Matthew 22 46

Matthew 22:46 kjv

And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:46 nkjv

And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Matthew 22:46 niv

No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:46 esv

And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22:46 nlt

No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 22 verses

Matthew 22 46 Meaning

Matthew 22:46 declares the ultimate silence of Jesus' religious adversaries, who were unable to counter His divine wisdom or further challenge His authority through questioning. This verse marks a definitive conclusion to a series of rhetorical confrontations in which Jesus flawlessly answered every trap and, in turn, posed a question that exposed their lack of understanding regarding the Messiah's true identity and origin. It signifies Jesus' triumph in public debate and the conclusive victory of divine truth over human schemes and ignorance.

Matthew 22 46 Context

This verse culminates a series of deliberate challenges to Jesus' authority by the religious leaders in Matthew chapter 22. Leading up to this, the Pharisees attempted to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar (Mt 22:15-22), followed by the Sadducees attempting to disprove the resurrection (Mt 22:23-33). Both groups were utterly silenced by Jesus' wise and biblically grounded responses. Then, a lawyer tried to test Him regarding the greatest commandment (Mt 22:34-40). Jesus answered impeccably, summarizing the Law and Prophets.

In the immediate verses preceding Matthew 22:46 (Mt 22:41-45), Jesus, turning the tables, poses His own question to the assembled Pharisees: "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" When they rightly reply, "The Son of David," He challenges them further by quoting Psalm 110:1, where David himself calls the Messiah "Lord." This unanswerable question exposes their profound misunderstanding of the Messiah's divine nature and identity as both David's descendant and David's God. Their inability to reconcile these facts demonstrates their spiritual blindness and their intellectual defeat, setting the stage for their utter silence recorded in verse 46. Historically, this scene unfolds in Jerusalem during Jesus' final week before His crucifixion, amidst escalating tension with the Jewish leadership who are desperately seeking a reason to condemn Him.

Matthew 22 46 Word analysis

• And (kai, Greek: καί): Connects the previous discourse to its decisive outcome. It signals a consequence of the unanswered question posed by Jesus.
• no one (ouden, Greek: οὐδεὶς): Absolute negative pronoun, emphasizing the total absence of any individual capable of response. Not a single person, among all present.
• was able (ischuō, Greek: ἴσχυσεν): Implies possessing the power, strength, or capability. Their inability was not just intellectual deficit, but a deeper lack of argumentative power against divine wisdom.
• to answer (apokrithēnai, Greek: ἀποκριθῆναι): To give a response, a reply. Their prior questions aimed to trap Jesus, but now they are incapable of even a basic counter-argument.
• him (autō, Greek: αὐτῷ): Referring directly to Jesus, the Master who has now thoroughly outmatched them.
• a word (logos, Greek: λόγον): Signifies any single statement, a minimal unit of verbal discourse. They couldn't utter even one coherent retort.
• nor (oud-, Greek: οὐδέ): Further strengthens the negation, emphasizing the complete cessation of questioning.
• did anyone dare (tis etolmēsen, Greek: τις ἐτόλμησεν): 'Dare' (tolmao) implies having the courage, boldness, or presumption. Their fear or humility was now imposed by their utter defeat. They no longer had the audacity to challenge Him.
• to question (eperōtan, Greek: ἐπερωτᾶν): To ask questions, often implies repeated or inquisitive questioning. It was their common tactic to test and trap Him.
• Him any longer (auton ouketi, Greek: αὐτὸν οὐκέτι): The 'any longer' (ouketi) signifies a permanent cessation of this hostile questioning from that point forward. It marks a narrative turning point.
• from that day on (apo tēs hēmeras ekeinēs, Greek: ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ἐκείνης): This temporal marker highlights the definitive and lasting nature of this silence. It signals the end of public, intellectual debate and shifts the focus to other forms of opposition leading to the passion week events.

Words-group analysis:

• And no one was able to answer him a word: This phrase highlights the absolute intellectual and spiritual defeat of Jesus' opponents. Their combined wisdom, training, and strategic questioning proved utterly insufficient against the divine wisdom of Christ. It underscores His unparalleled authority.
• nor did anyone dare to question Him any longer from that day on: This indicates not just an intellectual inability but a moral and tactical surrender. The religious leaders, whose modus operandi was to publicly challenge and discredit Jesus, were now so thoroughly defeated and humbled that they abandoned this approach entirely. The phrase "from that day on" signifies a critical turning point in the Gospel narrative. From this point, their efforts shifted from intellectual debate to plotting His death, recognizing they could not defeat Him verbally. It highlights Jesus' mastery and the definitive end of direct verbal challenges to His authority and identity recorded in the Gospels.

Matthew 22 46 Bonus section

This verse subtly points to the coming shift in conflict dynamics. Having failed to outwit Jesus intellectually, the religious leaders' subsequent actions turn entirely to conspiracy and legal maneuvering aimed at His death. This decisive silence sets the stage for the denunciations against the Pharisees (Matthew 23) and the prophetic discourses about the end times (Matthew 24-25), indicating Jesus' shift from defensive replies to active teaching and warnings. The lack of "dare" reflects a divinely imposed cessation of their challenge, confirming Jesus' Messianic authority not just in discourse but over the very will of His enemies. Their silenced state also illustrates the truth that human wisdom, when arrayed against divine truth, is utterly foolish and defenseless.

Matthew 22 46 Commentary

Matthew 22:46 functions as a definitive victory declaration for Jesus in His encounters with the religious establishment. It demonstrates His absolute superiority in wisdom, understanding, and authority over those who claimed to be guardians of God's law and truth. This verse concludes the public questioning phase of Jesus' ministry, wherein the leaders attempted to trap and discredit Him. Their profound silence signals not only their inability to answer His divinely inspired question but also their complete exhaustion of verbal means to challenge Him. From this moment, the opposition pivots from intellectual discourse to violent conspiracy, leading directly to the events of His passion. The silence of His accusers underscores the undeniable truth of His identity and the futility of human wisdom in resisting divine revelation.