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马太福音 21:18-23:39
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
马太福音 21:18-23:39
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
咒诅无花果树
18 清早，耶稣在回城的途中饿了。 19 祂看见路旁有一棵无花果树，便走过去，却发现除了叶子外什么也没有。
祂对那棵树说：“你将再不会结果子！”那棵树立刻枯萎了。
20 门徒见了就惊奇地问：“这棵树怎么一下子枯萎了？”
21 耶稣回答说：“我实在告诉你们，如果你们有信心、不怀疑，不但能使无花果树枯萎，就算对这座山说，‘从这里挪开，投进大海里！’也照样可以实现。 22 所以，你们祷告时无论求什么，只要有信心，就必定得到。”
质问耶稣的权柄
23 耶稣进了圣殿，正在教导人的时候，祭司长和民间的长老来质问祂：“你凭什么权柄做这些事？谁授权给你了？”
24 耶稣说：“我也要问你们一个问题，你们回答了，我就告诉你们我凭什么权柄做这些事。 25 约翰的洗礼是从哪里来的？从天上来的，还是从人来的？”
他们便彼此议论说：“如果我们说‘是从天上来的’，祂一定会问我们，‘那你们为什么不信他？’ 26 但如果我们说‘是从人来的’，又怕触怒百姓，因为他们相信约翰是个先知。” 27 于是，他们回答耶稣说：“我们不知道。”
耶稣说：“我也不告诉你们我凭什么权柄做这些事。”
两个儿子的比喻
28 耶稣又说：“你们怎样看这件事？某人有两个儿子。他对大儿子说，‘孩子，你今天到葡萄园工作吧！’
29 “大儿子回答说，‘我不去！’但后来他改变了主意，就去了。
30 “那父亲又对小儿子说，‘你今天到葡萄园工作吧！’小儿子回答说，‘好的，父亲。’他答应了，却没有去。
31 “你们认为这两个儿子，到底哪一个服从父亲呢？”
他们回答道：“大儿子。”
耶稣说：“我实在告诉你们，税吏和娼妓要比你们先进上帝的国。 32 因为约翰来指示你们当行的正路，你们不信他，但税吏和娼妓信了。你们亲眼看见了这些事，竟然还是执迷不悟，不肯信他。
恶毒的佃户
33 “你们再听一个比喻。有个园主栽种了一个葡萄园，在园子的四周建造围墙，又在园中挖了一个榨酒池，建了一座瞭望台，然后把葡萄园租给佃户，就出远门了。 34 到了收获的季节，园主派奴仆到佃户那里收果子。 35 但那些佃户却抓住他的奴仆，打伤一个，杀死一个，又用石头打死了一个。 36 于是，园主又派更多的奴仆去，结果也遭到同样的对待。 37 最后，园主派了自己的儿子去，心想，‘他们肯定会尊重我的儿子。’ 38 然而，那些佃户看见园主的儿子来了，就商量说，‘这是园主的继承人。来吧！我们杀掉他，占了他的产业！’ 39 于是，他们抓住他，把他推出园外杀了。 40 那么，当园主回来的时候，他会怎样处置那些佃户呢？”
41 他们说：“他会毫不留情地除掉那些恶人，然后把葡萄园租给其他按时交果子的佃户。”
42 耶稣说：
“‘工匠丢弃的石头已成了房角石。
这是主的作为，在我们看来奇妙莫测。’
你们难道没有读过这段经文吗？ 43 所以，我告诉你们，将把上帝的国从你们那里夺去，赐给结果子的人。 44 凡跌在这石头上的人，一定粉身碎骨；这石头落在谁身上，就会把谁砸烂。”
45 祭司长和法利赛人听了耶稣的比喻，明白是针对他们讲的。 46 他们试图逮捕耶稣，但又害怕百姓，因为百姓都认为耶稣是先知。
王宴客的比喻
22 耶稣又用比喻对他们说： 2 “天国就像一个王为儿子筹备婚宴。 3 他派奴仆去请受邀的客人，可是客人都不肯赴宴。 4 王再派其他奴仆去，说，‘去告诉被邀请的人，我的宴席已经备好，公牛和肥畜都宰了，一切都预备妥当，来赴婚宴吧！’ 5 那些人却毫不理会地走了，一个去种田，一个去做买卖， 6 其余的竟然抓住王的奴仆，把他们羞辱一番后杀了。 7 王大怒，派军队去剿灭凶手，烧毁他们的城。
8 “然后，他对奴仆说，‘婚宴已预备好了，只是被邀请的人不配。 9 所以你们到街头巷尾，把所有见到的人都请来。’ 10 奴仆到街上把遇到的人都请了来，好人坏人都有，大厅里满了客人。
11 “王出来会见在座的客人，发现有一个人没有穿礼服， 12 就问他，‘朋友，你来这里怎么不穿婚宴的礼服呢？’那人无言以对。 13 王便吩咐侍从，‘把他手脚绑起来丢到外面的黑暗里，让他在那里哀哭切齿。’”
14 耶稣又说：“被邀请的人多，选上的人少。”
以纳税问题刁难耶稣
15 那时，法利赛人出去策划怎样从耶稣的话里找把柄陷害祂。 16 他们派了自己的门徒跟希律党人一同去问耶稣：“老师，我们知道你诚实无伪，按真理传上帝的道，你不徇情面，不以貌取人。 17 那么请告诉我们，纳税给凯撒对不对呢？”
18 耶稣看出了他们的恶意，就说：“你们这些伪君子，为什么试探我呢？ 19 拿一个纳税用的钱币来给我看。”他们就拿给祂一个银币。
20 耶稣问他们：“上面刻的是谁的像和名号？”
21 他们说：“凯撒的。”
耶稣说：“那么，属于凯撒的东西应该给凯撒，属于上帝的东西应该给上帝。” 22 他们听了很惊奇，只好离开祂走了。
论复活
