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Das Gleichnis vom königlichen Hochzeitsmahl

22 Und Jesus begann und redete wieder in Gleichnissen zu ihnen und sprach: Das Himmelreich ist einem menschlichen König gleich, der seinem Sohn Hochzeit machte. Und er sandte seine Knechte aus, um die Geladenen zur Hochzeit zu rufen; aber sie wollten nicht kommen.

Da sandte er nochmals andere Knechte und sprach: Siehe, meine Mahlzeit habe ich bereitet; meine Ochsen und das Mastvieh sind geschlachtet, und alles ist bereit; kommt zur Hochzeit!

Sie aber achteten nicht darauf, sondern gingen hin, der eine auf seinen Acker, der andere zu seinem Gewerbe; die übrigen aber ergriffen seine Knechte, mißhandelten und töteten sie. Als das der König hörte, wurde er zornig, sandte seine Heere aus und brachte diese Mörder um und zündete ihre Stadt an.

Dann sprach er zu seinen Knechten: Die Hochzeit ist zwar bereit, aber die Geladenen waren nicht würdig; darum geht hin an die Kreuzungen der Straßen und ladet zur Hochzeit ein, soviele ihr findet! 10 Und die Knechte gingen hinaus auf die Straßen und brachten alle zusammen, soviele sie fanden, Böse und Gute, und der Hochzeitssaal wurde voll von Gästen.

11 Als aber der König hineinging, die Gäste zu besehen, sah er dort einen Menschen, der kein hochzeitliches Kleid anhatte; 12 und er sprach zu ihm: Freund, wie bist du hereingekommen und hast doch kein hochzeitliches Kleid an? Er aber verstummte.

13 Da sprach der König zu den Dienern: Bindet ihm Hände und Füße und führt ihn weg[a] und werft ihn hinaus in die äußerste Finsternis! Da wird das Heulen und Zähneknirschen sein. 14 Denn viele sind berufen, aber wenige sind auserwählt!

Verfängliche Fragen: - Wegen der Steuer

15 Da gingen die Pharisäer und hielten Rat, wie sie ihn in der Rede fangen könnten.

16 Und sie sandten ihre Jünger samt den Herodianern zu ihm und die sprachen: Meister, wir wissen, daß du wahrhaftig bist und den Weg Gottes in Wahrheit lehrst und auf niemand Rücksicht nimmst; denn du siehst die Person der Menschen nicht an. 17 Darum sage uns, was meinst du: Ist es erlaubt, dem Kaiser die Steuer[b] zu geben, oder nicht?

18 Als aber Jesus ihre Bosheit merkte, sprach er: Ihr Heuchler, was versucht ihr mich? 19 Zeigt mir die Steuermünze! Da reichten sie ihm einen Denar. 20 Und er spricht zu ihnen: Wessen ist das Bild und die Aufschrift? 21 Sie sprachen zu ihm: Des Kaisers. Da spricht er zu ihnen: So gebt dem Kaiser, was des Kaisers ist, und Gott, was Gottes ist! 22 + Als sie das hörten, verwunderten sie sich, und sie ließen ihn und gingen davon.

- Wegen der Auferstehung

23 An jenem Tag traten Sadduzäer zu ihm, die + sagen, es gebe keine Auferstehung, fragten ihn 24 und sprachen: Meister, Mose hat gesagt: „Wenn jemand ohne Kinder stirbt, so soll sein Bruder dessen Frau zur Ehe nehmen und seinem Bruder Nachkommen erwecken.“ 25 Nun waren bei uns sieben Brüder. Der erste heiratete und starb; und weil er keine Nachkommen hatte, hinterließ er seine Frau seinem Bruder. 26 Desgleichen auch der andere und der dritte, bis zum siebten. 27 Zuletzt, nach allen, starb auch die Frau. 28 Wem von den Sieben nun wird sie in der Auferstehung als Frau angehören? Denn alle haben sie zur Frau gehabt.

29 Aber Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr irrt, weil ihr weder die Schriften noch die Kraft Gottes kennt. 30 Denn in der Auferstehung heiraten sie nicht, noch werden sie verheiratet, sondern sie sind wie die Engel Gottes im Himmel. 31 Was aber die Auferstehung der Toten betrifft, habt ihr nicht gelesen, was euch von Gott gesagt ist, der da spricht: 32 „Ich bin der Gott Abrahams und der Gott Isaaks und der Gott Jakobs“? Gott ist aber nicht ein Gott der Toten, sondern der Lebendigen.

