Matthew

The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, chapter 22, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 22 New English Translation

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

   1 Jesus spoke 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 slaves 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. 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 The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city 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. 13 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 Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone's favor because you show no partiality. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar 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." So they brought him a denarius. 20 Jesus said to them, "Whose image is this, and whose inscription?" 21 They replied, "Caesar's." He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.

Marriage and the Resurrection

   23 The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24 "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.' 25 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 Last of all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her." 29 Jesus answered them, "You are deceived, 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 angels in heaven. 31 Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!" 33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment

   34 Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 35 And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

The Messiah: David's Son and LORD

   41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question: 42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" They said, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David by the Spirit call him 'LORD, ' saying,
   44 'The LORD said to my LORD, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet"'?
   45 If David then calls him 'LORD, ' how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.

King James Version

   1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
   2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
   3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
   4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
   5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
   6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
   7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
   8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
   9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
   10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
   11 ¶ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
   12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
   13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
   14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
   15 ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
   16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
   17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
   18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
   19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
   20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
   21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
   22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
   23 ¶ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
   24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
   25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:
   26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
   27 And last of all the woman died also.
   28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
   29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
   30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
   31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
   32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
   33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
   34 ¶ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
   35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
   36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
   37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
   38 This is the first and great commandment.
   39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
   40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
   41 ¶ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
   42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
   43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
   44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
   45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
   46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.