Κατα Ματθαιον 22
1 και αποκριθεισ ο ιησουσ παλιν ειπεν αυτοισ εν παραβολαισ λεγων
Then Jesus told [the Jewish leaders] other parables [in order to illustrate what will happen to the people who do not accept him as the King God promised to send]. [This is one of those parables: ]
2 ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω βασιλει οστισ εποιησεν γαμουσ τω υιω αυτου
“[God] [MTY/EUP] [is like] a king [SIM] who [told his servants that they should] make a wedding feast for his son.
3 και απεστειλεν τουσ δουλουσ αυτου καλεσαι τουσ κεκλημενουσ εισ τουσ γαμουσ και ουκ ηθελον ελθειν
[When] the feast [was ready], the king sent his servants to tell the people who had been {whom he had} invited that it was time for them to come to the wedding feast. [The servants did that]. But the people who had been invited did not want to come.
4 παλιν απεστειλεν αλλουσ δουλουσ λεγων ειπατε τοισ κεκλημενοισ ιδου το αριστον μου ητοιμασα οι ταυροι μου και τα σιτιστα τεθυμενα και παντα ετοιμα δευτε εισ τουσ γαμουσ
So he sent other servants [to] again [tell the people whom he had invited that they should come to the feast]. He said [to those servants], ‘Say to the people whom I invited [to come to the feast], “The king says that he has prepared the food. The oxen and the fattened calves have been butchered [and cooked]. Everything is ready. It is time [now for you to] come to the wedding feast!’”’
5 οι δε αμελησαντεσ απηλθον ο μεν εισ τον ιδιον αγρον ο δε εισ την εμποριαν αυτου
[But when the servants told them that, they] disregarded [what the servants said]. Some of them went to their own fields. Others went to their places of business.
6 οι δε λοιποι κρατησαντεσ τουσ δουλουσ αυτου υβρισαν και απεκτειναν
The rest of them seized the king’s servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
7 και ακουσασ ο βασιλευσ εκεινοσ ωργισθη και πεμψασ τα στρατευματα αυτου απωλεσεν τουσ φονεισ εκεινουσ και την πολιν αυτων ενεπρησεν
[When the king heard what had happened], he became furious. He commanded his soldiers to go and kill those murderers and burn their cities.
8 τοτε λεγει τοισ δουλοισ αυτου ο μεν γαμοσ ετοιμοσ εστιν οι δε κεκλημενοι ουκ ησαν αξιοι
[After his soldiers had done that], the king said to his other servants, ‘I have prepared the [wedding] feast, but the people who were {whom I} invited do not deserve to [come to it because they did not consider it an honor to have been invited].
9 πορευεσθε ουν επι τασ διεξοδουσ των οδων και οσουσ αν ευρητε καλεσατε εισ τουσ γαμουσ
So, go to the intersections of the main streets. Tell whomever you find that they should come to the [wedding] feast.’
10 και εξελθοντεσ οι δουλοι εκεινοι εισ τασ οδουσ συνηγαγον παντασ οσουσ ευρον πονηρουσ τε και αγαθουσ και επλησθη ο γαμοσ ανακειμενων
So the servants went there, and they gathered everyone they saw [who wanted to come to the feast]. They gathered [both people that were considered] to be evil and [those that were considered to be] good. They brought them into the hall where the wedding [feast took place]. The hall was filled with people.
11 εισελθων δε ο βασιλευσ θεασασθαι τουσ ανακειμενουσ ειδεν εκει ανθρωπον ουκ ενδεδυμενον ενδυμα γαμου
But when the king went [into the hall] to see the guests who were there, he saw someone who was not wearing clothes [that had been provided for the guests to wear] at a wedding [feast].
12 και λεγει αυτω εταιρε πωσ εισηλθεσ ωδε μη εχων ενδυμα γαμου ο δε εφιμωθη
The king said to him, ‘Friend, (you should never have entered this hall, because you are not wearing the clothes [that guests wear] at wedding [feasts]!/how did you enter this hall, because you are not wearing the clothes [that are appropriate for guests to wear] at a wedding [feast]?) [RHQ]’ The man did not say anything, [because he did not know what to say].
13 τοτε ειπεν ο βασιλευσ τοισ διακονοισ δησαντεσ αυτου ποδασ και χειρασ αρατε αυτον και εκβαλετε εισ το σκοτοσ το εξωτερον εκει εσται ο κλαυθμοσ και ο βρυγμοσ των οδοντων
Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie this person’s feet and hands and throw him outside where there is total darkness. People who are there cry out [because they are suffering] and they gnash their teeth [because of their severe pain].’”
14 πολλοι γαρ εισιν κλητοι ολιγοι δε εκλεκτοι
[Then Jesus said, “The point of this story is that God] has invited many [to come to him], but only a few people are the ones whom he has chosen [to be there].”