23 同一天，不相信死人会复活的撒都该人也来问耶稣， 24 说：“老师，摩西说，‘如果一个人死了，没有儿女，只留下妻子，他的兄弟就当娶嫂嫂，替哥哥传宗接代。’ 25 从前，我们这里有弟兄七人，老大结了婚，没有孩子就死了，把妻子留给了弟弟。 26 二弟、三弟一直到七弟都相继娶了嫂嫂，都没留下孩子。 27 最后，那女人也死了。 28 那么，到复活的时候，她将是谁的妻子呢？因为他们都娶过她。”
29 耶稣说：“你们弄错了。你们不明白圣经，也不知道上帝的能力。 30 因为到复活的时候，人们将不娶也不嫁，就像天上的天使一样。
31 “关于死人复活的事，难道你们没有读过上帝对你们说过的话吗？ 32 祂说，‘我是亚伯拉罕的上帝，以撒的上帝，雅各的上帝。’上帝不是死人的上帝，而是活人的上帝。” 33 众人听到祂的教导都很惊奇。
最大的诫命
34 法利赛人听见耶稣使撒都该人无言以对，就聚集在一起。 35 其中有位律法专家试探耶稣说： 36 “老师，请问律法中哪一条诫命最重要呢？”
37 耶稣回答说：“‘你要全心、全情、全意爱主——你的上帝’， 38 这是第一条也是最重要的诫命。 39 第二条也相似，就是‘要爱邻如己’。 40 律法和先知的全部教导都以这两条诫命为基础。”
基督的身份
41 耶稣趁着法利赛人聚在那里，就问他们： 42 “你们对基督有何看法？祂是谁的后裔？”他们答道：“大卫的后裔。”
43 耶稣说：“那么，为什么大卫受圣灵感动，称祂为主呢？大卫曾说，
44 “‘主对我主说，
你坐在我的右边，
等我使你的仇敌伏在你脚下。’
45 既然大卫称基督为主，基督又怎么会是大卫的后裔呢？” 46 没人能回答耶稣的问题。从此再没有人敢用问题来刁难耶稣了。
谴责律法教师和法利赛人
23 随后，耶稣对百姓和门徒说： 2 “律法教师和法利赛人坐在摩西的位子上讲授律法。 3 你们要谨遵他们的教导，但不要效法他们的行为，因为他们言行不一。 4 他们捆好重担放在别人肩上，而自己连一根指头也不肯动！
5 “他们的所作所为是为了给人看的，他们把额上佩戴的经文盒子加宽了，又将衣裳的穗边加长了。 6 他们喜欢宴席中的上座和会堂里的首位。 7 他们喜欢别人在街市上问候他们，称呼他们为老师[a]。 8 但你们不要让别人称呼你们为老师，因为你们只有一位老师，你们彼此都是弟兄。 9 不要称呼地上的人为父亲，因为你们只有一位父亲，祂在天上。 10 不要让人称你们为导师，因为你们只有一位导师——基督。 11 你们当中谁最伟大，谁就要做你们的仆人。 12 自高的人必遭贬抑，谦卑的人必得尊荣。
13 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！因为你们当着人们的面关闭天国之门，自己不进去，也不让别人进去。
14 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！因为你们侵吞寡妇的财产，还假意做冗长的祷告。因此，你们会受到更严厉的刑罚。[b]
15 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！因为你们走遍海洋和陆地去引人入教，等人入了教，却使他沦为地狱之子，比你们还坏一倍。
16 “瞎眼的向导啊，你们有祸了！你们说，‘指着圣殿发誓，不算数；但是指着圣殿里的金子发誓，就要遵守誓言。’ 17 无知的瞎子啊！金子重要呢？还是使金子神圣的圣殿重要呢？ 18 你们又说，‘指着祭坛发誓不算数，但是指着坛上的供物发誓，就要遵守誓言。’ 19 瞎眼的人啊！供物重要呢？还是使供物神圣的祭坛重要呢？ 20 其实指着祭坛发誓，就是指着祭坛和坛上的一切东西发誓。 21 指着圣殿发誓，就是指着圣殿和住在里面的上帝发誓。 22 指着天发誓，就是指着上帝的宝座和坐在宝座上的那位发誓。
23 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！你们把薄荷、茴香、芹菜献上十分之一，却忽略了律法中更重要的事——公正、怜悯、信实。后者是你们本该做的，前者也不可忽略。 24 瞎眼的向导啊！你们滤出蚊虫，却吞下骆驼。
25 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！你们洗净杯盘的外面，里面却盛满了贪婪和放纵。 26 瞎眼的法利赛人啊！要先洗净杯盘的里面，好让外面也干净。[c]
27 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！你们好像粉饰的坟墓，外表好看，里面却装满了死人的骨头和各样污秽之物。 28 你们虚有公义的外表，内心却充满了各种的虚伪和罪恶。
29 “虚伪的律法教师和法利赛人啊，你们有祸了！你们为先知建墓，为义人修碑，并且说， 30 ‘如果我们活在我们祖先的时代，绝不会和他们一起去杀害先知。’ 31 这样，你们自己证明自己是杀害先知之人的后代。 32 去填满你们祖先的罪恶吧！ 33 你们这些蛇，这些毒蛇的后代啊，你们怎能逃脱地狱的刑罚呢？
34 “看啊，我派先知、智者和律法教师到你们当中，有的会遭到你们的杀害，被你们钉在十字架上；有的会在会堂里被你们鞭打，被你们从这城追到那城。 35 因此，所有义人在地上所流的血，就是从义人亚伯的血，直到你们在圣所和祭坛之间所杀的巴拉加的儿子撒迦利亚的血，都要归到你们身上。 36 我实在告诉你们，这一切的罪责都要归到这个世代。
为耶路撒冷哀叹
37 “耶路撒冷啊！耶路撒冷啊！你常杀害先知，又用石头打死派到你那里的使者。我多次想要招聚你的儿女，像母鸡将小鸡聚集在翅膀底下，可是你们却不肯。 38 看啊！你们的家园将一片荒凉。 39 我告诉你们，从现在起，直到你们说‘奉主名来的当受称颂’那天之前，你们再也见不到我了。”
