Jesus said to him, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."

which is the most important commandment of the law?

And Jesus continued to speak to them in parables, and said,

but the Pharisees hearing that he had dumb-founded the Sadducees, they met together in council.

and the second has an affinity with it, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self."

they answer'd, Cesar's. then said he to them, render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesar's: and unto God, the things that are God's.

Upon this the Pharisees withdrew, and consulted how they might insnare him in his discourse.

Jesus answered them, you are mistaken, for want of a true notion of the scriptures, and of the divine power.

for in the other life after this, there will be no such thing as marriage; but they will be as the angels of God in heaven.

master, said they, by the law of Moses, in case a man die without children, his brother is oblig'd to marry his wife, in order to perpetuate his brother's name.

now there happen'd among us seven brothers, the first married but died without issue, leaving his wife to his brother:

the same happen'd to the second, and the third, and so on to the seventh.

when the people heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

now as to the state of life after death, have ye not read that expression of God himself,

While the Pharisees were still assembled, Jesus asked them,

last of all the woman died too:

what think ye of Christ? whose son is he to be? they answered, David's.

now if there be another life after this, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all married her.

" I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" God is not a benefactor to the dead, but to the living.

About that time the Sadducees, who say there is no future life, came and propos'd this question,

thus many are called, but few are converted.

these two precepts comprehend the substance of all the law and the prophets.

the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son.

they dispatch'd therefore some of their disciples, together with the Herodians, who thus address'd themselves to him; master, we know that you are sincere, and faithfully teach the divine law without fear or flattery: for you have no regard to the outward quality of men.

then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment.

In the mean time one of them, a Doctor of the law, to try him, started this question, master,

then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away, and turn him out in the dark: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

but upon the king's coming in to see the guests, he observ'd one there without a wedding garment: and he said to him,

tell us therefore, what is your opinion? is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or no?

this is the first and most important precept,

" the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?"

how comes it then, said he, that David by inspiration calls him Lord, in these words,

on hearing this, they were filled with admiration, and so leaving him, they went their way.

friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless.

when the king was informed of this, he was greatly incensed, and having order'd his forces to march, he put those murderers to death, and laid their city in ashes.

accordingly they went about the streets, and assembled all they met indifferently, both good and bad: so that the hall was furnished with guests.

others seiz'd his servants, outrageously abused them, and slew them.

he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come.

but Jesus perceiving their malice, said, why, hypocrites, would you insnare me?

but instead of showing any regard, they went their ways, one to his farm, another to his traffick.

and he said unto them, whose image and inscription is this?

go therefore into the high streets, and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage:

why then does David call him Lord, if He be David's son?

shew me the tribute money. and they brought him a penny.

then he said to his servants, the feast is ready, but they who were invited were very unworthy.

but not a man was able to answer him a word, and from that time there was no body so hardy as to ask him any more questions.