Matthew 22

Parable of the wedding party

1 Jesus responded by speaking again in parables:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son.3 He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come.4 Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, "Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!" ’5 But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses.

6 The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.
7 “The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire.8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy.

9 Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’
10 “Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests.11 Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes.12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless.

13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’

14 "Many people are invited, but few people are chosen."

Question about taxes

15 Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words.16 They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism.

17 So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
18 Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?19 Show me the coin used to pay the tax." And they brought him a denarion.

20 "Whose image and inscription is this?"he asked.

21 "Caesar’s," they replied.
Then he said, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

22 When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.

Question about resurrection

23 That same day Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Jesus.24 They asked, "Teacher, Moses said, If a man who doesn’t have children dies, his brother must marry his wife and produce children for his brother. t25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married, then died. Because he had no children he left his widow to his brother.26 The same thing happened with the second brother and the third, and in fact with all seven brothers.27 Finally, the woman died.

28 At the resurrection, which of the seven brothers will be her husband? They were all married to her."
29 Jesus responded, "You are wrong because you don’t know either the scriptures or God’s power.30 At the resurrection people won’t marry nor will they be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like angels from God.31 As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you,32  I’m the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? t He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living."

33 Now when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

Great commandment

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together.35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him.

36 "Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 He replied, " You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, t and with all your mind.38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself .t

40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands."

Question about David’s son

41 Now as the Pharisees were gathering, Jesus asked them,

42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?""David’s son," they replied.
43 He said, "Then how is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called him Lord when he said,44  The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right side until I turn your enemies into your footstool’? t45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be David’s son?"

46 Nobody was able to answer him. And from that day forward nobody dared to ask him anything.

Matthew 22

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

1 Jesus spoket to them again in parables, saying:2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.3 He sent his slavest to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come.4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready.t My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.6 Thet rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them.7 Thet king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to deatht and set their cityt on fire.8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.11 But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say.t13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 Then the Phariseess went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words.t16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians,s saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.s You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality.t

17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it rightt to pay taxests to Caesart or not?”
18 But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me?19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” Sot they brought him a denarius.ts20 Jesust said to them, “Whose imagets is this, and whose inscription?”21 They replied,t “Caesar’s.” He said to them,t “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”s

22 Now when they heard this they were stunned,t and they left him and went away.

Marriage and the Resurrection

23 The same day Sadduceess (who say there is no resurrection)s came to him and asked him,t24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father childrentfor his brother.’s25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother.26 The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh.27 Lastt of all, the woman died.28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”t29 Jesust answered them, “You are deceived,t because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God.30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angelsss in heaven.31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God,t32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?s He is not the God of the dead but of the living!”s

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment

34 Now when the Phariseess heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,s they assembled together.t35 And one of them, an expert in religious law,t asked him a question to testt him:36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”t37 Jesust said to him, “‘Lovetthe Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’s38 This is the first and greatestt commandment.39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’s

40 All the law and the prophets dependt on these two commandments.”

The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord

41 Whilet the Phariseess were assembled, Jesus asked them a question:t42 “What do you think about the Christ?ts Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.”s

43 He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,

44 ‘The Lord said to my lord,s
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?s
45 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”t

46 No onet was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.