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| 22 | Matthew |
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| 1 |
THEN JESUS SPOKE to them again in parables: | The Parable of the Marriage Feast Mt.22.1-14 (Jerusalem) -[ Mt.22.1-14 → ] - Lk.14.15-24 |
| 2 |
'The kingdom of Heaven is like this. There was a king who prepared a feast for his son's wedding; | |
| 3 |
but when he sent his servants to summon the guests he had invited, they would not come. | |
| 4 |
He sent others again, telling them to say to the guests, "See now! I have prepared this feast for you. I have had my bullocks and fatted beasts slaughtered; everything is ready; come to the wedding at once." | |
| 5 |
But they took no notice; one went off to his farm, another to his business, | |
| 6 |
and the others seized the servants, attacked them brutally, and killed them. | |
| 7 |
The king was furious; he sent troops to kill those murderers and set their town on fire. | |
| 8 |
Then he said to his servants, "The wedding-feast is ready; but the guests I invited did not deserve the honour. | |
| 9 |
Go out to the main thoroughfares, and invite everyone you can find to the wedding." | |
| 10 |
The servants went out into the streets, and collected all they could find, good and bad alike. So the hall was packed with guests.
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| 11 |
'When the king came in to see the company at table, he observed one man who was not dressed for a wedding. | |
| 12 |
"My friend," said the king, "how do you come to be here without your wedding clothes?" He had nothing to say. | |
| 13 |
The king then said to his attendants, "Bind him hand and foot; turn him out into the dark, the place of wailing and grinding of teeth." | |
| 14 |
For though many are invited, few are chosen.'
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| 15 |
THEN THE PHARISEES went and agreed on a plan to trap him in his own words. | Paying Taxes to Caesar Mt.22.15-22 (Jerusalem) -[ Mt.22.15-22 → ] - Mk.12.13-17, Lk.20.20-26 |
| 16 |
Some of their followers were sent to him in company with men of Herod's party. They said, 'Master, you are an honest man, we know; you teach in all honesty the way of life that God requires, truckling to no man, whoever he may be. | |
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Give us your ruling on this: are we or are we not is permitted to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor?' | |
| 18 |
Jesus was aware of their malicious intention and said to them, 'You hypocrites! Why are you trying to catch me out? | |
| 19 |
Show me the money in which the tax is paid.' They handed him a silver piece. | |
| 20 |
Jesus asked, 'Whose head is this, and whose inscription?' | |
| 21 |
'Caesar's', they replied. He said to them, 'Then pay Caesar what is due to Caesar, and pay God what is due to God.' | |
| 22 |
This answer took them by surprise, and they went away and left him alone.
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| 23 |
The same day Sadducees came to him, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Their question was this: | The Question about the Resurrection Mt.22.23-33 (Jerusalem) -[ Mt.22.23-33 → ] - Mk.12.18-27, Lk.20.27-40 |
| 24 |
'Master, Moses said, "If a man should die childless, his brother shall marry the widow and carry on his brother's family." | - 'If a man dies, having no children Mt.22.24 - Dt.25.5 |
| 25 |
Now we knew of seven brothers. The first married and died, and as he was without issue his wife was left to his brother. | |
| 26 |
The same thing happened with the second, and the third, and so on with all seven. | |
| 27 |
Last of all the woman died. | |
| 28 |
At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be, for they had all married her?' | |
| 29 |
Jesus answered: 'You are mistaken, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. | |
| 30 |
At the resurrection men and women do not marry, but are like angels in heaven.
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| 31 |
'But about the resurrection of the dead, have you never read what God himself said to you: | |
| 32 |
"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"? He is not God of the dead but of the living.' | - 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Jacob Mt.22.32 - Ex.3.6, Ex.3.15 |
| 33 |
The people heard what he said, and were astounded at his teaching.
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| 34 |
Hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees met together; | The Great Commandment Mt.22.34-40 (Jerusalem) -[ Mt.22.34-40 → ] - Mk.12.28-34, Lk.10.25-28 |
| 35 |
and one of their number tested him with this question: | |
| 36 |
'Master, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' | |
| 37 |
He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." | - You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart Mt.22.37 - Dt.6.5, Jos.22.5 |
| 38 |
That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. | |
| 39 |
The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself." | - You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Mt.22.39 - Lv.19.18 |
| 40 |
Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.'
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| 41 |
Turning to the assembled Pharisees Jesus asked them, | The Question about David's Son Mt.22.41-46 (Jerusalem) -[ Mt.22.41-46 → ] - Mk.12.35-37, Lk.20.41-44 |
| 42 |
'What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David', they replied. | |
| 43 |
'How then is it', he asked, 'that David by inspiration calls him "Lord"? For he says, | |
| 44 |
"The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.' | - The Lord said to my Lord Mt.22.44 - Ps.110.1 |
| 45 |
"If David calls him "Lord", how can he be David's son?' | |
| 46 |
Not a man could say a word in reply; and from that day forward no one dared ask him another question.
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