Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to Matthew 22
Close NKJV

Matthew 22
New King James Version

The Parable of the Wedding Feast(A)

22 And Jesus answered (B)and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; (C)my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them [a]spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out (D)his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not (E)worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and (F)gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there (G)who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was (H)speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, [b]take him away, and cast him (I)into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

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

The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(K)

15 (L)Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the (M)Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not [c]regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus [d]perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”

So they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, (N)“Render[e] therefore to Caesar the things that are (O)Caesar’s, and to God the things that are (P)God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?(Q)

23 (R)The same day the Sadducees, (S)who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, (T)Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are [f]mistaken, (U)not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but (V)are like angels [g]of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 (W)‘I am the God of Abraham, 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 multitudes heard this, (X)they were astonished at His teaching.

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?(Y)

34 (Z)But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, (AA)a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, (AB)“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: (AC)‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 (AD)On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?(AE)

41 (AF)While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”

They said to Him, “The (AG)Son of David.”

43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:

44 ‘The(AH) Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 (AI)And no one was able to answer Him a word, (AJ)nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:6 insolently
  2. Matthew 22:13 NU omits take him away, and
  3. Matthew 22:16 Lit. look at the face of
  4. Matthew 22:18 knew
  5. Matthew 22:21 Pay
  6. Matthew 22:29 deceived
  7. Matthew 22:30 NU omits of God
Close NABRE

Matthew 22
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 22

The Parable of the Wedding Feast.[a] 1 (A)Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast[b] for his son. 3 [c]He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. 4 A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ 5 Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 (B)The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 [d]The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. 9 Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ 10 The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,[e] and the hall was filled with guests. 11 [f]But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. 12 He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. 13 [g](C)Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ 14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to the Emperor.[h] 15 (D)Then the Pharisees[i] went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. 16 They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians,[j] saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. 17 [k]Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” 18 Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 [l]Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. 20 He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” 21 (E)They replied, “Caesar’s.”[m] At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” 22 When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.

The Question About the Resurrection.[n] 23 (F)On that day Sadducees approached him, saying that there is no resurrection.[o] They put this question to him, 24 (G)saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies[p] without children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died and, having no descendants, left his wife to his brother. 26 The same happened with the second and the third, through all seven. 27 Finally the woman died. 28 Now at the resurrection, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had been married to her.” 29 [q]Jesus said to them in reply, “You are misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels in heaven. 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you[r] by God, 32 (H)‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment.[s] 34 (I)When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them [a scholar of the law][t] tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher,[u] which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 (J)He said to him,[v] “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 (K)The second is like it:[w] You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 [x](L)The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The Question About David’s Son.[y] 41 (M)While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them,[z] 42 [aa]saying, “What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.” 43 He said to them, “How, then, does David, inspired by the Spirit, call him ‘lord,’ saying:

44 (N)‘The Lord said to my lord,
    “Sit at my right hand
    until I place your enemies under your feet”’?

45 [ab]If David calls him ‘lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 (O)No one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Footnotes

