| 22 | Matthew | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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.' | ||
| 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. | ||
| 17 | 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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.' | ||
| 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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