King James Version

What Does Matthew 22:34 Mean?

Matthew 22:34 in the King James Version says “But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together .” — study this verse from Matthew chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

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

Matthew 22:34 · KJV

Context

32

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

33

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34

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

35

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Read Matthew 22 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence (Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἐφίμωσεν τοὺς Σαδδουκαίους/Hoi de Pharisaioi akousantes hoti ephimōsen tous Saddoukaious). The verb φιμόω (phimoō) means to muzzle, to silence completely, like putting a muzzle on an animal's mouth (used this way in 1 Corinthians 9:9 about not muzzling oxen, and Mark 4:39 where Jesus 'muzzles' the storm). Jesus had utterly silenced the Sadducees, leaving them speechless and defeated.

They were gathered together (συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό/synēchthēsan epi to auto). The Pharisees convene emergency council. Though they doctrinally opposed Sadducees (Pharisees believed in resurrection, oral tradition, angels, and spirits which Sadducees rejected), they unite against common enemy—Jesus. This alliance of opponents reveals Jesus's threat to the entire religious establishment. He exposes not just Sadducean skepticism but Pharisaic hypocrisy, challenging all human religious systems with divine truth and authority.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Pharisees and Sadducees represented rival parties within Second Temple Judaism. Pharisees were middle-class lay teachers emphasizing oral Torah, resurrection, and meticulous legal observance. Sadducees were aristocratic priests controlling the temple, accepting only written Torah, denying resurrection, collaborating with Rome. These groups fiercely debated theology and competed for influence. Yet both united against Jesus, who threatened their power, exposed their corruption, and offered salvation apart from their mediating institutions. This pattern repeats throughout history—theological opponents unite against gospel truth that threatens their religious authority and self-righteousness. The Pharisees should have rejoiced at Jesus vindicating resurrection against Sadducean denial; instead they plot to trap Him, revealing their real concern is preserving power, not pursuing truth.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the Pharisees' failure to rejoice at Jesus defending resurrection (which they believed) reveal about their true motives?
  2. How do opponents of the gospel today unite across doctrinal differences when threatened by biblical truth?
  3. When religious people seek to trap or silence Jesus's teaching rather than submit to it, what does this reveal about their hearts?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
Οἱ1 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δὲ2 of 12

“But”

G1161

but, and, etc

Φαρισαῖοι3 of 12

“when the Pharisees”

G5330

a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary

ἀκούσαντες4 of 12

“had heard”

G191

to hear (in various senses)

ὅτι5 of 12

“that”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἐφίμωσεν6 of 12

“he had put”

G5392

to muzzle

τοὺς7 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Σαδδουκαίους8 of 12

“the Sadducees”

G4523

a sadducaean (i.e., tsadokian), or follower of a certain heretical israelite

συνήχθησαν9 of 12

“they were gathered”

G4863

to lead together, i.e., collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably)

ἐπὶ10 of 12

“together”

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τὸ11 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

αὐτό12 of 12
G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 22:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 22:34 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mark 12:28-31Matthew 25:3-5Matthew 12:14Isaiah 41:5-7John 11:47-50

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