earn entrance (grace)
                  └─► Can't presume on grace (garment)
                      │
                      → "Many invited, few chosen"
                        │
                        Why few?
                        │
                        Some refuse
                        Some attack
                        Some presume
                        │
                        → Only those who:
                          Accept invitation +
                          Wear proper garment

ALLEGIANCE QUESTION (vv. 15-22):
    │
    └─► Can you serve both God and Caesar?
        │
        YES... in different spheres
        │
        └─► What bears Caesar's image? Coin
            What bears God's image? You
            │
            ├─ Give Caesar: Taxes, obedience to civil law
            └─► Give God: Yourself, total allegiance
                │
                → Dual citizenship possible
                  │
                  BUT: When conflict arises
                  │
                  Acts 5:29: "Obey God rather than human beings"
                  │
                  → God > Caesar
                    Always

RESURRECTION QUESTION (vv. 23-33):
    │
    └─► What is resurrection like?
        │
        NOT: Earthly life extended
        │
        IS: Transformed existence
        │
        └─► "Like angels"
            │
            ├─ No marriage (earthly institution)
            ├─ No death (purpose of procreation gone)
            └─► Perfect communion with God
                │
                → New mode of being
                  │
                  1 Cor 15:42-44: "Imperishable...
                                   glorious... powerful...
                                   spiritual body"
                  │
                  → Can't imagine it fully
                    Must trust God's power

PRIORITY QUESTION (vv. 34-40):
    │
    └─► What matters most?
        │
        TWO commands contain ALL:
        │
        ├─ FIRST: Love God
        │   │
        │   └─► With ALL:
        │       ├─ Heart (affection)
        │       ├─ Soul (will)
        │       └─► Mind (thought)
        │           │
        │           → Total devotion
        │             Nothing held back
        │
        └─► SECOND: Love neighbor
            │
            └─► As yourself
                │
                → Equal regard
                  Same care
                  │
                  All Law = application
                  │
                  ├─ Commandments about God
                  │   Flow from: Love God
                  │
                  └─► Commandments about others
                      Flow from: Love neighbor

IDENTITY QUESTION (vv. 41-46):
    │
    └─► Who is Jesus?
        │
        The question that silences all
        │
        └─► David's son? YES
            David's Lord? YES
            │
            How both?
            │
            → INCARNATION
              │
              ├─ Fully human (son of David)
              └─► Fully divine (David's Lord)
                  │
                  This is the scandal
                  This is the truth
                  │
                  Can't be reduced
                  Can't be explained away
                  │
                  Must be received
                  Or rejected
                  │
                  No middle ground

TRAP SEQUENCE:
    │
    ├─ Political (vv. 15-22)
    │   └─► Pharisees + Herodians
    │       Natural enemies unite
    │       │
    │       Try to force: Rome vs God
    │       Jesus shows: Both/and
    │
    ├─ Theological (vv. 23-33)
    │   └─► Sadducees (deny resurrection)
    │       Try to show: Resurrection absurd
    │       Jesus shows: Your categories wrong
    │
    └─► Legal (vv. 34-40)
        └─► Pharisees (experts in Torah)
            Try to catch: In legal technicality
            Jesus shows: Perfect summary

HIERARCHY:
    │
    ├─ FIRST: Love God
    │   │
    │   └─► Vertical relationship
    │       Foundation of everything
    │       │
    │       Deut 6:5
    │
    └─► SECOND: Love neighbor
        │
        └─► Horizontal relationship
            Flows from first
            │
            Lev 19:18
            │
            │
            ALL LAW hangs on these two