Matthew 22
New English Translation
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
22 Jesus spoke[a] 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[b] 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.[c] 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[d] rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The[e] king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death[f] and set their city[g] 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.[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
- Matthew 22:1 tn Grk “And answering again, Jesus spoke.” This construction is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.
- Matthew 22:3 tn See the note on the word “slave” in 8:9.
- 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).”
- Matthew 22:6 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 22:7 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:12 tn Grk “he was silent.”
- 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.”
- Matthew 22:15 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
- Matthew 22:15 tn Grk “trap him in word.”
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:16 tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:17 tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).
- Matthew 22:19 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate their response to Jesus’ request for a coin.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:21 tn Grk “they said to him.”
- Matthew 22:21 tn Grk “then he said to them.” τότε (tote) has not been translated to avoid redundancy.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:22 tn Grk “they were amazed.”
- Matthew 22:23 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.
- Matthew 22:23 sn This remark is best regarded as a parenthetical note by the author.
- Matthew 22:23 tn Grk “and asked him, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- Matthew 22:24 tn Grk “and raise up seed,” an idiom for fathering children (L&N 23.59).
- 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.
- Matthew 22:27 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 22:28 tn Grk “For all had her.”
- Matthew 22:29 tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.
- Matthew 22:29 tn Or “mistaken” (cf. BDAG 822 s.v. πλανάω 2.c.γ).
- 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).
- 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.
- Matthew 22:32 sn A quotation from Exod 3:6.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:34 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
- Matthew 22:34 sn See the note on Sadducees in 3:7.
- Matthew 22:34 tn Grk “for the same.” That is, for the same purpose that the Sadducees had of testing Jesus.
- Matthew 22:35 tn Traditionally, “a lawyer.” This was an expert in the interpretation of the Mosaic law.
- Matthew 22:35 tn Grk “testing.” The participle, however, is telic in force.
- Matthew 22:36 tn Or possibly “What sort of commandment in the law is great?”
- 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.
- Matthew 22:37 tn Grk “You will love.” The future indicative is used here with imperatival force (see ExSyn 452 and 569).
- 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.
- Matthew 22:38 tn Grk “the great and first.”
- Matthew 22:39 sn A quotation from Lev 19:18.
- Matthew 22:40 tn Grk “hang.” The verb κρεμάννυμι (kremannumi) is used here with a figurative meaning (cf. BDAG 566 s.v. 2.b).
- Matthew 22:41 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 22:41 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Matthew 22:44 sn A quotation from Ps 110:1.
- Matthew 22:45 tn Grk “how is he his son?”
- Matthew 22:46 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated.
马太福音 22
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
婚筵的比喻(A)
22 耶穌又用比喻對他們說： 2 “天國好像一個王，為兒子擺設婚筵。 3 他派僕人去叫被邀請的人來參加婚筵。但他們不肯來。 4 他再派另一些僕人去，說：‘你們告訴被邀請的人，我已經預備好了筵席，公牛和肥畜已經宰了，一切都預備妥當。來參加婚筵吧！’ 5 但那些人卻不理會就走了；有的去耕田，有的去作買賣， 6 其餘的抓住王的僕人，凌辱他們，並且把他們殺了。 7 王就發怒，派兵消滅那些兇手，焚毀他們的城。 8 然後對僕人說：‘婚筵已經預備好了，只是被邀請的人不配。 9 所以你們要到大路口，凡遇見的，都請來參加婚筵。’
10 “那些僕人就走到街上，把所有遇見的，不論好人壞人，都招聚了來，婚筵上就坐滿了人。 11 王進來與赴筵的人見面，看見有一個人沒有穿著婚筵的禮服， 12 就對他說：‘朋友，你沒有婚筵的禮服，怎能進到這裡來呢？’他就無話可說。 13 於是王對侍從說：‘把他的手和腳都綁起來，丟到外面的黑暗裡，在那裡必要哀哭切齒。’ 14 因為被召的人多，選上的人少。”
以納稅的事問難耶穌(B)
15 法利賽人就去商量，怎樣找耶穌的話柄來陷害他。 16 他們派了自己的門徒和希律黨的人一同去問耶穌：“老師，我們知道你為人誠實，照著真理把 神的道教導人，不顧忌任何人，因為你不徇情面。 17 請把你的意見告訴我們，納稅給凱撒，可不可以呢？” 18 耶穌看出他們的惡意，就說：“虛偽的人，為甚麼試探我呢？ 19 拿納稅的錢幣給我看看。”他們就拿了一個銀幣給他。 20 耶穌問他們：“這是誰的像，誰的名號？” 21 他們回答：“凱撒的。”他就對他們說：“凱撒的應當歸給凱撒， 神的應當歸給 神。” 22 他們聽了，十分驚奇，就離開他走了。
人復活後不娶不嫁(C)
23 撒都該人向來認為沒有復活的事。那一天，他們前來問耶穌： 24 “老師，摩西說：‘如果一個人死了，沒有兒女，他的弟弟應該娶他的妻子，為哥哥立後。’ 25 從前我們這裡有兄弟七人，頭一個結了婚，沒有孩子就死了，留下妻子給他的弟弟。 26 第二個、第三個直到第七個都是這樣。 27 最後，那女人也死了。 28 那麼，復活的時候，她是這七個人中哪一個的妻子呢？因為他們都娶過她。” 29 耶穌回答他們：“你們錯了，因為你們不明白聖經，也不曉得 神的能力。 30 復活的時候，人們也不娶也不嫁，而是像天上的使者一樣。 31-32 關於死人復活的事， 神對你們講過：‘我是亞伯拉罕的 神，以撒的 神，雅各的 神’，你們沒有念過嗎？ 神不是死人的 神，而是活人的 神。” 33 群眾聽了他的教訓，就十分詫異。
最重要的誡命(D)
34 法利賽人聽見耶穌使撒都該人無話可說，就聚集在一起。 35 他們中間有一個律法家，試探耶穌說： 36 “老師，律法中哪一條誡命是最重要的呢？” 37 他回答：“你要全心、全性、全意愛主你的 神。 38 這是最重要的第一條誡命。 39 第二條也和它相似，就是要愛人如己。 40 全部律法和先知書，都以這兩條誡命作為根據。”
基督是大衛的子孫(E)
41 法利賽人聚在一起的時候，耶穌問他們： 42 “你們對基督的看法怎樣？他是誰的子孫呢？”他們回答：“大衛的子孫。” 43 耶穌就說：“那麼大衛被聖靈感動，怎麼會稱他為主呢？他說：
44 ‘主對我的主說：
你坐在我的右邊，
等我把你的仇敵放在你的腳下。’
45 “大衛既然稱他為主，他怎麼又是大衛的子孫呢？” 46 沒有人能夠回答他。從那天起，也沒有人敢再問他。
Matthew 22
King James Version
22 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.
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