What does Matthew 22:34 mean?

This verse reads as if the various religious groups were cycling in and out to ask Jesus questions. This almost comically evokes the concept of "tapping in" and "tapping out" from tag-team wrestling. In those events, grapplers will touch hands with a teammate outside the ring, allowing them to trade places as they battle an opponent. In a sense, Christ's enemies are circling in and out of the battle as their attacks are foiled.

The Pharisees heard that Jesus had ended the prior exchange with the Sadducees by silencing them (Matthew 22:23–33). His answer was so clear, correct, and profound, they had nothing left to say.

Perhaps the Pharisees were impressed with this. The Pharisees and Sadducees were rivals and known to have debated the issue of resurrection. Jesus' ability to silence them with His wisdom and logic and revelation may have prompted the Pharisees to ask Him an honest question. Or perhaps they took it as a challenge to do better than the Sadducees had done in challenging Jesus. The question given next is intended to "test" Jesus (Matthew 22:35), but it is not necessarily invalid.

In any case, the Pharisees huddle together to craft a new approach, before picking one of their own to ask Jesus their new question.