  1. 22:1–14 This parable is from Q; see Lk 14:15–24. It has been given many allegorical traits by Matthew, e.g., the burning of the city of the guests who refused the invitation (Mt 22:7), which corresponds to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. It has similarities with the preceding parable of the tenants: the sending of two groups of servants (Mt 22:3, 4), the murder of the servants (Mt 22:6), the punishment of the murderers (Mt 22:7), and the entrance of a new group into a privileged situation of which the others had proved themselves unworthy (Mt 22:8–10). The parable ends with a section that is peculiar to Matthew (Mt 22:11–14), which some take as a distinct parable. Matthew presents the kingdom in its double aspect, already present and something that can be entered here and now (Mt 22:1–10), and something that will be possessed only by those present members who can stand the scrutiny of the final judgment (Mt 22:11–14). The parable is not only a statement of God’s judgment on Israel but a warning to Matthew’s church.
  2. 22:2 Wedding feast: the Old Testament’s portrayal of final salvation under the image of a banquet (Is 25:6) is taken up also in Mt 8:11; cf. Lk 13:15.
  3. 22:3–4 Servants…other servants: probably Christian missionaries in both instances; cf. Mt 23:34.
  4. 22:7 See note on Mt 22:1–14.
  5. 22:10 Bad and good alike: cf. Mt 13:47.
  6. 22:11 A wedding garment: the repentance, change of heart and mind, that is the condition for entrance into the kingdom (Mt 3:2; 4:17) must be continued in a life of good deeds (Mt 7:21–23).
  7. 22:13 Wailing and grinding of teeth: the Christian who lacks the wedding garment of good deeds will suffer the same fate as those Jews who have rejected Jesus; see note on Mt 8:11–12.
  8. 22:15–22 The series of controversies between Jesus and the representatives of Judaism (see note on Mt 21:23–27) is resumed. As in the first (Mt 21:23–27), here and in the following disputes Matthew follows his Marcan source with few modifications.
  9. 22:15 The Pharisees: while Matthew retains the Marcan union of Pharisees and Herodians in this account, he clearly emphasizes the Pharisees’ part. They alone are mentioned here, and the Herodians are joined with them only in a prepositional phrase of Mt 22:16. Entrap him in speech: the question that they will pose is intended to force Jesus to take either a position contrary to that held by the majority of the people or one that will bring him into conflict with the Roman authorities.
  10. 22:16 Herodians: see note on Mk 3:6. They would favor payment of the tax; the Pharisees did not.
  11. 22:17 Is it lawful: the law to which they refer is the law of God.
  12. 22:19 They handed him the Roman coin: their readiness in producing the money implies their use of it and their acceptance of the financial advantages of the Roman administration in Palestine.
  13. 22:21 Caesar’s: the emperor Tiberius (A.D. 14–37). Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: those who willingly use the coin that is Caesar’s should repay him in kind. The answer avoids taking sides in the question of the lawfulness of the tax. To God what belongs to God: Jesus raises the debate to a new level. Those who have hypocritically asked about tax in respect to its relation to the law of God should be concerned rather with repaying God with the good deeds that are his due; cf. Mt 21:41, 43.
  14. 22:23–33 Here Jesus’ opponents are the Sadducees, members of the powerful priestly party of his time; see note on Mt 3:7. Denying the resurrection of the dead, a teaching of relatively late origin in Judaism (cf. Dn 12:2), they appeal to a law of the Pentateuch (Dt 25:5–10) and present a case based on it that would make resurrection from the dead ridiculous (Mt 22:24–28). Jesus chides them for knowing neither the scriptures nor the power of God (Mt 22:29). His argument in respect to God’s power contradicts the notion, held even by many proponents as well as by opponents of the teaching, that the life of those raised from the dead would be essentially a continuation of the type of life they had had before death (Mt 22:30). His argument based on the scriptures (Mt 22:31–32) is of a sort that was accepted as valid among Jews of the time.
  15. 22:23 Saying that there is no resurrection: in the Marcan parallel (Mk 22:12, 18) the Sadducees are correctly defined as those “who say there is no resurrection”; see also Lk 20:27. Matthew’s rewording of Mark can mean that these particular Sadducees deny the resurrection, which would imply that he was not aware that the denial was characteristic of the party. For some scholars this is an indication of his being a Gentile Christian; see note on Mt 21:4–5.
  16. 22:24 ‘If a man dies…his brother’: this is known as the “law of the levirate,” from the Latin levir, “brother-in-law.” Its purpose was to continue the family line of the deceased brother (Dt 25:6).
  17. 22:29 The sexual relationships of this world will be transcended; the risen body will be the work of the creative power of God.
  18. 22:31–32 Cf. Ex 3:6. In the Pentateuch, which the Sadducees accepted as normative for Jewish belief and practice, God speaks even now (to you) of himself as the God of the patriarchs who died centuries ago. He identifies himself in relation to them, and because of their relation to him, the living God, they too are alive. This might appear no argument for the resurrection, but simply for life after death as conceived in Wis 3:1–3. But the general thought of early first-century Judaism was not influenced by that conception; for it human immortality was connected with the existence of the body.
  19. 22:34–40 The Marcan parallel (Mk 12:28–34) is an exchange between Jesus and a scribe who is impressed by the way in which Jesus has conducted himself in the previous controversy (Mk 12:28), who compliments him for the answer he gives him (Mk 12:32), and who is said by Jesus to be “not far from the kingdom of God” (Mk 12:34). Matthew has sharpened that scene. The questioner, as the representative of other Pharisees, tests Jesus by his question (Mt 22:34–35), and both his reaction to Jesus’ reply and Jesus’ commendation of him are lacking.
  20. 22:35 [A scholar of the law]: meaning “scribe.” Although this reading is supported by the vast majority of textual witnesses, it is the only time that the Greek word so translated occurs in Matthew. It is relatively frequent in Luke, and there is reason to think that it may have been added here by a copyist since it occurs in the Lucan parallel (Lk 10:25–28). Tested: see note on Mt 19:3.
  21. 22:36 For the devout Jew all the commandments were to be kept with equal care, but there is evidence of preoccupation in Jewish sources with the question put to Jesus.
  22. 22:37–38 Cf. Dt 6:5. Matthew omits the first part of Mark’s fuller quotation (Mk 12:29; Dt 6:4–5), probably because he considered its monotheistic emphasis needless for his church. The love of God must engage the total person (heart, soul, mind).
  23. 22:39 Jesus goes beyond the extent of the question put to him and joins to the greatest and the first commandment a second, that of love of neighbor, Lv 19:18; see note on Mt 19:18–19. This combination of the two commandments may already have been made in Judaism.
  24. 22:40 The double commandment is the source from which the whole law and the prophets are derived.
  25. 22:41–46 Having answered the questions of his opponents in the preceding three controversies, Jesus now puts a question to them about the sonship of the Messiah. Their easy response (Mt 22:43a) is countered by his quoting a verse of Ps 110 that raises a problem for their response (43b–45). They are unable to solve it and from that day on their questioning of him is ended.
  26. 22:41 The Pharisees…questioned them: Mark is not specific about who are questioned (Mk 12:35).
  27. 22:42–44 David’s: this view of the Pharisees was based on such Old Testament texts as Is 11:1–9; Jer 23:5; and Ez 34:23; see also the extrabiblical Psalms of Solomon 17:21. How, then…saying: Jesus cites Ps 110:1 accepting the Davidic authorship of the psalm, a common view of his time. The psalm was probably composed for the enthronement of a Davidic king of Judah. Matthew assumes that the Pharisees interpret it as referring to the Messiah, although there is no clear evidence that it was so interpreted in the Judaism of Jesus’ time. It was widely used in the early church as referring to the exaltation of the risen Jesus. My lord: understood as the Messiah.
  28. 22:45 Since Matthew presents Jesus both as Messiah (Mt 16:16) and as Son of David (Mt 1:1; see also note on Mt 9:27), the question is not meant to imply Jesus’ denial of Davidic sonship. It probably means that although he is the Son of David, he is someone greater, Son of Man and Son of God, and recognized as greater by David who calls him my ‘lord.’
Close DHH

