Print Page Options

A Story About a Wedding Feast(A)

22 Jesus again used ·stories [parables] to teach them. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding ·feast [banquet] for his son. When the ·feast [banquet] was ready, the king sent his servants to ·tell [inform; call] the people who had been invited, but they refused to come.

“Then the king sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited that my ·feast [banquet] is ready. I have killed my best ·bulls [or oxen] and [L fattened] calves for the dinner, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding ·feast [banquet].’

“But the people ·refused to listen [paid no attention] to the servants and ·left to do other things [went their own way]. One went to ·work in his field [his field/farm], and another went to his business. ·Some of the other people [or The rest] grabbed the servants, ·beat [mistreated; insulted] them, and killed them. The king was furious and sent his army to ·kill [destroy] the murderers and burn their city [C probably an allusion to the destruction of Jerusalam in ad 70].

“After that, the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding ·feast [banquet] is ready. I invited those people, but they ·were not worthy [do not deserve] to come. So go to the ·street corners [crossroads; or main roads] and invite everyone you find to come to my ·feast [banquet].’ 10 So the servants went into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and ·bad [evil]. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 [L But] When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who was not dressed ·for a wedding [in wedding clothes]. 12 The king said, ‘Friend, how were you allowed to come in here? You are not dressed for a wedding.’ But the man ·said nothing [was speechless/silent]. 13 So the king told some servants, ‘Tie this man’s hands and feet. Throw him out into the ·darkness [darkness outside; or outermost darkness], where ·people will cry and grind their teeth with pain [L there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; C symbols of agony and torment].’

14 “·Yes [L For], many are ·invited [called], but only a few are chosen.”

Is It Right to Pay Taxes or Not?(B)

15 Then the Pharisees left that place and ·made plans [plotted] to ·trap [catch] Jesus in ·saying something wrong [his words]. 16 They sent some of their own ·followers [disciples] and some people from the group called Herodians [C a political group that supported king Herod and his family]. They said, “Teacher, we know that you are ·an honest man [true; sincere] and that you teach ·the truth [with sincerity/honesty] about God’s way. You are not ·afraid of [L concerned about] what other people think about you, because you ·pay no attention to who they are [play no favorites; are impartial; aren’t swayed by appearances]. 17 So tell us what you think. Is it ·right [permissible; lawful] to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” [C Saying “yes” would anger Jews who hated Roman rule; saying “no” could result in being charged with insurrection.]

18 But knowing ·that these leaders were trying to trick him [their evil/malicious motives], Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Why are you ·trying to trap [testing] me? 19 Show me a coin used for paying the tax.” So the men ·showed him a coin [L brought him a denarius; C a Roman coin worth a day’s wages]. 20 Then Jesus asked, “Whose ·image [likeness; portrait] and ·name [inscription] are on the coin?”

21 The men answered, “Caesar’s.” [C Ironically, the religious leaders were carrying coins bearing the idolatrous image of Caesar.]

Then Jesus said to them, “·Give [T Render] to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and give to God the things that are God’s.”

22 When the men heard what Jesus said, they were amazed and left him and went away.

Some Sadducees Try to Trick Jesus(C)

23 That same day some Sadducees came to Jesus and asked him a question. (Sadducees believed that people would not rise from the dead.) 24 They said, “Teacher, Moses said if a married man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and ·have children [L raise up offspring/seed] for him [Deut. 25:5]. 25 Once there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died. Since he had no ·children [offspring], his brother married the widow. 26 Then the second brother also died. The same thing happened to the third brother ·and all the other brothers [L down to the seventh]. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Since all seven men had married her, ·when people rise from the dead [L at the resurrection], whose wife will she be?”

29 Jesus answered, “You ·don’t understand [are mistaken/deceived], because you don’t know what the Scriptures say, and you don’t know about the power of God. 30 [L For] ·When people rise from the dead [L At the resurrection], they will not marry, nor will they be given to someone to marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31 ·Surely you have read [L Have you not read…?] what God said to you ·about rising [concerning the resurrection] from the dead. 32 God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob [Ex. 3:6; C God is still the God of the patriarchs, so they must have a continued existence after death].’ God is the God of the living, not the dead.”

