Matthew 22:1–46

¹In further reply Jesus again spoke to them with illustrations, saying:²“The kingdom of the heavens has become like a man, a king, that made a marriage feast for his son.³And he sent forth his slaves to call those invited to the marriage feast, but they were unwilling to come.⁴Again he sent forth other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Look! I have prepared my dinner, my bulls and fattened animals are slaughtered, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast.”’⁵But unconcerned they went off, one to his own field, another to his commercial business;⁶but the rest, laying hold of his slaves, treated them insolently and killed them.

⁷“But the king grew wrathful, and sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.⁸Then he said to his slaves, ‘The marriage feast indeed is ready, but those invited were not worthy.⁹Therefore go to the roads leading out of the city, and anyone ​YOU​ find invite to the marriage feast.’¹⁰Accordingly those slaves went out to the roads and gathered together all they found, both wicked and good; and the room for the wedding ceremonies was filled with those reclining at the table.

¹¹“When the king came in to inspect the guests he caught sight there of a man not clothed with a marriage garment.¹²So he said to him, ‘Fellow, how did you get in here not having on a marriage garment?’ He was rendered speechless.¹³Then the king said to his servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the darkness outside. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be.’

¹⁴“For there are many invited, but few chosen.”

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went their way and took counsel together in order to trap him in his speech.¹⁶So they dispatched to him their disciples, together with party followers of Herod, saying: “Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not care for anybody, for you do not look upon men’s outward appearance.¹⁷Tell us, therefore, What do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?”¹⁸But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do ​YOU​ put me to the test, hypocrites?¹⁹Show me the head tax coin.” They brought him a de‧nar′i‧us.²⁰And he said to them: “Whose image and inscription is this?”²¹They said: “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar, but God’s things to God.”²²Well, when they heard [that], they marveled, and leaving him they went off.

²³On that day Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up to him and asked him:²⁴“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If any man dies without having children, his brother must take his wife in marriage and raise up offspring for his brother.’²⁵Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and deceased, and, not having offspring, he left his wife for his brother.²⁶It went the same way also with the second and the third, until through all seven.²⁷Last of all the woman died.²⁸Consequently, in the resurrection, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all got her.”

²⁹In reply Jesus said to them: “YOU​ are mistaken, because ​YOU​ know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God;³⁰for in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.³¹As regards the resurrection of the dead, did ​YOU​ not read what was spoken to ​YOU​ by God, saying,³²‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is the God, not of the dead, but of the living.”³³On hearing [that], the crowds were astounded at his teaching.

³⁴After the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they came together in one group.³⁵And one of them, versed in the Law, asked, testing him:³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”³⁷He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’³⁸This is the greatest and first commandment.³⁹The second, like it, is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets.”

⁴¹Now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them:⁴²“What do ​YOU​ think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him: “David’s.”⁴³He said to them: “How, then, is it that David by inspiration calls him ‘Lord,’ saying,⁴⁴‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet”’?⁴⁵If, therefore, David calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?”⁴⁶And nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day on to question him any further.