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

Parable of the wedding party

22 Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!”’ But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.

“The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’

10 “Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. 11 Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’

14 “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.”

Question about taxes

15 Then the Pharisees met together to find a way to trap Jesus in his words. 16 They sent their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are genuine and that you teach God’s way as it really is. We know that you are not swayed by people’s opinions, because you don’t show favoritism. 17 So tell us what you think: Does the Law allow people to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 Knowing their evil motives, Jesus replied, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked.

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” 22 When they heard this they were astonished, and they departed.

Question about resurrection

23 That same day Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Jesus. 24 They asked, “Teacher, Moses said, If a man who doesn’t have children dies, his brother must marry his wife and produce children for his brother.[a] 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married, then died. Because he had no children he left his widow to his brother. 26 The same thing happened with the second brother and the third, and in fact with all seven brothers. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 At the resurrection, which of the seven brothers will be her husband? They were all married to her.”

29 Jesus responded, “You are wrong because you don’t know either the scriptures or God’s power. 30 At the resurrection people won’t marry nor will they be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like angels from God. 31 As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you, 32 I’m the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?[b] He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 Now when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

Great commandment

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. 35 One of them, a legal expert, tested him. 36 “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 He replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being,[c] and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

Question about David’s son

41 Now as the Pharisees were gathering, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?”

“David’s son,” they replied.

43 He said, “Then how is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called him Lord when he said, 44 The Lord said to my lord, ‘Sit at my right side until I turn your enemies into your footstool’?[e] 45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be David’s son?” 46 Nobody was able to answer him. And from that day forward nobody dared to ask him anything.

Притча о свадебном пире(A)

22 Иисус продолжал учить народ в притчах, говоря:

– Царство Небесное можно сравнить со свадебным пиром, который один царь приготовил для своего сына. Он разослал к приглашенным своих слуг, чтобы позвать их на свадьбу, но приглашенные не хотели прийти. Тогда царь послал других слуг, наказав им: «Пойдите и скажите им, что мой пир уже готов, зарезаны быки и другой откормленный скот, все угощение готово, пусть приходят на свадебный пир». Приглашенные, однако, не обратили на это никакого внимания и разошлись. Один пошел на свое поле, другой торговать, а некоторые даже схватили посланных слуг, унизили и убили их. Царь был разгневан. Он послал свое войско, уничтожил тех убийц и сжег их город.

Потом он сказал своим слугам: «Свадебный пир готов, но те, кого я пригласил, не заслужили чести быть на нем. Пойдите теперь на перекрестки дорог и приглашайте на пир всех, кого вы встретите». 10 Слуги пошли по улицам и стали созывать всех, кого встречали, злых и добрых, и пиршественный зал наполнился гостями, которые возлежали за столами. 11 Когда же царь пришел посмотреть на возлежащих, он заметил человека, на котором не было свадебной одежды. 12 «Друг, – спросил царь, – как это ты вошел сюда без свадебной одежды?» Человеку нечего было сказать. 13 Тогда царь приказал слугам: «Свяжите его по рукам и ногам и выбросьте вон, во тьму, где будет плач и скрежет зубов».

14 Ведь приглашенных много, но избранных мало.

Вопрос об уплате налогов(B)

15 После этого фарисеи стали советоваться, как бы им поймать Иисуса на слове. 16 Они подослали к Нему своих учеников и иродиан[a].

– Учитель, – спросили они, – мы знаем, что Ты Человек честный и истинно учишь пути Божьему. Ты беспристрастен и не стремишься никому угодить. 17 Скажи нам, как Ты считаешь, следует ли платить налог кесарю или нет?

18 Иисус, зная их коварные намерения, сказал:

– Лицемеры, вы хотите поймать Меня на слове? 19 Покажите Мне монету, которой платится дань.

Они принесли Ему динарий. 20 Иисус спросил их:

– Кто на ней изображен, и чье на ней имя?

21 – Кесаря, – ответили они.

Тогда Иисус сказал им:

– Так и отдавайте кесарево кесарю, а Божье – Богу.

22 Услышав это, они удивились, и, оставив Иисуса, они ушли.

Саддукеи задают Иисусу вопрос о воскресении мертвых(C)

23 В тот же день саддукеи, которые утверждают, что нет воскресения мертвых, подошли к Иисусу. Они спросили Его:

24 – Учитель, Моисей сказал, что если кто-либо умрет, не оставив детей, то его брат должен жениться на вдове и восстановить род[b] своему брату[c]. 25 Так вот, у нас тут было семь братьев. Первый женился и умер бездетным, и вдова стала женой его брата. 26 То же самое произошло и со вторым, и с третьим, и со всеми семью братьями. 27 После всех умерла и женщина. 28 Итак, после воскресения, которому из семи братьев она будет женой? Ведь все были ее мужьями.

29 Иисус ответил:

– Вы заблуждаетесь, потому что не знаете ни Писаний, ни силы Божьей. 30 Воскреснув, люди не будут ни жениться, ни выходить замуж, а будут как ангелы на небесах. 31 Что же касается воскресения мертвых, то разве вы не читали, что сказал вам Бог: 32 «Я – Бог Авраама, Бог Исаака и Бог Иакова»?[d] Он Бог не мертвых, а живых.

33 Люди слушали и удивлялись Его учению.

Самая главная заповедь(D)

34 Фарисеи же, услышав, как Иисус заставил замолчать саддукеев, собрались вокруг Него. 35 Один из них, учитель Закона, чтобы поймать Иисуса на слове, спросил:

36 – Учитель, какая заповедь в Законе самая важная?

37 Иисус ответил:

– «Люби Господа, Бога твоего, всем сердцем твоим и всей душой твоей и всем разумом твоим»[e]. 38 Это первая и самая важная заповедь. 39 Вторая же подобна ей: «Люби ближнего твоего, как самого себя»[f]. 40 Весь Закон и учение пророков основаны на этих двух заповедях.

Кем является Христос?(E)

41 Когда фарисеи собрались вместе, Иисус спросил их:

42 – Что вы думаете о Христе? Чей Он Сын?

– Сын Давида, – ответили Ему.

43 Иисус говорит им:

– Почему же тогда Давид, вдохновляемый Духом, называет Его Господом? Ведь он говорит:

44 «Сказал Господь Господу моему:
    Сядь по правую руку от Меня,
пока Я не повергну врагов Твоих
    к ногам Твоим»[g].

45 Итак, если Давид называет Его Господом, то как же в таком случае Он может быть ему Сыном?

46 В ответ никто не мог сказать ни слова, и с этого дня они больше не решались задавать Ему вопросы.

Footnotes

  1. 22:16 Иродиане составляли политическую группировку, преданную Ироду Антипе и поддерживавшую римлян.
  2. 22:24 Букв.: «семя».
  3. 22:24 См. Втор. 25:5-6.
  4. 22:32 Исх. 3:6.
  5. 22:37 Втор. 6:5.
  6. 22:39 Лев. 19:18.
  7. 22:44 Пс. 109:1.