33 Und als die Volksmenge dies hörte, erstaunte sie über seine Lehre.

- Welches ist das größte Gebot?

34 Als nun die Pharisäer hörten, daß er den Sadduzäern den Mund gestopft [hatte], versammelten sie sich; 35 und einer von ihnen, ein Schriftgelehrter, versuchte ihn und sprach: 36 Meister, welches ist das größte Gebot im Gesetz?

37 Jesus sprach zu ihm: „Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, lieben mit deinem ganzen Herzen und mit deiner ganzen Seele und mit deinem ganzen Gemüt[c].“ 38 Das ist das erste und größte Gebot. 39 Ein anderes aber ist ihm gleich[d]:„Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst.“ 40 An diesen zwei Geboten hängt das ganze Gesetz und die Propheten.

- Wessen Sohn ist der Christus?

41 Als nun die Pharisäer versammelt waren, fragte sie Jesus 42 und sprach: Was denkt ihr von dem Christus? Wessen Sohn ist er? Sie sagten zu ihm: Davids. 43 Er spricht zu ihnen: Wie nennt ihn denn David im Geist „Herr“, da er spricht:

44 „Der Herr hat zu meinem Herrn gesagt: Setze dich zu meiner Rechten, bis ich deine Feinde hinlege als Schemel deiner Füße“?

45 Wenn also David ihn Herr nennt, wie ist er denn sein Sohn? 46 Und niemand konnte ihm ein Wort antworten. Auch getraute sich von jenem Tag an niemand mehr, ihn zu fragen.

Footnotes

  1. Matthäus 22:13 o. führt ihn weg
  2. Matthäus 22:17 die Steuer, von den römischen Cäsaren den Juden auferlegter Tribut
  3. Matthäus 22:37 eig. Denken, o. Gesinnung, +5M 6:5
  4. Matthäus 22:39 w. ähnlich, vergleichbar

Das Gleichnis vom königlichen Hochzeitsmahl

22 Da begann Jesus und redete wieder in Gleichnissen zu ihnen und sprach:

Das Reich der Himmel gleicht einem König, der für seinen Sohn das Hochzeitsfest veranstaltete.

Und er sandte seine Knechte aus, um die Geladenen zur Hochzeit zu rufen; aber sie wollten nicht kommen.

Da sandte er nochmals andere Knechte und sprach: Sagt den Geladenen: Siehe, meine Mahlzeit habe ich bereitet; meine Ochsen und das Mastvieh sind geschlachtet, und alles ist bereit; kommt zur Hochzeit!

Sie aber achteten nicht darauf, sondern gingen hin, der eine auf seinen Acker, der andere zu seinem Gewerbe;

die Übrigen aber ergriffen seine Knechte, misshandelten und töteten sie.

Als der König das hörte, wurde er zornig, sandte seine Heere aus und brachte diese Mörder um und zündete ihre Stadt an.

Dann sprach er zu seinen Knechten: Die Hochzeit ist zwar bereit, aber die Geladenen waren nicht würdig.

Darum geht hin an die Kreuzungen der Straßen und ladet zur Hochzeit ein, so viele ihr findet!

10 Und jene Knechte gingen hinaus auf die Straßen und brachten alle zusammen, so viele sie fanden, Böse und Gute, und der Hochzeitssaal wurde voll von Gästen.

11 Als aber der König hineinging, um sich die Gäste anzusehen, sah er dort einen Menschen, der kein hochzeitliches Gewand anhatte;

12 und er sprach zu ihm: Freund, wie bist du hier hereingekommen und hast doch kein hochzeitliches Gewand an? Er aber verstummte.

13 Da sprach der König zu den Dienern: Bindet ihm Hände und Füße, führt ihn weg und werft ihn hinaus in die äußerste Finsternis! Da wird das Heulen und Zähneknirschen sein.

14 Denn viele sind berufen, aber wenige sind auserwählt!

Die Frage nach der Steuer

15 Da gingen die Pharisäer und hielten Rat, wie sie ihn in der Rede fangen könnten.

16 Und sie sandten ihre Jünger samt den Herodianern[a] zu ihm, die sprachen: Meister, wir wissen, dass du wahrhaftig bist und den Weg Gottes in Wahrheit lehrst und auf niemand Rücksicht nimmst; denn du siehst die Person der Menschen nicht an.

