Matthew 22 34

Matthew 22:34 kjv

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

Matthew 22:34 nkjv

But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Matthew 22:34 niv

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

Matthew 22:34 esv

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Matthew 22:34 nlt

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again.

Matthew 22 verses

Matthew 22 34 Meaning

Matthew 22:34 details the reaction of the Pharisees after Jesus had effectively silenced the Sadducees regarding the resurrection. It marks a transition in the narrative, highlighting the ongoing, persistent opposition of the religious leaders to Jesus. Having heard of His irrefutable victory in debate, the Pharisees, a rival sect to the Sadducees, coalesced to confront Him further, signaling their intent to challenge His authority once more.

Matthew 22 34 Context

Matthew 22:34 is situated within a series of confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious leaders during the final days leading up to His crucifixion. Chapter 22 begins with parables about the Kingdom, followed by direct challenges to Jesus' authority. Immediately preceding this verse (Mt 22:23-33), the Sadducees, known for rejecting the resurrection, sought to trap Jesus with a hypothetical question about marriage in the resurrection. Jesus brilliantly refuted them, citing scripture and demonstrating His divine wisdom, leaving them silenced and amazed. Verse 34 describes the Pharisees' reaction to this event. Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, but their primary concern was their authority, influence, and legalistic interpretation of the Torah. They saw Jesus' popularity and authoritative teaching as a direct threat to their established power. Their gathering was not out of admiration or curiosity, but a concerted effort to find a new way to discredit or trap Him, which leads directly to their next question in verse 35.

Matthew 22 34 Word analysis

• Ἀκούσαντες (Akousantes) - having heard:
  • Word: Participle (Aorist Active Participle, Nominative Masculine Plural) from ἀκούω (akouō), "to hear, perceive, understand."
  • Significance: Implies they heard clearly and comprehended the impact of Jesus' debate with the Sadducees. It's not just a casual hearing but a recognition of the significant outcome. This suggests their gathering was an informed, calculated response.
• δὲ (de) - but/now:
  • Word: Post-positive conjunction.
  • Significance: Functions as a mild adversative or connective. Here, it indicates a shift in the group confronting Jesus and highlights the narrative progression – now the Pharisees step forward after the Sadducees have been dealt with. It often introduces a new but related action or contrast.
• οἱ Φαρισαῖοι (hoi Pharisaios) - the Pharisees:
  • Word: Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaios) means "separated ones" (from Aramaic perishaya).
  • Significance: A prominent Jewish religious and political party. They were meticulous observers of the Law (both written and oral traditions), believed in the resurrection, angels, and spirits. They had considerable influence among the common people. Their opposition was primarily due to Jesus' challenge to their interpretations of the Law and their authority.
• ὅτι (hoti) - that:
  • Word: Conjunction.
  • Significance: Introduces the direct content of what they heard.
• ἐφίμωσεν (ephimōsen) - He had silenced / He had muzzled:
  • Word: Aorist Active Indicative from φιμόω (phimoō), "to muzzle, silence, stop the mouth."
  • Significance: A very strong verb, literally "to muzzle" (as with an animal). It emphasizes the decisive and complete nature of Jesus' victory over the Sadducees. They had no further argument, their mouths were stopped. This shows Jesus' overwhelming authority and wisdom, which would be deeply unsettling to rival religious leaders.
• τοὺς Σαδδουκαίους (tous Saddukaious) - the Sadducees:
  • Word: Σαδδουκαῖοι (Saddukaioi) probably from Zadok (High Priestly line).
  • Significance: Another major Jewish religious party, distinct from the Pharisees. They comprised primarily the priestly and aristocratic elite, holding much power in the Temple. They only accepted the written Torah (Pentateuch) as authoritative, rejecting the oral tradition of the Pharisees and central doctrines like the resurrection, angels, and predestination. Their being "silenced" was a public defeat for a powerful group.
• συνήχθησαν (synēchthēsan) - they gathered together:
  • Word: Aorist Passive (reflexive sense) Indicative from συνάγω (synagō), "to gather, bring together."
  • Significance: Indicates a deliberate, concerted assembly. They didn't just casually meet; they convened for a specific purpose, implying strategy and shared intent against Jesus.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• Ἀκούσαντες δὲ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι (Akousantes de hoi Pharisaios) - But when the Pharisees heard:
  • This phrase immediately sets up the reactive nature of the Pharisees. Their action is a direct consequence of Jesus' previous debate. It highlights their vigilance and awareness of Jesus' every move and success. The shift from "Sadducees" to "Pharisees" also marks the change in the opposition Jesus faces, yet the fundamental hostility remains constant.
• ὅτι ἐφίμωσεν τοὺς Σαδδουκαίους (hoti ephimōsen tous Saddukaious) - that He had silenced the Sadducees:
  • This core clause explains the reason for the Pharisees' gathering. Jesus' act of silencing a powerful opposing group demonstrates a level of authority and wisdom that poses an even greater challenge to the Pharisees. It's a testament to His divine wisdom and rhetorical power that even His enemies acknowledged it implicitly by their reaction.
• συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό (synēchthēsan epi to auto) - they gathered together to the same place/against him (implied context):
  • ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό (epi to auto) literally means "to the same thing/place." In this context, given the following verse where a Pharisee attempts to trap Jesus, it clearly implies a gathering for the purpose of opposing or challenging Him. It suggests a renewed, possibly intensified, effort to entrap Jesus after witnessing His recent triumph. It echoes Ps 2:2, where kings gather against the Lord and His Anointed One. This points to a coordinated attack rather than individual questioning.

Matthew 22 34 Bonus section

The antagonism between the Pharisees and Sadducees was well-known, as depicted in Acts 23:6-8. However, despite their theological differences, Jesus' common enemy status united them against Him, illustrating the depths of human opposition to divine truth. This verse highlights Jesus' undeniable authority: He was not merely out-debating them; He was silencing them, ending the argument by virtue of His truth. This complete intellectual and spiritual victory forced His opponents to acknowledge, albeit unwillingly, His overwhelming superiority, compelling them to change their strategy from intellectual challenge to outright malicious plotting.

Matthew 22 34 Commentary

Matthew 22:34 is a pivotal transitional verse in the narrative of Jesus' encounters with the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem. Following His masterstroke in silencing the Sadducees, the Pharisees, initially absent from that specific debate, are immediately galvanized into action. Their prompt and concerted "gathering" (συνήχθησαν) demonstrates not curiosity, but strategic alarm and continued hostility. The word "silenced" (ἐφίμωσεν) is critical; it speaks to Jesus' profound wisdom and authority, which rendered even His theological opponents utterly speechless and refuted. This public display of divine wisdom by Jesus was deeply unsettling to the Pharisees, who prided themselves on their own legalistic interpretations and traditional authority. It directly threatened their influence and revealed a wisdom far superior to their own, leading them to quickly reconvene and strategize their next move in their persistent attempts to discredit or ensnare Jesus. The verse sets the stage for the climactic question about the greatest commandment, intended as another trap, but which Jesus again transforms into an opportunity to reveal profound truth.