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The Story of the Wedding Dinner

22 Jesus told them more stories. He said, “Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king prepared a wedding dinner for his son. He sent his slaves to those who had been invited to the dinner. The slaves told them to come. But they refused.

“Then he sent some more slaves. He said, ‘Tell those who were invited that I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattest cattle. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding dinner.’

“But the people paid no attention. One went away to his field. Another went away to his business. The rest grabbed his slaves. They treated them badly and then killed them. The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city.

“Then the king said to his slaves, ‘The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come. So go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.’ 10 So the slaves went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “The king came in to see the guests. He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man couldn’t think of anything to say.

13 “Then the king told his slaves, ‘Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.’

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

Is It Right to Pay the Royal Tax to Caesar?

15 The Pharisees went out. They made plans to trap Jesus with his own words. 16 They sent their followers to him. They sent the Herodians with them. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of honor. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?”

18 But Jesus knew their evil plans. He said, “You pretenders! Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin people use for paying the tax.” They brought him a silver coin. 20 He asked them, “Whose picture is this? And whose words?”

21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Marriage When the Dead Rise

23 That same day the Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They do not believe that people rise from the dead. 24 “Teacher,” they said, “here is what Moses told us. If a man dies without having children, his brother must get married to the widow. He must provide children to carry on his brother’s name. 25 There were seven brothers among us. The first one got married and died. Since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers. It happened right on down to the seventh brother. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven of them were married to her.”

29 Jesus replied, “You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God. 30 When the dead rise, they won’t get married. And their parents won’t give them to be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31 What about the dead rising? Haven’t you read what God said to you? 32 He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.’ (Exodus 3:6) He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed by what he taught.

The Most Important Commandment

34 The Pharisees heard that the Sadducees weren’t able to answer Jesus. So the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them was an authority on the law. So he tested Jesus with a question. 36 “Teacher,” he asked, “which is the most important commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) 40 Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments.”

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

41 The Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

43 He said to them, “Then why does David call him ‘Lord’? The Holy Spirit spoke through David himself. David said,

44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your control.” ’ (Psalm 110:1)

45 So if David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be David’s son?” 46 No one could give any answer to him. From that day on, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

27 And last of all the woman died also.

28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

王宴客的比喻

22 耶稣又用比喻对他们说: “天国就像一个王为儿子筹备婚宴。 他派奴仆去请受邀的客人,可是客人都不肯赴宴。 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!’ 那些人却毫不理会地走了,一个去种田,一个去做买卖, 其余的竟然抓住王的奴仆,把他们羞辱一番后杀了。 王大怒,派军队去剿灭凶手,烧毁他们的城。

“然后,他对奴仆说,‘婚宴已预备好了,只是被邀请的人不配。 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。

The Parable about a Banquet(A)

22 Again Jesus spoke to them in parables. He said, “The kingdom from[a] heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the wedding, but they refused to come. So[b] he sent other servants after saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! I’ve prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened calves have been slaughtered. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding!”’ But they paid no attention to this and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest grabbed the king’s[c] servants, treated them brutally, and then killed them. Then the king became outraged. He sent his troops, and they destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

“Then he told his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. So go into the roads leading out of town and invite as many people as you can find to the wedding.’ 10 Those servants went out into the streets and brought in everyone they found, evil and good alike, and the wedding hall was packed with guests.

11 “When the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man[d] was speechless. 13 Then the king told his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the darkness outside!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,[e] 14 because many are invited, but few are chosen.”

A Question about Paying Taxes(B)

15 Then the Pharisees went and planned how to trap Jesus[f] in conversation. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.[g] They said, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere and that you teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t favor any individual, because you pay no attention to external appearance. 17 So tell us what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 Recognizing their wickedness, Jesus asked, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.”

They brought him a denarius.[h] 20 Then he asked them, “Whose face and name is this?”

21 They told him, “Caesar’s.”

So he told them, “Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

22 When they heard this, they were amazed. Then they left him and went away.

A Question about the Resurrection(C)

23 That same day some Sadducees, who claim there is no resurrection, came to Jesus[i] and asked him, 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for his brother.’[j] 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his widow to his brother. 26 The same thing happened with the second brother, and then the third, and finally with the rest of the brothers.[k] 27 Finally, the woman died, too. 28 Now in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be, since all of them had married[l] her?”

29 Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken because you don’t know the Scriptures or God’s power, 30 because in the resurrection, people[m] neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like the angels[n] in heaven. 31 As for the resurrection from the dead, haven’t you read what was spoken to you by God when he said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?[o] He[p] is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment(D)

34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus[q] had silenced the Sadducees, they met together in the same place. 35 One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him by asking, 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus[r] told him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[s] 38 This is the greatest and most important[t] commandment. 39 The second is exactly like it: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’[u] 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

A Question about David’s Son(E)

41 While the Pharisees were still[v] gathered, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah?[w] Whose son is he?”

They told him, “David’s.”

43 He asked them, “Then how can David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord’ when he says,

44 ‘The Lord[x] told my Lord,
    “Sit at my right hand,
        until I put your enemies under your feet.”’?[y]

45 If David calls him ‘Lord’, how can he be his son?”

46 No one could answer him at all,[z] and from that day on no one dared to ask him another question.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 22:2 Lit. of
  2. Matthew 22:4 Lit. Again
  3. Matthew 22:6 Lit. his
  4. Matthew 22:12 Lit. he
  5. Matthew 22:13 I.e. extreme pain
  6. Matthew 22:15 Lit. him
  7. Matthew 22:16 I.e. Royal party sympathizers
  8. Matthew 22:19 The denarius was the usual day’s wage for a laborer.
  9. Matthew 22:23 Lit. him
  10. Matthew 22:24 Cf. Deut 25:5-6
  11. Matthew 22:26 Lit. with the seven
  12. Matthew 22:28 The Gk. lacks married
  13. Matthew 22:30 Lit. they
  14. Matthew 22:30 Other mss. read God’s angels
  15. Matthew 22:32 Cf. Exod 3:6
  16. Matthew 22:32 Other mss. read God
  17. Matthew 22:34 Lit. he
  18. Matthew 22:37 Lit. He
  19. Matthew 22:37 Cf. Deut 6:5
  20. Matthew 22:38 Or first
  21. Matthew 22:39 Cf. Lev 19:18
  22. Matthew 22:41 The Gk. lacks still
  23. Matthew 22:42 Or Christ
  24. Matthew 22:44 MT source citation reads Lord
  25. Matthew 22:44 Cf. Ps 110:1; MT source citation reads Lord
  26. Matthew 22:46 Lit. a word