Mateo 22
Dios Habla Hoy

La parábola del banquete de bodas(A)

22 Jesús comenzó a hablarles otra vez por medio de parábolas. Les dijo:

2 «Sucede con el reino de los cielos como con un rey que hizo un banquete para la boda de su hijo. 3 Mandó a sus criados que fueran a llamar a los invitados, pero éstos no quisieron asistir. 4 Volvió a mandar otros criados, encargándoles: “Digan a los invitados que ya tengo preparada la comida. Mandé matar mis reses y animales engordados, y todo está listo; que vengan al banquete.” 5 Pero los invitados no hicieron caso. Uno de ellos se fue a sus terrenos, otro se fue a sus negocios, 6 y los otros agarraron a los criados del rey y los maltrataron hasta matarlos. 7 Entonces el rey se enojó mucho, y ordenó a sus soldados que mataran a aquellos asesinos y quemaran su pueblo. 8 Luego dijo a sus criados: “El banquete está listo, pero aquellos invitados no merecían venir. 9 Vayan, pues, ustedes a las calles principales, e inviten al banquete a todos los que encuentren.” 10 Los criados salieron a las calles y reunieron a todos los que encontraron, malos y buenos; y así la sala se llenó de gente.

11 »Cuando el rey entró a ver a los invitados, se fijó en un hombre que no iba vestido con traje de boda. 12 Le dijo: “Amigo, ¿cómo has entrado aquí, si no traes traje de boda?” Pero el otro se quedó callado. 13 Entonces el rey dijo a los que atendían las mesas: “Átenlo de pies y manos y échenlo a la oscuridad de afuera. Entonces vendrán el llanto y la desesperación.” 14 Porque muchos son llamados, pero pocos escogidos.»