33 When the people heard this, they were ·amazed [astounded] at Jesus’ teaching.

The Most Important Command(D)

34 When the Pharisees learned that ·the Sadducees could not argue with Jesus’ answers to them [L Jesus had silenced the Sadducees], the Pharisees met together. 35 One Pharisee, who was an expert on the law of Moses, asked Jesus this question to ·test [trap] him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the ·most important [greatest]?”

37 Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind [Deut. 6:5].’ 38 This is the first and ·most important [greatest] command. 39 And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself [Lev. 19:18].’ 40 All the law and the ·writings of the prophets [L prophets] ·depend [are based; L hang] on these two commands.”

Jesus Questions the Pharisees(E)

41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the ·Christ [Messiah]? Whose ·son [descendant] is he?”

They answered, “The Son of David [see 2 Sam. 7:12].”

43 Then Jesus said to them, “Then why did David call him ‘Lord’? David, speaking ·by the power of the Holy Spirit [L in/by the Spirit], said,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit by me at my right ·side [L hand; C the place of greatest honor beside the king],
    until I put your enemies ·under your control [L beneath your feet; C meaning defeated or made subject to your authority; Ps. 110:1].”’

45 David calls ·the Christ [the Messiah; L him] ‘Lord,’ so how can ·the Christ [the Messiah; L he] be his son?”

46 ·None of the Pharisees [L No one] could answer ·Jesus’ question [a word], and after that day no one ·was brave enough [dared] to ask him any more questions.

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet(A)

22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like(B) a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants(C) to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

“Then he sent some more servants(D) and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

“But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers(E) and burned their city.

“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners(F) and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good,(G) and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend(H)?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’(I)

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”(J)

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(K)

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.(L) “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a](M) to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(N) and to God what is God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(O)

Marriage at the Resurrection(P)

23 That same day the Sadducees,(Q) who say there is no resurrection,(R) came to him with a question. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him.(S) 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 same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?”

29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures(T) or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;(U) they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’[b]?(V) He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.(W)

The Greatest Commandment(X)

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,(Y) the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law,(Z) tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c](AA) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d](AB) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(AC)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(AD)

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,”(AE) they replied.

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, 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.”’[e](AF)

45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
  2. Matthew 22:32 Exodus 3:6
  3. Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
  4. Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18
  5. Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

22 Jesus spoke[a] to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves[b] to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready.[c] My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The[d] rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. The[e] king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death[f] and set their city[g] on fire. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 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.[h] 13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness,[i] 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[j] went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words.[k] 16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians,[l] saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.[m] You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality.[n] 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right[o] to pay taxes[p] to Caesar[q] 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[r] they brought him a denarius.[s] 20 Jesus[t] said to them, “Whose image[u] is this, and whose inscription?” 21 They replied,[v] “Caesar’s.” He said to them,[w] “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”[x] 22 Now when they heard this they were stunned,[y] and they left him and went away.

Marriage and the Resurrection

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

The Greatest Commandment

34 Now when the Pharisees[am] heard that he had silenced the Sadducees,[an] they assembled together.[ao] 35 And one of them, an expert in religious law,[ap] asked him a question to test[aq] him: 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”[ar] 37 Jesus[as] said to him, “‘Love[at] the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[au] 38 This is the first and greatest[av] commandment. 39 The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[aw] 40 All the law and the prophets depend[ax] on these two commandments.”

The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord

41 While[ay] the Pharisees[az] were assembled, Jesus asked them a question:[ba] 42 “What do you think about the Christ?[bb] Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.”[bc] 43 He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,