馬太福音 21:18-23:39
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
馬太福音 21:18-23:39
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
咒詛無花果樹
18 清早，耶穌在回城的途中餓了。 19 祂看見路旁有一棵無花果樹，便走過去，卻發現除了葉子外什麼也沒有。
祂對那棵樹說：「你將再不會結果子！」那棵樹立刻枯萎了。
20 門徒見了就驚奇地問：「這棵樹怎麼一下子枯萎了？」
21 耶穌回答說：「我實在告訴你們，如果你們有信心、不懷疑，不但能使無花果樹枯乾，就算對這座山說，『從這裡挪開，投進大海裡！』也照樣可以實現。 22 所以，你們禱告時無論求什麼，只要有信心，就必定得到。」
質問耶穌的權柄
23 耶穌進了聖殿，正在教導人的時候，祭司長和民間的長老來質問祂：「你憑什麼權柄做這些事？誰授權給你了？」
24 耶穌說：「我也要問你們一個問題，你們回答了，我就告訴你們我憑什麼權柄做這些事。 25 約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的？從天上來的，還是從人來的？」
他們便彼此議論說：「如果我們說『是從天上來的』，祂一定會問我們，『那你們為什麼不信他？』 26 但如果我們說『是從人來的』，又怕觸怒百姓，因為他們相信約翰是個先知。」 27 於是，他們回答耶穌說：「我們不知道。」
耶穌說：「我也不告訴你們我憑什麼權柄做這些事。」
兩個兒子的比喻
28 耶穌又說：「你們怎樣看這件事？某人有兩個兒子。他對大兒子說，『孩子，你今天到葡萄園工作吧！』
29 「大兒子回答說，『我不去！』但後來他改變了主意，就去了。
30 「那父親又對小兒子說，『你今天到葡萄園工作吧！』小兒子回答說，『好的，父親。』他答應了，卻沒有去。
31 「你們認為這兩個兒子，到底哪一個服從父親呢？」
他們回答道：「大兒子。」
耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們，稅吏和娼妓要比你們先進上帝的國。 32 因為約翰來指示你們當行的正路，你們不信他，但稅吏和娼妓信了。你們親眼看見了這些事，竟然還是執迷不悟，不肯信他。
惡毒的佃戶
33 「你們再聽一個比喻。有個園主栽種了一個葡萄園，在園子的四周建造圍牆，又在園中挖了一個榨酒池，建了一座瞭望臺，然後把葡萄園租給佃戶，就出遠門了。 34 到了收穫的季節，園主派奴僕到佃戶那裡收果子。 35 但那些佃戶卻抓住他的奴僕，打傷一個，殺死一個，又用石頭打死了一個。 36 於是，園主又派更多的奴僕去，結果也遭到同樣的對待。 37 最後，園主派了自己的兒子去，心想，『他們肯定會尊重我的兒子。』 38 然而，那些佃戶看見園主的兒子來了，就商量說，『這是園主的繼承人。來吧！我們殺掉他，佔了他的產業！』 39 於是，他們抓住他，把他推出園外殺了。 40 那麼，當園主回來的時候，他會怎樣處置那些佃戶呢？」
41 他們說：「他會毫不留情地除掉那些惡人，然後把葡萄園租給其他按時交果子的佃戶。」
42 耶穌說：
「『工匠丟棄的石頭已成了房角石。
這是主的作為，在我們看來奇妙莫測。』
你們難道沒有讀過這段經文嗎？ 43 所以，我告訴你們，將把上帝的國從你們那裡奪去，賜給結果子的人。 44 凡跌在這石頭上的人，一定粉身碎骨；這石頭落在誰身上，就會把誰砸爛。」
45 祭司長和法利賽人聽了耶穌的比喻，明白是針對他們講的。 46 他們試圖逮捕耶穌，但又害怕百姓，因為百姓都認為耶穌是先知。
王宴客的比喻
22 耶穌又用比喻對他們說： 2 「天國就像一個王為兒子籌備婚宴。 3 他派奴僕去請受邀的客人，可是客人都不肯赴宴。 4 王再派其他奴僕去，說，『去告訴被邀請的人，我的宴席已經備好，公牛和肥畜都宰了，一切都預備妥當，來赴婚宴吧！』 5 那些人卻毫不理會地走了，一個去種田，一個去做買賣， 6 其餘的竟然抓住王的奴僕，把他們羞辱一番後殺了。 7 王大怒，派軍隊去剿滅凶手，燒毀他們的城。
8 「然後，他對奴僕說，『婚宴已預備好了，只是被邀請的人不配。 9 所以你們到街頭巷尾，把所有見到的人都請來。』 10 奴僕到街上把遇到的人都請了來，好人壞人都有，大廳裡滿了客人。
11 「王出來會見在座的客人，發現有一個人沒有穿禮服， 12 就問他，『朋友，你來這裡怎麼不穿婚宴的禮服呢？』那人無言以對。 13 王便吩咐侍從，『把他手腳綁起來丟到外面的黑暗裡，讓他在那裡哀哭切齒。』」
14 耶穌又說：「被邀請的人多，選上的人少。」
以納稅問題刁難耶穌
15 那時，法利賽人出去策劃怎樣從耶穌的話裡找把柄陷害祂。 16 他們派了自己的門徒跟希律黨人一同去問耶穌：「老師，我們知道你誠實無偽，按真理傳上帝的道，你不徇情面，不以貌取人。 17 那麼請告訴我們，納稅給凱撒對不對呢？」
18 耶穌看出了他們的惡意，就說：「你們這些偽君子，為什麼試探我呢？ 19 拿一個納稅用的錢幣來給我看。」他們就拿給祂一個銀幣。
20 耶穌問他們：「上面刻的是誰的像和名號？」
21 他們說：「凱撒的。」
耶穌說：「那麼，屬於凱撒的東西應該給凱撒，屬於上帝的東西應該給上帝。」 22 他們聽了很驚奇，只好離開祂走了。
論復活
