1 A nd Jesus answering spoke to them again in parables, saying,

Again Jesus spoke to them in picture-stories. He said,

2 T he kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who made a wedding feast for his son,

“The holy nation of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding supper for his son.

3 a nd sent his bondmen to call the persons invited to the wedding feast, and they would not come.

He sent his servants to tell the people, who had been asked, to come to the supper. But the people did not want to come.

4 A gain he sent other bondmen, saying, Say to the persons invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatted beasts are killed, and all things ready; come to the wedding feast.

“He sent other servants, saying to them, ‘Tell those who have been asked to come, “See! My supper is ready. My cows and fat calves are killed. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding supper!”’

5 B ut they made light of it, and went, one to his own land, and another to his commerce.

But they did not listen and went on working. One went to his farm. Another went to his store.

6 A nd the rest, laying hold of his bondmen, ill-treated and slew.

The others took hold of his servants, and hurt them and killed them.

7 A nd the king was wroth, and having sent his forces, destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

“When the king heard this, he was very angry. He sent his soldiers to put those to death who had killed his servants. He burned their city.

8 T hen he says to his bondmen, The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy;

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding supper is ready. Those who were asked to come to the supper were not good enough.

9 g o therefore into the thoroughfares of the highways, and as many as ye shall find invite to the wedding feast.

Go out into the roads and as many people as you can find, ask them to come to the wedding supper.’

10 A nd those bondmen went out into the highways, and brought together all as many as they found, both evil and good; and the wedding feast was furnished with guests.

“The servants went out into the roads and brought all they could find, both bad and good. The wedding supper room was full of people.

11 A nd the king, having gone in to see the guests, beheld there a man not clothed with a wedding garment.

The king came in to see those who had come. He saw one man who did not have on wedding supper clothes.

12 A nd he says to him, friend, how camest thou in here not having on a wedding garment? But he was speechless.

He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding supper clothes?’ The man could not speak!

13 T hen said the king to the servants, Bind him feet and hands, and take him away, and cast him out into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him out into the darkness. In that place there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.’

14 F or many are called ones, but few chosen ones.

For many are called but few are chosen.” The Proud Religious Law-Keepers Try to Trap Jesus

15 T hen went the Pharisees and held a council how they might ensnare him in speaking.

Then the proud religious law-keepers got together to think how they could trap Jesus in His talk.

16 A nd they send out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one, for thou regardest not men's person;

They sent their followers to Jesus with some of King Herod’s men. They asked, “Teacher, we know that You are true. We know that You are teaching the truth about God. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You.

17 t ell us therefore what thou thinkest: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Tell us what You think of this. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 B ut Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, Why tempt ye me, hypocrites?

Jesus knew their sinful thoughts and said, “You pretend to be someone you are not! Why do you try to trap Me?

19 S hew me the money of the tribute. And they presented to him a denarius.

Show Me a piece of money.” They brought Him a piece.

20 A nd he says to them, Whose this image and superscription?

Jesus said to them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?”

21 T hey say to him, Caesar's. Then he says to them, Pay then what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God.

They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.”

22 A nd when they heard, they wondered, and left him, and went away.

When they heard this, they were surprised and wondered about it. Then they went away from Him. They Ask about Being Raised from the Dead

23 O n that day came to him Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection; and they demanded of him,

The same day some people from the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Jesus. They asked,

24 s aying, Teacher, Moses said, If any one die, not having children, his brother shall marry his wife and shall raise up seed to his brother.

“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man should die without having children, then his brother must marry his wife. He should have children for his brother.’

25 N ow there were with us seven brethren; and the first having married died, and not having seed, left his wife to his brother.

There were seven brothers with us. The first was married but died before he had any children. The second brother then married the first brother’s wife.

26 I n like manner also the second and the third, unto the seven.

The second brother died and the same with the third and on to the seventh.

27 A nd last of all the woman also died.

Then the woman died also.

28 I n the resurrection therefore of which of the seven shall she be wife, for all had her?

When people are raised from the dead, whose wife will she be of the seven? They all had her for a wife.”

29 A nd Jesus answering said to them, Ye err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.

Jesus said to them, “You are wrong because you do not know the Holy Writings or the power of God.

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

After people are raised from the dead, they do not marry. They are like the angels in heaven.

31 B ut concerning the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,

Have you not read what God said to you about those who are raised from the dead? He said,

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

‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead but of the living!”

33 A nd when the crowds heard they were astonished at his doctrine.

When the people heard this, they were surprised and wondered about His teaching. The Great Law

34 B ut the Pharisees, having heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, were gathered together.

The proud religious law-keepers got together when they heard that the religious group of people who believe no one will be raised from the dead were not able to talk anymore to Jesus.

35 A nd one of them, a lawyer, demanded, tempting him, and saying,

A proud religious law-keeper who knew the Law tried to trap Jesus. He said,

36 T eacher, which is the great commandment in the law?

“Teacher, which one is the greatest of the Laws?”

37 A nd he said to him, Thou shalt love Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy understanding.

Jesus said to him, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38 T his is great and first commandment.

This is the first and greatest of the Laws.

39 A nd second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The second is like it, ‘You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.’

40 O n these two commandments the whole law and the prophets hang.

All the Laws and the writings of the early preachers depend on these two most important Laws.”

41 A nd the Pharisees being gathered together, Jesus demanded of them,

The proud religious law-keepers were gathered together. Then Jesus asked,

42 s aying, What think ye concerning the Christ? whose son is he? They say to him, David's.

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

43 H e says to them, How then does David in Spirit call him Lord, saying,

Jesus said to them, “Then how is it that David, being led by the Holy Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord’? He said,

44 T he Lord said to my Lord, Sit on my right hand until I put thine enemies under thy feet?

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right side until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.”’

45 I f therefore David call him Lord, how is he his son?

If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ then how can He be the Son of David?”

46 A nd no one was able to answer him a word, nor did any one dare from that day to question him any more.

No one could answer a word, and after that day no one asked Him anything.