44 The Lord said to my lord,[bd]
Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?[be]

45 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”[bf] 46 No one[bg] was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:1 tn Grk “And answering again, Jesus spoke.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.
  2. Matthew 22:3 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
  3. Matthew 22:4 tn Grk “Behold, I have prepared my meal.” In some contexts, however, to translate ἄριστον (ariston) as “meal” or “dinner” somewhat misses the point. L&N 23.22 here suggests, “See now, the feast I have prepared (for you is ready).”
  4. Matthew 22:6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  5. Matthew 22:7 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  6. Matthew 22:7 tn Grk “he sent his soldiers, destroyed those murderers.” The verb ἀπώλεσεν (apōlesen) is causative, indicating that the king was the one behind the execution of the murderers. In English the causative idea is not expressed naturally here; either a purpose clause (“he sent his soldiers to put those murderers to death”) or a relative clause (“he sent his soldier who put those murderers to death”) is preferred.
  7. Matthew 22:7 tn The Greek text reads here πόλις (polis), which could be translated “town” or “city.” The prophetic reference is to the city of Jerusalem, so “city” is more appropriate here.
  8. Matthew 22:12 tn Grk “he was silent.”
  9. Matthew 22:13 tn The Greek term translated “darkness” (σκότος) is associated with Tartarus in Aeschylus, Eumenides 72; other references to the darkness of death and the underworld can be found throughout the classical literature as far back as Homer. BDAG 932 s.v. σκότος 1 states: “Of the darkness of the place of punishment far removed fr. the heavenly kingdom (Philo, Exsecr. 152 βαθὺ σκότος. Cp. Wsd 17:20; PsSol 14:9.—σκ. κ. βόρβορος ‘gloom and muck’ await those who are untrue to the Eleusinian Mysteries, Ael. Aristid. 22, 10 K.=19 p. 421 D. Of the darkness of death and the underworld in Hom. and the Trag. As the domain of evil spirits PGM 36, 138; Theoph. Ant. 2, 7 [p. 110, 5]) τὸ σκ. τὸ ἐξώτερον the darkness outside Mt 8:12; 22:13; 25:30.”
  10. Matthew 22:15 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
  11. Matthew 22:15 tn Grk “trap him in word.”
  12. Matthew 22:16 sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.
  13. Matthew 22:16 sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.
  14. Matthew 22:16 tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”
  15. Matthew 22:17 tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.
  16. Matthew 22:17 tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (kēnsos) was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.
  17. Matthew 22:17 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
  18. Matthew 22:19 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate their response to Jesus’ request for a coin.
  19. Matthew 22:19 tn Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. In other places δηνάριον (dēnarion) has been translated simply as “silver coin” with an explanatory note.sn A denarius was a silver coin worth approximately one day’s wage for a laborer. The fact that they had such a coin showed that they already operated in the economic world of Rome. The denarius would have had a picture of Tiberius Caesar stamped on it.
  20. Matthew 22:20 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
  21. Matthew 22:20 tn Or “whose likeness.”sn In this passage Jesus points to the image (Grk εἰκών, eikōn) of Caesar on the coin. This same Greek word is used in Gen 1:26 (LXX) to state that humanity is made in the “image” of God. Jesus is making a subtle yet powerful contrast: Caesar’s image is on the denarius, so he can lay claim to money through taxation, but God’s image is on humanity, so he can lay claim to each individual life.
  22. Matthew 22:21 tn Grk “they said to him.”
  23. Matthew 22:21 tn Grk “then he said to them.” τότε (tote) has not been translated to avoid redundancy.
  24. Matthew 22:21 sn Jesus’ answer to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s was a both/and, not the questioners’ either/or. So he slipped out of their trap.
  25. Matthew 22:22 tn Grk “they were amazed.”
  26. Matthew 22:23 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.
  27. Matthew 22:23 sn This remark is best regarded as a parenthetical note by the author.
  28. Matthew 22:23 tn Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  29. Matthew 22:24 tn Grk “and raise up seed,” an idiom for fathering children (L&N 23.59).