23 同一天，不相信死人會復活的撒都該人也來問耶穌， 24 說：「老師，摩西說，『如果一個人死了，沒有兒女，只留下妻子，他的兄弟就當娶嫂嫂，替哥哥傳宗接代。』 25 從前，我們這裡有弟兄七人，老大結了婚，沒有孩子就死了，把妻子留給了弟弟。 26 二弟、三弟一直到七弟都相繼娶了嫂嫂，都沒留下孩子。 27 最後，那女人也死了。 28 那麼，到復活的時候，她將是誰的妻子呢？因為他們都娶過她。」
29 耶穌說：「你們弄錯了。你們不明白聖經，也不知道上帝的能力。 30 因為到復活的時候，人們將不娶也不嫁，就像天上的天使一樣。
31 「關於死人復活的事，難道你們沒有讀過上帝對你們說過的話嗎？ 32 祂說，『我是亞伯拉罕的上帝，以撒的上帝，雅各的上帝。』上帝不是死人的上帝，而是活人的上帝。」 33 眾人聽到祂的教導都很驚奇。
最大的誡命
34 法利賽人聽見耶穌使撒都該人無言以對，就聚集在一起。 35 其中有位律法專家試探耶穌說： 36 「老師，請問律法中哪一條誡命最重要呢？」
37 耶穌回答說：「『你要全心、全情、全意愛主——你的上帝』， 38 這是第一條也是最重要的誡命。 39 第二條也相似，就是『要愛鄰如己』。 40 律法和先知的全部教導都以這兩條誡命為基礎。」
基督的身分
41 耶穌趁著法利賽人聚在那裡，就問他們： 42 「你們對基督有何看法？祂是誰的後裔？」他們答道：「大衛的後裔。」
43 耶穌說：「那麼，為什麼大衛受聖靈感動，稱祂為主呢？大衛曾說，
44 『主對我主說，
你坐在我的右邊，
等我使你的仇敵伏在你腳下。』
45 既然大衛稱基督為主，基督又怎麼會是大衛的後裔呢？」 46 沒人能回答耶穌的問題。從此再沒有人敢用問題來刁難耶穌了。
譴責律法教師和法利賽人
23 隨後，耶穌對百姓和門徒說： 2 「律法教師和法利賽人坐在摩西的位子上講授律法。 3 你們要遵行他們的教導，但不要效法他們的行為，因為他們言行不一。 4 他們捆好重擔放在別人肩上，而自己連一根指頭也不肯動！
5 「他們的所作所為是為了給人看的，他們把額上佩戴的經文盒子加寬了，又將衣裳的穗邊加長了。 6 他們喜歡宴席中的上座和會堂裡的首位。 7 他們喜歡別人在街市上問候他們，稱呼他們為老師[a]。 8 但你們不要讓別人稱呼你們為老師，因為你們只有一位老師，你們彼此都是弟兄。 9 不要稱呼地上的人為父親，因為你們只有一位父親，祂在天上。 10 不要讓人稱你們為導師，因為你們只有一位導師——基督。 11 你們當中誰最偉大，誰就要作你們的僕人。 12 自高的人必遭貶抑，謙卑的人必得尊榮。
13 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們當著人們的面關閉天國之門，自己不進去，也不讓別人進去。
14 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們侵吞寡婦的財產，還假意做冗長的禱告。因此，你們會受到更嚴厲的刑罰。[b]
15 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們走遍海洋和陸地去引人入教，等人入了教，卻使他淪為地獄之子，比你們還壞兩倍。
16 「瞎眼的嚮導啊，你們有禍了！你們說，『指著聖殿發誓，不算數；但是指著聖殿裡的金子發誓，就要遵守誓言。』 17 無知的瞎子啊！金子重要呢？還是使金子神聖的聖殿重要呢？ 18 你們又說，『指著祭壇發誓不算數，但是指著壇上的供物發誓，就要遵守誓言。』 19 瞎眼的人啊！供物重要呢？還是使供物神聖的祭壇重要呢？ 20 其實指著祭壇發誓，就是指著祭壇和壇上的一切東西發誓。 21 指著聖殿發誓，就是指著聖殿和住在裡面的上帝發誓。 22 指著天發誓，就是指著上帝的寶座和坐在寶座上的那位發誓。
23 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們把薄荷、茴香、芹菜獻上十分之一，卻忽略了律法中更重要的事——公正、憐憫、信實。後者是你們本該做的，前者也不可忽略。 24 瞎眼的嚮導啊！你們濾出蚊蟲，卻吞下駱駝。
25 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們洗淨杯盤的外面，裡頭卻盛滿了貪婪和放縱。 26 瞎眼的法利賽人啊！要先洗淨杯盤的裡面，好讓外面也乾淨。[c]
27 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們好像粉飾的墳墓，外表好看，裡面卻裝滿了死人的骨頭和各樣污穢之物。 28 你們虛有公義的外表，內心卻充滿了各種的虛偽和罪惡。
29 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們為先知建墓，為義人修碑，並且說， 30 『如果我們活在我們祖先的時代，絕不會和他們一起去殺害先知。』 31 這樣，你們自己證明自己是殺害先知之人的後代。 32 去填滿你們祖先的罪惡吧！ 33 你們這些蛇，這些毒蛇的後代啊，你們怎能逃脫地獄的刑罰呢？
34 「看啊，我派先知、智者和律法教師到你們當中，有的會遭到你們的殺害，被你們釘在十字架上；有的會在會堂裡被你們鞭打，被你們從這城追到那城。 35 因此，所有義人在地上所流的血，就是從義人亞伯的血，直到你們在聖所和祭壇之間所殺的巴拉加的兒子撒加利亞的血，都要歸到你們身上。 36 我實在告訴你們，這一切的罪責都要歸到這個世代。
