Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 22].
and a superscription, e.g. "Tiberiou Kaisaros" (McNeile).
\Nomisma\ is the Latin _numisma_ and occurs here only in the
N.T., is common in the old Greek, from \nomiz•\ sanctioned by law
or custom.
22:20 {This image and superscription} (\h• eik•n haut• kai h•
epigraph•\). Probably a Roman coin because of the image (picture)
on it. The earlier Herods avoided this practice because of Jewish
prejudice, but the Tetrarch Philip introduced it on Jewish coins
and he was followed by Herod Agrippa I. This coin was pretty
certainly stamped in Rome with the image and name of Tiberius
Caesar on it.
22:21 {Render} (\apodote\). "Give back" to Caesar what is already
Caesar's.
22:24 {Shall marry} (\epigambreusei\). The Sadducees were "aiming
at amusement rather than deadly mischief" (Bruce). It was
probably an old conundrum that they had used to the discomfiture
of the Pharisees. This passage is quoted from De 25:5,6. The
word appears here only in the N.T. and elsewhere only in the LXX.
It is used of any connected by marriage as in Ge 34:9; 1Sa
18:22. But in Ge 38:8 and De 25:5 it is used specifically of
one marrying his brother's widow.
22:33 {They were astonished} (\exepl•ssonto\). Descriptive
imperfect passive showing the continued amazement of the crowds.
They were struck out (literally).
22:34 {He had put the Sadducees to silence} (\ephim•sen tous
Saddoukaious\). Muzzled the Sadducees. The Pharisees could not
restrain their glee though they were joining with the Sadducees
in trying to entrap Jesus. {Gathered themselves together}
(\sun•chth•san epi to auto\). First aorist passive, were gathered
together. \Epi to auto\ explains more fully \sun-\. See also Ac
2:47. "Mustered their forces" (Moffatt).
22:36 {The great commandment in the law} (\entol• megal• en t•i
nom•i\). The positive adjective is sometimes as high in rank as
the superlative. See \megas\ in Mt 5:19 in contrast with
\elachistos\. The superlative \megistos\ occurs in the N.T. only
in 2Pe 1:4. Possibly this scribe wishes to know which
commandment stood first (Mr 12:28) with Jesus. "The scribes
declared that there were 248 affirmative precepts, as many as the
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