  30. Matthew 22:24 sn A quotation from Deut 25:5. This practice is called levirate marriage (see also Ruth 4:1-12; Mishnah, m. Yevamot; Josephus, Ant. 4.8.23 [4.254-256]). The levirate law is described in Deut 25:5-10. The brother of a man who died without a son had an obligation to marry his brother’s widow. This served several purposes: It provided for the widow in a society where a widow with no children to care for her would be reduced to begging, and it preserved the name of the deceased, who would be regarded as the legal father of the first son produced from that marriage.
  31. Matthew 22:27 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  32. Matthew 22:28 tn Grk “For all had her.”
  33. Matthew 22:29 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.
  34. Matthew 22:29 tn Or “mistaken” (cf. BDAG 822 s.v. πλανάω 2.c.γ).
  35. Matthew 22:30 tc Most witnesses have “of God” after “angels,” although some mss read ἄγγελοι θεοῦ (angeloi theou; א L ƒ13 28 33 892 1241 1424) while others have ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ (angeloi tou theou; W Γ Δ 0102 0161 565 579 M). Whether with or without the article, the reading “of God” appears to be a motivated addition. A few significant witnesses lack the adjunct (B D Θ 0233 ƒ1 700 sa); this coupled with strong internal evidence argues for the authenticity of the shorter reading.sn Angels do not die, nor do they eat according to Jewish tradition (1 En. 15:6; 51:4; Wis 5:5; 2 Bar. 51:10; 1QH 3.21-23).
  36. Matthew 22:31 tn Grk “spoken to you by God, saying.” The participle λέγοντος (legontos) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  37. Matthew 22:32 sn A quotation from Exod 3:6.
  38. Matthew 22:32 sn He is not God of the dead but of the living. Jesus’ point was that if God could identify himself as God of the three old patriarchs, then they must still be alive when God spoke to Moses; and so they must be raised.
  39. Matthew 22:34 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
  40. Matthew 22:34 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.
  41. Matthew 22:34 tn Grk “for the same.” That is, for the same purpose that the Sadducees had of testing Jesus.
  42. Matthew 22:35 tn Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law.
  43. Matthew 22:35 tn Grk “testing.” The participle, however, is telic in force.
  44. Matthew 22:36 tn Or possibly “What sort of commandment in the law is great?”
  45. Matthew 22:37 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  46. Matthew 22:37 tn Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).
  47. Matthew 22:37 sn A quotation from Deut 6:5. The threefold reference to different parts of the person says, in effect, that one should love God with all one’s being.
  48. Matthew 22:38 tn Grk “the great and first.”
  49. Matthew 22:39 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.
  50. Matthew 22:40 tn Grk “hang.” The verb κρεμάννυμι (kremannumi) is used here with a figurative meaning (cf. BDAG 566 s.v. 2.b).
  51. Matthew 22:41 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
  52. Matthew 22:41 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
  53. Matthew 22:41 tn Grk “asked them a question, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn) is somewhat redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.
  54. Matthew 22:42 tn Or “Messiah”; both “Christ” (Greek) and “Messiah” (Hebrew and Aramaic) mean “one who has been anointed.”sn See the note on Christ in 1:16.
  55. Matthew 22:42 sn It was a common belief in Judaism that Messiah would be the son of David in that he would come from the lineage of David. On this point the Pharisees agreed and were correct. But their understanding was nonetheless incomplete, for Messiah is also David’s Lord. With this statement Jesus was affirming that, as the Messiah, he is both God and man.
  56. Matthew 22:44 sn The Lord said to my lord. With David being the speaker, this indicates his respect for his descendant (referred to as my lord). Jesus was arguing, as the ancient exposition assumed, that the passage is about the Lord’s anointed. The passage looks at an enthronement of this figure and a declaration of honor for him as he takes his place at the side of God. In Jerusalem, the king’s palace was located to the right of the temple to indicate this kind of relationship. Jesus was pressing the language here to get his opponents to reflect on how great Messiah is.
  57. Matthew 22:44 sn A quotation from Ps 110:1.
  58. Matthew 22:45 tn Grk “how is he his son?”
  59. Matthew 22:46 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.