為耶路撒冷哀歎
37 「耶路撒冷啊！耶路撒冷啊！你常殺害先知，又用石頭打死派到你那裡的使者。我多次想要招聚你的兒女，像母雞將小雞聚集在翅膀底下，可是你們卻不肯。 38 看啊！你們的家園將一片荒涼。 39 我告訴你們，從現在起，直到你們說『奉主名來的當受稱頌』那天之前，你們再也見不到我了。」
Matthew 21:18-23:39
New International Version
Matthew 21:18-23:39
New International Version
Jesus Curses a Fig Tree(A)
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(B)
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,(C) not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for(D) in prayer.”
The Authority of Jesus Questioned(E)
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority(F) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”(G)
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
The Parable of the Two Sons
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’(H)
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(I) and the prostitutes(J) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(K) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(L) and the prostitutes(M) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(N) and believe him.
The Parable of the Tenants(O)
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted(P) a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.(Q) Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.(R) 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants(S) to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.(T) 36 Then he sent other servants(U) to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.(V) Come, let’s kill him(W) and take his inheritance.’(X) 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,”(Y) they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants,(Z) who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a]?(AA)
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you(AB) and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”[b](AC)
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.(AD)
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet(AE)
22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like(AF) a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants(AG) to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 “Then he sent some more servants(AH) 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.’
