1 A nd Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

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

2 “ The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

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

3 a nd sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to 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 out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’

“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 their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

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

6 A nd the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

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

7 B ut when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up 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 said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were 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 T herefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’

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

10 S o those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled 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 “ But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on 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 S o he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And 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 the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and 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 “ For many are called, but few are chosen.” The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

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

15 T hen the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.

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

16 A nd they sent to Him their disciples with the 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 regard the person of men.

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 do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes 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 perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you 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 how Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius.

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

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

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

21 T hey said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

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 W hen they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

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 T he same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked 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 that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for 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 brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, 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 L ikewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.

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

27 L ast of all the woman died also.

Then the woman died also.

28 T herefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they 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 J esus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, 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 like 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 you 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, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the 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 is not the God of the dead but of the living!”

33 A nd when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

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

34 B ut when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they 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 T hen one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

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

36 “ Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

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

37 J esus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

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 the first and great commandment.

This is the first and greatest of the Laws.

39 A nd the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

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

40 O n these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

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

41 W hile the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

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

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

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

43 H e said to them, “How then does David in the 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 ‘ The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?

‘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 David then calls 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 from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

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