婚筵的比喻(A)

22 耶稣又用比喻对他们说: “天国好象一个王,为儿子摆设婚筵。 他派仆人去叫被邀请的人来参加婚筵。但他们不肯来。 他再派另一些仆人去,说:‘你们告诉被邀请的人,我已经预备好了筵席,公牛和肥畜已经宰了,一切都预备妥当。来参加婚筵吧!’ 但那些人却不理会就走了;有的去耕田,有的去作买卖, 其余的抓住王的仆人,凌辱他们,并且把他们杀了。 王就发怒,派兵消灭那些凶手,焚毁他们的城。 然后对仆人说:‘婚筵已经预备好了,只是被邀请的人不配。 所以你们要到大路口,凡遇见的,都请来参加婚筵。’

10 “那些仆人就走到街上,把所有遇见的,不论好人坏人,都招聚了来,婚筵上就坐满了人。 11 王进来与赴筵的人见面,看见有一个人没有穿著婚筵的礼服, 12 就对他说:‘朋友,你没有婚筵的礼服,怎能进到这里来呢?’他就无话可说。 13 于是王对侍从说:‘把他的手和脚都绑起来,丢到外面的黑暗里,在那里必要哀哭切齿。’ 14 因为被召的人多,选上的人少。”

以纳税的事问难耶稣(B)

15 法利赛人就去商量,怎样找耶稣的话柄来陷害他。 16 他们派了自己的门徒和希律党的人一同去问耶稣:“老师,我们知道你为人诚实,照着真理把 神的道教导人,不顾忌任何人,因为你不徇情面。 17 请把你的意见告诉我们,纳税给凯撒,可不可以呢?” 18 耶稣看出他们的恶意,就说:“虚伪的人,为甚么试探我呢? 19 拿纳税的钱币给我看看。”他们就拿了一个银币给他。 20 耶稣问他们:“这是谁的像,谁的名号?” 21 他们回答:“凯撒的。”他就对他们说:“凯撒的应当归给凯撒, 神的应当归给 神。” 22 他们听了,十分惊奇,就离开他走了。

人复活后不娶不嫁(C)

23 撒都该人向来认为没有复活的事。那一天,他们前来问耶稣: 24 “老师,摩西说:‘如果一个人死了,没有儿女,他的弟弟应该娶他的妻子,为哥哥立后。’ 25 从前我们这里有兄弟七人,头一个结了婚,没有孩子就死了,留下妻子给他的弟弟。 26 第二个、第三个直到第七个都是这样。 27 最后,那女人也死了。 28 那么,复活的时候,她是这七个人中哪一个的妻子呢?因为他们都娶过她。” 29 耶稣回答他们:“你们错了,因为你们不明白圣经,也不晓得 神的能力。 30 复活的时候,人们也不娶也不嫁,而是像天上的使者一样。 31-32 关于死人复活的事, 神对你们讲过:‘我是亚伯拉罕的 神,以撒的 神,雅各的 神’,你们没有念过吗? 神不是死人的 神,而是活人的 神。” 33 群众听了他的教训,就十分诧异。

最重要的诫命(D)

34 法利赛人听见耶稣使撒都该人无话可说,就聚集在一起。 35 他们中间有一个律法家,试探耶稣说: 36 “老师,律法中哪一条诫命是最重要的呢?” 37 他回答:“你要全心、全性、全意爱主你的 神。 38 这是最重要的第一条诫命。 39 第二条也和它相似,就是要爱人如己。 40 全部律法和先知书,都以这两条诫命作为根据。”

基督是大卫的子孙(E)

41 法利赛人聚在一起的时候,耶稣问他们: 42 “你们对基督的看法怎样?他是谁的子孙呢?”他们回答:“大卫的子孙。” 43 耶稣就说:“那么大卫被圣灵感动,怎么会称他为主呢?他说:

44 ‘主对我的主说:

你坐在我的右边,

等我把你的仇敌放在你的脚下。’

45 “大卫既然称他为主,他怎么又是大卫的子孙呢?” 46 没有人能够回答他。从那天起,也没有人敢再问他。

A parábola do banquete de casamento

22 Jesus lhes contou outras parábolas. Disse ele: “O reino dos céus pode ser ilustrado com a história de um rei que preparou um grande banquete de casamento para seu filho. Quando o banquete estava pronto, o rei enviou seus servos para avisar os convidados, mas todos se recusaram a vir.

“Então ele enviou outros servos para lhes dizer: ‘Já preparei o banquete; os bois e novilhos gordos foram abatidos, e tudo está pronto. Venham para a festa!’. Mas os convidados não lhes deram atenção e foram embora: um para sua fazenda, outro para seus negócios. Outros, ainda, agarraram os mensageiros, os insultaram e os mataram.

“O rei ficou furioso e enviou seu exército para destruir os assassinos e queimar a cidade deles. Disse a seus servos: ‘O banquete de casamento está pronto, e meus convidados não são dignos dessa honra. Agora, saiam pelas esquinas e convidem todos que vocês encontrarem’. 10 Então os servos trouxeram todos que encontraram, tanto bons como maus, e o salão do banquete se encheu de convidados.

11 “Quando o rei entrou para recebê-los, notou um homem que não estava vestido de forma apropriada para um casamento 12 e perguntou-lhe: ‘Amigo, como é que você se apresenta sem a roupa de casamento?’. O homem não teve o que responder. 13 Então o rei disse: ‘Amarrem-lhe as mãos e os pés e lancem-no para fora, na escuridão, onde haverá choro e ranger de dentes’.

