John Calvin Commentary Matthew 22:1

"And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying," — Matthew 22:1 (ASV)

And Jesus answering. Though Matthew relates this parable among other discourses Christ delivered around the time of the last Passover, yet since he does not specify any particular time, and Luke expressly affirms that Christ delivered this discourse while he sat at the table in the house of a Pharisee, I have considered it better to follow this order.

The purpose Matthew had in view was to point out the reasons why the scribes were provoked to the highest pitch of fury. Therefore, he properly placed it among those discourses that were offensive to them, interweaving it with those discourses without regard to chronological order.

But we must attend to Luke’s narrative. He says that when one of those who sat at the table with him said, Blessed is he that eateth bread in the kingdom of God, Christ took this as an occasion to rebuke the Jews for their ingratitude.

It is by no means probable that the guest and friend of a Pharisee made this exclamation from any sincere feeling of piety.

Still, I do not regard it as having been spoken in derision; but, just as people who have a moderate knowledge of the faith, and are not openly wicked, are accustomed to indulging in idle talk about eternal life amidst their cups, I think this man made a remark about future blessedness to elicit some observation from Christ in return.

And his words make it clear that he had nothing in mind beyond what was crude and earthly; for he did not use the phrase eat bread as a metaphor for enjoy eternal life, but appears to have dreamed of some unknown state, filled with prosperity and an abundance of all things.

The meaning is, Blessed shall they be who shall eat the bread of God,²⁹¹ after he has collected his children into his kingdom.

²⁹¹ “Qui seront nourris de Dieu;”— “who shall be fed by God.”;”— “who shall be fed by God.”