15 τοτε πορευθεντεσ οι φαρισαιοι συμβουλιον ελαβον οπωσ αυτον παγιδευσωσιν εν λογω
After Jesus said that, the Pharisees met together in order to plan how they could cause him to say something that would enable them to accuse him.
16 και αποστελλουσιν αυτω τουσ μαθητασ αυτων μετα των ηρωδιανων λεγοντεσ διδασκαλε οιδαμεν οτι αληθησ ει και την οδον του θεου εν αληθεια διδασκεισ και ου μελει σοι περι ουδενοσ ου γαρ βλεπεισ εισ προσωπον ανθρωπων
They sent to him some of their disciples, [who thought that the Israelites should pay only the tax that the Jewish authorities required them to pay]. They also sent some members of the party that supported Herod. [The members of that party thought that the Israelites should pay only the tax that the Roman government required them to pay]. [Those who were sent came and] said to Jesus, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and that you teach the truth about what God wants [us to do]. We also know that you do not change what you teach because of what someone says about you, even if it is an important person who does not like what you [IDM] teach.
17 ειπε ουν ημιν τι σοι δοκει εξεστιν δουναι κηνσον καισαρι η ου
So tell us what you think [RHQ] [about this matter]: Is it right that we pay taxes to the Roman government [MTY], or not?”
18 γνουσ δε ο ιησουσ την πονηριαν αυτων ειπεν τι με πειραζετε υποκριται
But Jesus knew that what they really wanted to do was evil. [They were wanting him to say something that would get him in trouble with either the Jewish authorities or the Roman authorities. So he said to them], “You are (hypocrites/pretending to ask a legitimate question), but you are just wanting [RHQ] me to say something for which you can accuse me.
19 επιδειξατε μοι το νομισμα του κηνσου οι δε προσηνεγκαν αυτω δηναριον
Show me [one of] the coins with [which people pay] the [Roman] tax.” So they showed him [a coin called] a denarius.
20 και λεγει αυτοισ τινοσ η εικων αυτη και η επιγραφη
He said to them, “Whose picture is [on] this [coin]? And [whose] name [is on it]?”
21 λεγουσιν αυτω καισαροσ τοτε λεγει αυτοισ αποδοτε ουν τα καισαροσ καισαρι και τα του θεου τω θεω
They answered, “[It has the picture and name of] Caesar, [the head of the Roman government].” Then he said to them, “Okay, give to the government what they [require], and give to God what he [requires].”
22 και ακουσαντεσ εθαυμασαν και αφεντεσ αυτον απηλθον
When those men heard Jesus say that, they marveled [that his answer did not enable anyone to accuse him]. Then they left Jesus.
23 εν εκεινη τη ημερα προσηλθον αυτω σαδδουκαιοι οι λεγοντεσ μη ειναι αναστασιν και επηρωτησαν αυτον
During that same day, some Sadducees came to Jesus. [They are a Jewish sect who do not] believe that people will become alive again after they die. They [wanted to] ask [Jesus] a question.
24 λεγοντεσ διδασκαλε μωσησ ειπεν εαν τισ αποθανη μη εχων τεκνα επιγαμβρευσει ο αδελφοσ αυτου την γυναικα αυτου και αναστησει σπερμα τω αδελφω αυτου
[In order to discredit the idea that dead people will live again], they said [to him], “Teacher, Moses wrote [in the Scriptures], ‘If a man dies who did not have any children, his brother must marry the [dead man’s] widow in order that she can have a child by him. The child [will be considered] the descendant of the man [who died], [and in that way the dead man will have descendants].’
25 ησαν δε παρ ημιν επτα αδελφοι και ο πρωτοσ γαμησασ ετελευτησεν και μη εχων σπερμα αφηκεν την γυναικα αυτου τω αδελφω αυτου
Well, there were seven boys in a family [living] near us. The oldest one married someone. He [and his wife] did not have any children, and he died. So the second brother married the widow. [But he also died without having a child].
26 ομοιωσ και ο δευτεροσ και ο τριτοσ εωσ των επτα
The same thing [happened to] the third [brother], and also to the other four [brothers, who one by one married this same woman].
27 υστερον δε παντων απεθανεν και η γυνη
Last of all, the widow also died.
28 εν τη ουν αναστασει τινοσ των επτα εσται γυνη παντεσ γαρ εσχον αυτην
So, at the time when people are raised from the dead, which of the seven [brothers do you think] will be her husband? Keep in mind that they had all been married to her.”
29 αποκριθεισ δε ο ιησουσ ειπεν αυτοισ πλανασθε μη ειδοτεσ τασ γραφασ μηδε την δυναμιν του θεου
Jesus replied to them, “You are certainly wrong [in what you are thinking]. You do not know [what is written in] the Scriptures. [You] also do not know [that] God has [the] power [to make people alive again].