5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers(AI) and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners(AJ) 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,(AK) 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(AL)?’ 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.’(AM)
14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”(AN)
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar(AO)
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.(AP) “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[c](AQ) 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,(AR) and to God what is God’s.”
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.(AS)
Marriage at the Resurrection(AT)
23 That same day the Sadducees,(AU) who say there is no resurrection,(AV) 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.(AW) 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(AX) or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage;(AY) 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’[d]?(AZ) He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.(BA)
The Greatest Commandment(BB)
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,(BC) the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law,(BD) 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.’[e](BE) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f](BF) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”(BG)
Whose Son Is the Messiah?(BH)
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,”(BI) 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.”’[g](BJ)
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.(BK)
A Warning Against Hypocrisy(BL)(BM)
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law(BN) and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.(BO)
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see:(BP) They make their phylacteries[h](BQ) wide and the tassels on their garments(BR) long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;(BS) 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.(BT)
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father,(BU) and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(BV) 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.(BW)
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!(BX) You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.(BY) [14] [i]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,(BZ) and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell(CA) as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(CB) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(CC) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(CD) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(CE) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(CF) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(CG)
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth(CH) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.(CI) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides!(CJ) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,(CK) but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.(CL) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(CM) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(CN) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(CO) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(CP) what your ancestors started!(CQ)
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(CR) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(CS) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(CT) others you will flog in your synagogues(CU) and pursue from town to town.(CV) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(CW) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(CX) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(CY) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(CZ)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(DA) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(DB) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(DC) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[j]”(DD)
Footnotes
- Matthew 21:42 Psalm 118:22,23
- Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.
- Matthew 22:17 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
- Matthew 22:32 Exodus 3:6
- Matthew 22:37 Deut. 6:5
- Matthew 22:39 Lev. 19:18
- Matthew 22:44 Psalm 110:1
- Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm
- Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
- Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified) (CCB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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