14 “Pois muitos são chamados, mas poucos são escolhidos”.

Impostos para César

15 Então os fariseus se reuniram para tramar um modo de levar Jesus a dizer algo que desse motivo para o prenderem. 16 Enviaram alguns de seus discípulos, junto com os partidários de Herodes, para se encontrarem com ele. Disseram: “Mestre, sabemos como o senhor é honesto e ensina o caminho de Deus de acordo com a verdade. É imparcial e não demonstra favoritismo. 17 Agora, diga-nos o que o senhor pensa a respeito disto: É certo pagar impostos a César ou não?”.

18 Jesus, porém, sabia de sua má intenção e disse: “Hipócritas! Por que vocês tentam me apanhar numa armadilha? 19 Mostrem-me a moeda usada para pagar o imposto”. Quando lhe deram uma moeda de prata,[a] 20 ele disse: “De quem são a imagem e o título nela gravados?”.

21 “De César”, responderam.

“Então deem a César o que pertence a César, e deem a Deus o que pertence a Deus”, disse ele.

22 Sua resposta os deixou admirados, e eles foram embora.

Discussão sobre a ressurreição dos mortos

23 No mesmo dia, vieram a Jesus alguns saduceus, líderes religiosos que afirmam não haver ressurreição dos mortos, 24 e perguntaram: “Mestre, Moisés disse: ‘Se um homem morrer sem deixar filhos, o irmão dele deve se casar com a viúva e ter um filho, que dará continuidade ao nome do irmão’.[b] 25 Numa família havia sete irmãos. O mais velho se casou e morreu sem deixar filhos, de modo que seu irmão se casou com a viúva. 26 O segundo irmão também morreu, e o terceiro irmão se casou com ela. E assim por diante, até o sétimo irmão. 27 Por fim, a mulher também morreu. 28 Diga-nos, de quem ela será esposa na ressurreição? Afinal, os sete se casaram com ela”.

29 Jesus respondeu: “O erro de vocês está em não conhecerem as Escrituras nem o poder de Deus, 30 pois, quando os mortos ressuscitarem, não se casarão nem se darão em casamento. Nesse sentido, serão como os anjos do céu.

31 “Agora, quanto a haver ressurreição dos mortos, vocês não leram a esse respeito nas Escrituras? Deus disse: 32 ‘Eu sou o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque e o Deus de Jacó’.[c] Portanto, ele é o Deus dos vivos, e não dos mortos”.

33 Quando as multidões o ouviram, ficaram admiradas com seu ensino.

O mandamento mais importante

34 Sabendo os fariseus que Jesus tinha calado os saduceus com essa resposta, reuniram-se novamente para interrogá-lo. 35 Um deles, especialista na lei, tentou apanhá-lo numa armadilha com a seguinte pergunta: 36 “Mestre, qual é o mandamento mais importante da lei de Moisés?”.

37 Jesus respondeu: “‘Ame o Senhor, seu Deus, de todo o seu coração, de toda a sua alma e de toda a sua mente’.[d] 38 Este é o primeiro e o maior mandamento. 39 O segundo é igualmente importante: ‘Ame o seu próximo como a si mesmo’.[e] 40 Toda a lei e todas as exigências dos profetas se baseiam nesses dois mandamentos”.

De quem o Cristo é filho?

41 Então, rodeado pelos fariseus, Jesus lhes fez a seguinte pergunta: 42 “O que vocês pensam do Cristo? De quem ele é filho?”.

Eles responderam: “É filho de Davi”.

43 Jesus perguntou: “Então por que Davi, falando por meio do Espírito, chama o Cristo de ‘meu Senhor’? Pois Davi disse:

44 ‘O Senhor disse ao meu Senhor:

Sente-se no lugar de honra à minha direita

até que eu humilhe seus inimigos

debaixo de seus pés’.[f]

45 Portanto, se Davi chamou o Cristo de ‘meu Senhor’, como ele pode ser filho de Davi?”.

46 Ninguém conseguiu responder e, depois disso, não se atreveram a lhe fazer mais perguntas.

Footnotes

  1. 22.19 Em grego, 1 denário.
  2. 22.24 Dt 25.5-6.
  3. 22.32 Êx 3.6.
  4. 22.37 Dt 6.5.
  5. 22.39 Lv 19.18.
  6. 22.44 Sl 110.1.