17 Darum sage uns, was meinst du: Ist es erlaubt, dem Kaiser die Steuer zu geben, oder nicht?

18 Da aber Jesus ihre Bosheit erkannte, sprach er: Ihr Heuchler, was versucht ihr mich?

19 Zeigt mir die Steuermünze! Da reichten sie ihm einen Denar.

20 Und er spricht zu ihnen: Wessen ist dieses Bild und die Aufschrift?

21 Sie antworteten ihm: Des Kaisers. Da spricht er zu ihnen: So gebt dem Kaiser, was des Kaisers ist, und Gott, was Gottes ist!

22 Als sie das hörten, verwunderten sie sich, und sie ließen ab von ihm und gingen davon.

Die Frage nach der Auferstehung

23 An jenem Tag traten Sadduzäer zu ihm, die sagen, es gebe keine Auferstehung, und sie fragten ihn

24 und sprachen: Meister, Mose hat gesagt: Wenn jemand ohne Kinder stirbt, so soll sein Bruder dessen Frau zur Ehe nehmen und seinem Bruder Nachkommen erwecken.

25 Nun waren bei uns sieben Brüder. Der erste heiratete und starb; und weil er keine Nachkommen hatte, hinterließ er seine Frau seinem Bruder.

26 Gleicherweise auch der andere und der dritte, bis zum siebten.

27 Zuletzt, nach allen, starb auch die Frau.

28 Wem von den Sieben wird sie nun in der Auferstehung als Frau angehören? Denn alle haben sie zur Frau gehabt.

29 Aber Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr irrt, weil ihr weder die Schriften noch die Kraft Gottes kennt.

30 Denn in der Auferstehung heiraten sie nicht, noch werden sie verheiratet, sondern sie sind wie die Engel Gottes im Himmel.

31 Was aber die Auferstehung der Toten betrifft, habt ihr nicht gelesen, was euch von Gott gesagt ist, der spricht:

32 »Ich bin der Gott Abrahams und der Gott Isaaks und der Gott Jakobs«?[b] Gott ist aber nicht ein Gott der Toten, sondern der Lebendigen.

33 Und als die Menge dies hörte, erstaunte sie über seine Lehre.

Die Frage nach dem größten Gebot

34 Als nun die Pharisäer hörten, dass er den Sadduzäern den Mund gestopft hatte, versammelten sie sich;

35 und einer von ihnen, ein Gesetzesgelehrter, stellte ihm eine Frage, um ihn zu versuchen, und sprach:

36 Meister, welches ist das größte Gebot im Gesetz?

37 Und Jesus sprach zu ihm: »Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, lieben mit deinem ganzen Herzen und mit deiner ganzen Seele und mit deinem ganzen Denken«.[c]

38 Das ist das erste und größte Gebot.

39 Und das zweite ist ihm vergleichbar: »Du sollst deinen Nächsten lieben wie dich selbst«.[d]

40 An diesen zwei Geboten hängen das ganze Gesetz und die Propheten.

Wessen Sohn ist der Christus?

41 Als nun die Pharisäer versammelt waren, fragte sie Jesus

42 und sprach: Was denkt ihr von dem Christus? Wessen Sohn ist er? Sie sagten zu ihm: Davids.

43 Er spricht zu ihnen: Wieso nennt ihn denn David im Geist »Herr«[e], indem er spricht:

44 »Der Herr hat zu meinem Herrn gesagt: Setze dich zu meiner Rechten, bis ich deine Feinde hinlege als Schemel für deine Füße«?[f]

45 Wenn also David ihn Herr nennt, wie kann er dann sein Sohn sein?

46 Und niemand konnte ihm ein Wort erwidern. Auch getraute sich von jenem Tag an niemand mehr, ihn zu fragen.

Footnotes

  1. (22,16) d.h. Anhänger des herodianischen Königshauses.
  2. (22,32) 2Mo 3,6.
  3. (22,37) 5Mo 6,5.
  4. (22,39) 3Mo 19,18.
  5. (22,43) »Herr« (gr. kyrios) ist ein wichtiger Titel Jesu Christi, gleichbedeutend mit dem at. Titel adon, und umfasst die Bedeutungen »Herrscher / Gebieter / Besitzer / oberster Machthaber«.
  6. (22,44) Ps 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.

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