Matthew 22:34 - Exposition

He had put the Sadducees to silence ( ἐφι ì μωσεν , as Matthew 22:12 ). The Pharisees were informed of, and some of them had witnessed, the discomfiture of the Sadducees (see Luke 20:40 ); hence they deemed it necessary again to attack Jesus by asking a question which specially appertained to their own teaching. They felt that, if they were ever to compass his overthrow, they must first lower his credit with the people, so that these might no longer care to support or defend him. To succeed in entangling Jesus in a difficulty would not only effect this, but would also gain them a triumph over their adversaries, who had been so completely defeated. Were gathered together; ἐπι Ì το Ì αὐτο Ì , Which may mean, "to the same place," as perhaps Acts 2:1 ; or "on the same ground, for the same purpose." The former is probably correct. The English versions omit the words (see the rendering of Acts 2:41 , where ἐπι Ì το Ì αὐτο Ì does not occur). They grouped themselves around Christ, or else gathered in a council chamber, taking combined action against him.