Thematic Bible

Matthew 22:1

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying,

Matthew 22:2

“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.

Matthew 22:3

And he sent his servants to call those who had [previously] been invited to the wedding feast, but they refused to come.

Matthew 22:4

Then he sent out some other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened calves are butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’

Matthew 22:5

But they paid no attention [they disregarded the invitation, treating it with contempt] and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.

Matthew 22:6

The rest [of the invited guests] seized his servants and mistreated them [insulting and humiliating them] and killed them.

Matthew 22:7

The king was enraged [when he heard this], and sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Matthew 22:8

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding [feast] is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

Matthew 22:9

So go to the main highways that lead out of the city, and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’

Matthew 22:10

Those servants went out into the streets and gathered together all the people they could find, both bad and good; so the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests [sitting at the banquet table].

Matthew 22:11

“But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed [appropriately] in wedding clothes,

Matthew 22:12

and he said, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wearing the wedding clothes [that were provided for you]?’ And the man was speechless and without excuse.

Matthew 22:13

Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].’

Matthew 22:14

For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:15

Then the Pharisees went and conspired together plotting how to trap Him by [distorting] what He said.

Matthew 22:16

They sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are sincere and that You teach the way of God truthfully, without concerning Yourself about [what] anyone [thinks or says of Your teachings]; for You are impartial and do not seek anyone’s favor [and You treat all people alike, regardless of status].

Matthew 22:17

Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?”

Matthew 22:18

But Jesus, aware of their malice, asked, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?

Matthew 22:19

Show me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius [a day’s wage].

Matthew 22:20

And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?”

Matthew 22:21

They said, “[The Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”

Matthew 22:22

When they heard this, they were caught off guard, and they left Him and went away.

Matthew 22:23

On that day some Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection [of the dead], came to Him and asked Him a question,

Matthew 22:24

saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, leaving no children, his brother as next of kin shall marry his widow, and raise children for his brother.’

Matthew 22:25

Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

Matthew 22:26

The second also [died childless], and the third, down to the seventh.

Matthew 22:27

Last of all, the woman died.

Matthew 22:28

So in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

Matthew 22:29

But Jesus replied to them, “You are all wrong because you know neither the Scriptures [which teach the resurrection] nor the power of God [for He is able to raise the dead].

Matthew 22:30

For in the resurrection neither do men marry nor are women given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven [who do not marry nor produce children].

Matthew 22:31

But as to the resurrection of the dead—have you not read [in the Scripture] what God said to you:

Matthew 22:32

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.”

Matthew 22:33

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

Matthew 22:34

Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced (muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Matthew 22:35

One of them, a lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law], asked Jesus a question, to test Him:

Matthew 22:36

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Matthew 22:37

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

Matthew 22:38

This is the first and greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:39

The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’

Matthew 22:40

The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:41

Now while the Pharisees were [still] gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:

Matthew 22:42

“What do you [Pharisees] think of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The son of David.”

Matthew 22:43

Jesus asked them, “How is it then that David by the inspiration of the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord,’ saying,

Matthew 22:44


The Lord (the Father) said to my Lord (the Son, the Messiah),
Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies under Your feet”’?

Matthew 22:45

So then, if David calls Him (the Son, the Messiah) ‘Lord,’ how is He David’s son?”

Matthew 22:46

No one was able to say a word to Him in answer, nor from that day on did anyone dare to question Him again.