Matthew 22
1 And, answering, Jesus, again, spake in parables unto them, saying: —
Jesus spoke to them using more illustrated stories.
2 The kingdom of the heavens hath become like a man, a king, —who made a marriage-feast for his son;
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who organized a wedding celebration for his son,” Jesus explained.
3 And sent his servants, to call the invited into the marriage-feast, —and they would not come.
“He sent out his servants to everyone who was invited to the wedding to tell them to come, but they refused.
4 Again, sent he other servants, saying—Say to the invited, Lo! my dinner, have I prepared, mine oxen and my fatlings, are slain, —and, all things, are, ready: Come ye into the marriage-feast.
So he sent out more servants, with the instructions, ‘Tell those who are invited that I've prepared the wedding banquet. The bulls and fattened calves have been killed—everything's ready. So come to the wedding!’
5 And, they, slighting it, went off, one, indeed, into his own field, and, another, unto his merchandise, —
But they ignored the invitation and left. One went to his fields; another to take care of his business.
6 And, the rest, securing his servants, ill-treated and slew them.
The rest grabbed the king's servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
7 And, the king, was provoked to anger, —and, sending his armies, destroyed those murderers, and, their city, set on fire.
The king became furious. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and burn down their town.
8 Then, saith he unto his servants—The marriage, indeed, is ready, —but, the invited, were not, worthy;
Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those who were invited didn't deserve to attend.
9 Be going, therefore, into the crossways of the roads, and, as many as ye shall find, call ye into the marriage-feast.
Go into the streets and invite everyone you find to come to the wedding.’
10 And those servants, going forth, into the roads, gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, —and filled was the bride-chamber with guests.
So the servants went out into the streets and brought back everyone they could find, both the good and the bad. The wedding hall was full.
11 But the king, entering to view the guests, saw there a man, who had not put on a wedding-garment, —
But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who didn't have a wedding robe on.
12 And saith unto him—Friend! how camest thou in here, not having a wedding-garment? And, he, was put to silence.
He asked him, ‘My friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ The man had nothing to say.
13 Then, the king said unto the ministers, Binding him feet and hands, cast him forth into the darkness, outside: There, shall be wafting and gnashing of teeth.
Then the king told his servants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and throw him out into the dark, where there'll be crying and grinding of teeth.’
14 For, many, are called, but, few, chosen.
For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
15 Then, went the Pharisees and took, counsel, that they might ensnare him, in discourse.
Then the Pharisees left and met together to plot how they could trap him by what he said.
16 And they sent forth to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher! we know that, true, thou art, and, the way of God, in truth, dost teach, and it concerneth thee not about anyone, —for thou lookest not unto the face of men:
They sent their disciples to him, together with some of Herod's supporters. “Teacher, we know you are a honest man, and that you teach God's way is the truth,” they began. “You don't allow yourself to be influenced by anyone, and you don't care about rank or status.
17 Tell us then, how, to thee, it seemeth? Is it allowable to give tax unto Caesar, or not?
So let us know your opinion. Is it right to pay Caesar's taxes, or not?”
18 But Jesus, taking note of their wickedness, said—Why are ye tempting me, hypocrites?
Jesus knew their motives were evil. He asked them, “Why are you trying to trap me, you hypocrites?
19 Shew me the coin appointed for the tax. And, they, brought unto him a denary.
Show me the coin that is used to pay the tax.” They brought a denarius coin to him.
20 And he saith unto them—Whose, is this image and the inscription?
“Whose image and whose title is inscribed here?” he asked them.
21 They say—Caesar’s. Then, saith he unto them—Render, therefore, the things of Caesar, unto Caesar, —and, the things of God, unto God.
“Caesar's,” they replied. “You should give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God,” he told them.
22 And, hearing, they marvelled, —and, leaving him, departed.
When they heard Jesus' answer they were stunned. They went away and left him.
23 On that day, there came unto him Sadducees, who say, there is, no resurrection—and they questioned him,
Later the same day some Sadducees came to see him. (They are the ones who say there's no resurrection.)
24 saying—Teacher! Moses, said, If any man die not having children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
They asked him, “Teacher, Moses said that if a married man dies without having children, his brother should marry his widow and have children on behalf of his brother.
25 Now there were, with us, seven brethren; and, the first, marrying, died, and not having seed, left his wife unto his brother.
Well, once there were seven brothers here with us. The first married, and died, and since he had no children he left his widow to his brother.
26 Likewise, the second also, and the third, —unto the seven.
The same thing happened to the second and third husband, right up to the seventh.
27 And, last of all, died, the wife.
In the end the woman died too.
28 In the resurrection, therefore, —Of which of the seven, shall she be wife? For, all, had her.
So when the resurrection takes place, whose wife of the seven brothers will she be, for she married all of them?”
29 And Jesus answering, said—Ye are deceiving yourselves, knowing neither the Scriptures, nor yet the power of God.
Jesus replied, “Your mistake is you don't know Scripture or what God can do.
30 For, in the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but, as messengers in the heaven, are they.
For in the resurrection people don't marry, and they aren't given in marriage either—they're like the angels in heaven.
31 But, as touching the resurrection of the dead—Have ye not read what was spoken unto you by God, saying—
As for the resurrection of the dead—haven't you read what God said to you,
32 I, am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?—He is not God, of the dead, but, of the living.
‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He's not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
33 And, the multitudes, hearing, were being struck with astonishment at his teaching.
When the crowds heard what he said, they were amazed at his teaching.
34 Now, the Pharisees, hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, were brought together with one accord;
When the Pharisees heard that he'd left the Sadducees speechless, they got together and went to ask some more questions.
35 and one from among them, a lawyer, proposed a question, putting him to the test:
One of them, who was a legal expert, asked him a question to try to trap him:
36 Teacher! which commandment, is greatest in the law?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?”
37 And, he, said unto him—Thou shalt love the Lord thy God—with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind:
Jesus told them, “‘Love the Lord your God in all you think, in all you feel, and in all you do.’
38 This, is the great and first commandment.
This is the greatest commandment, the first commandment.
39 The second, like it, is, this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
The second is just like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 In these two commandments, all the law, is contained, and the prophets.
All biblical law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
41 Now, the Pharisees having come together, Jesus questioned them, saying—
While the Pharisees were gathered there, Jesus asked them a question.
42 How, to you, doth it seem, concerning the Christ? Whose son, is he? They say unto him—David’s.
“What do you think about the Messiah?” he asked. “Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied.
43 He saith unto them—How then doth, David, in spirit, call him, Lord, saying—
“But how can David under inspiration call him ‘Lord’?” Jesus asked them. “He says,
44 The Lord, hath said unto, my Lord, —Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool?
‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit down at my right hand until I defeat all your enemies.’
45 If then, David, calleth him, Lord, How, is he, his son?
If David called him Lord, how can he be his son?”
46 And, no one, was able to answer him a word, neither durst anyone, from that day, question him, any more.
Nobody could answer him, and from then on nobody dared to ask him any more questions.