La pregunta sobre los impuestos(B)

15 Después de esto, los fariseos fueron y se pusieron de acuerdo para hacerle decir a Jesús algo que les diera motivo para acusarlo. 16 Así que mandaron a algunos de sus partidarios, junto con otros del partido de Herodes, a decirle:

—Maestro, sabemos que tú dices la verdad, y que enseñas de veras el camino de Dios, sin dejarte llevar por lo que diga la gente, porque no hablas para darles gusto. 17 Danos, pues, tu opinión: ¿Está bien que paguemos impuestos al emperador romano, o no?

18 Jesús, dándose cuenta de la mala intención que llevaban, les dijo:

—Hipócritas, ¿por qué me tienden trampas? 19 Enséñenme la moneda con que se paga el impuesto.

Le trajeron un denario, 20 y Jesús les preguntó:

—¿De quién es ésta cara y el nombre que aquí está escrito?

21 Le contestaron:

—Del emperador.

Jesús les dijo entonces:

—Pues den al emperador lo que es del emperador, y a Dios lo que es de Dios.

22 Cuando oyeron esto, se quedaron admirados; y dejándolo, se fueron.

La pregunta sobre la resurrección(C)

23 Aquel mismo día, algunos saduceos fueron a ver a Jesús. Alegaban que no hay resurrección de los muertos, así que le presentaron este caso:

24 —Maestro, Moisés dijo que si alguien muere sin dejar hijos, su hermano deberá tomar por esposa a la viuda, para darle hijos al hermano que murió. 25 Pues bien, aquí, entre nosotros, había una vez siete hermanos. El primero se casó, y murió. Como no tuvo hijos, dejó su viuda al segundo hermano. 26 Lo mismo le pasó al segundo, y después al tercero, y así hasta el séptimo hermano. 27 Después de todos murió también la mujer. 28 Pues bien, en la resurrección, ¿de cuál de los siete hermanos será esposa esta mujer, si todos estuvieron casados con ella?

29 Jesús les contestó:

—¡Qué equivocados están, por no conocer las Escrituras ni el poder de Dios! 30 Cuando los muertos resuciten, los hombres y las mujeres no se casarán, pues serán como los ángeles que están en el cielo. 31 Y en cuanto a que los muertos resucitan, ¿no han leído ustedes que Dios mismo dijo: 32 “Yo soy el Dios de Abraham, de Isaac y de Jacob”? ¡Y él no es Dios de muertos, sino de vivos!

33 Al oír esto, la gente se quedó admirada de las enseñanzas de Jesús.

El mandamiento más importante(D)

34 Los fariseos se reunieron al saber que Jesús había hecho callar a los saduceos, 35 y uno, que era maestro de la ley, para tenderle una trampa, le preguntó:

36 —Maestro, ¿cuál es el mandamiento más importante de la ley?

37 Jesús le dijo:

—“Ama al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma y con toda tu mente.” 38 Éste es el más importante y el primero de los mandamientos. 39 Pero hay un segundo, parecido a éste; dice: “Ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.” 40 En estos dos mandamientos se basan toda la ley y los profetas.

¿De quién desciende el Mesías?(E)

41 Mientras los fariseos todavía estaban reunidos, 42 Jesús les preguntó:

—¿Qué piensan ustedes del Mesías? ¿De quién desciende?

Le contestaron:

—Desciende de David.

43 Entonces les dijo Jesús:

—¿Pues cómo es que David, inspirado por el Espíritu, lo llama Señor? Porque David dijo:

44 “El Señor dijo a mi Señor:
Siéntate a mi derecha,
hasta que yo ponga a tus enemigos
debajo de tus pies.”

45 ¿Cómo puede el Mesías descender de David, si David mismo lo llama Señor?

46 Nadie pudo responderle ni una sola palabra, y desde ese día ninguno se atrevió a hacerle más preguntas.

Next
Matthew 21
Matthew 23
Next
dropdown
New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Dios Habla Hoy (DHH)

Dios habla hoy ®, © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1966, 1970, 1979, 1983, 1996.