30 εν γαρ τη αναστασει ουτε γαμουσιν ουτε εκγαμιζονται αλλ ωσ αγγελοι του θεου εν ουρανω εισιν
The fact is that [the woman will not be the wife of any of them, because] after [God causes all dead] people [to] live again, no one will be married. Instead, [people] will be like the angels in heaven. [They do not marry].
31 περι δε τησ αναστασεωσ των νεκρων ουκ ανεγνωτε το ρηθεν υμιν υπο του θεου λεγοντοσ
But as for dead people becoming alive again, God said something about that. (I’m sure you have read it./Have you not read it?) [RHQ] [Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses],
32 εγω ειμι ο θεοσ αβρααμ και ο θεοσ ισαακ και ο θεοσ ιακωβ ουκ εστιν ο θεοσ θεοσ νεκρων αλλα ζωντων
‘I am the God whom Abraham [worships] and the God whom Isaac [worships] and the God whom Jacob worships.’ It is not dead people who worship God. It is living people who worship him. [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob died long before Moses lived, but God said that they were still worshipping him, so we know their spirits were still alive]!”
33 και ακουσαντεσ οι οχλοι εξεπλησσοντο επι τη διδαχη αυτου
When the crowds of people heard [Jesus teach] that, they were amazed.
34 οι δε φαρισαιοι ακουσαντεσ οτι εφιμωσεν τουσ σαδδουκαιουσ συνηχθησαν επι το αυτο
But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had answered the Sadducees in such a way that the Sadducees could not [think of anything that they might say to] respond to him, the Pharisees gathered together to [plan what they would say to him]. [Then they approached him].
35 και επηρωτησεν εισ εξ αυτων νομικοσ πειραζων αυτον και λεγων
One of them was a man who had studied well the laws [that God gave Moses]. He wanted to see if Jesus [could answer] his question well [or if he would say something wrong]. He asked him,
36 διδασκαλε ποια εντολη μεγαλη εν τω νομω
“Teacher, which commandment in the laws [that God gave Moses] is the most important?”
37 ο δε ιησουσ εφη αυτω αγαπησεισ κυριον τον θεον σου εν ολη καρδια σου και εν ολη ψυχη σου και εν ολη τη διανοια σου
Jesus [quoted the Scriptures as he replied], “‘You must love the Lord your God with all [IDM] your (inner being/heart). [Show that you love him] in all that you desire, in all that you feel, and in all that you think.’
38 αυτη εστιν πρωτη και μεγαλη εντολη
That is the most important commandment [in the laws that God gave Moses].
39 δευτερα δε ομοια αυτη αγαπησεισ τον πλησιον σου ωσ σεαυτον
The next most important commandment [that everyone must surely obey] is: ‘You must love the people you come in contact with as much as [you love] yourself.’
40 εν ταυταισ ταισ δυσιν εντολαισ ολοσ ο νομοσ και οι προφηται κρεμανται
These two commandments are the basis of every law [that Moses wrote in the Scriptures] and also of all that the prophets [wrote].”
41 συνηγμενων δε των φαρισαιων επηρωτησεν αυτουσ ο ιησουσ
While the Pharisees were still gathered together [near] Jesus, he asked them,
42 λεγων τι υμιν δοκει περι του χριστου τινοσ υιοσ εστιν λεγουσιν αυτω του δαυιδ
“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose descendant is he?” They said to him, “[He is] the descendant of [King] David.”
43 λεγει αυτοισ πωσ ουν δαυιδ εν πνευματι κυριον αυτον καλει λεγων
Jesus said to them, “[If the Messiah is King David’s descendant], then (David should not have called him ‘Lord’ when David was saying [what] the [Holy] Spirit [prompted him to] say./Why did David call the Messiah ‘Lord’ when David was speaking [what] the [Holy] Spirit [prompted him to] say?) [RHQ]
44 ειπεν ο κυριοσ τω κυριω μου καθου εκ δεξιων μου εωσ αν θω τουσ εχθρουσ σου υποποδιον των ποδων σου
[David wrote this in the Scriptures about the Messiah]: ‘God said to my Lord, “Sit [here beside me] on my right, [the place of greatest honor you] [MTY]. [Sit here] while I completely defeat your enemies [MTY].”’
45 ει ουν δαυιδ καλει αυτον κυριον πωσ υιοσ αυτου εστιν
So, since [King] David called [the Messiah] ‘my Lord’, ([the Messiah] cannot be [just someone] descended from David!/how can he be [only] the descendant of [King] David?) [RHQ] [He must be much greater than David]!”
46 και ουδεισ εδυνατο αυτω αποκριθηναι λογον ουδε ετολμησεν τισ απ εκεινησ τησ ημερασ επερωτησαι αυτον ουκετι
No one [who heard what Jesus said] was able to think of even one word to say to him [in response]. And after that, no one else ever dared to ask him another question [to try to trap him].
