Thematic Bible
Matthew 22:1 (show verse)
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables.
Matthew 22:2 (show verse)
"The Kingdom of Heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who gave a banquet in honor of his son's wedding.
Matthew 22:3 (show verse)
He sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the banquet, but they were unwilling to come.
Matthew 22:4 (show verse)
A second time he sent some servants, with orders to say to those who had been invited 'I have prepared my breakfast, my cattle and fat beasts are killed and everything is ready; come to the banquet.'
Matthew 22:5 (show verse)
They, however, took no notice, but went off, one to his farm, another to his business;
Matthew 22:6 (show verse)
While the rest, seizing his servants, ill-treated them and killed them.
Matthew 22:7 (show verse)
The king, in anger, sent his troops, put those murderers to death, and set their city on fire.
Matthew 22:8 (show verse)
Then he said to his servants 'The banquet is prepared, but those who were invited were not worthy.
Matthew 22:9 (show verse)
So go to the cross-roads, and invite everyone you find to the banquet.'
Matthew 22:10 (show verse)
The servants went out into the roads and collected all the people whom they found, whether bad or good; and the bridal-hall was filled with guests.
Matthew 22:11 (show verse)
But, when the king went in to see his guests, he noticed there a man who had not put on a wedding-robe.
Matthew 22:12 (show verse)
So he said to him 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding-robe?' The man was speechless.
Matthew 22:13 (show verse)
Then the king said to the attendants 'Tie him hand and foot, and 'put him out into the darkness' outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'
Matthew 22:14 (show verse)
For many are called, but few chosen."
Matthew 22:15 (show verse)
Then the Pharisees went away and conferred together as to how they might lay a snare for Jesus in the course of conversation.
Matthew 22:16 (show verse)
They sent their disciples, with the Herodians, to say to him: "Teacher, we know that you are an honest man, and that you teach the way of God honestly, and are not afraid of any one; for you pay no regard to a man's position.
Matthew 22:17 (show verse)
Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?"
Matthew 22:18 (show verse)
Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Matthew 22:19 (show verse)
Show me the coin with which the tax is paid." And, when they had brought him a florin,
Matthew 22:20 (show verse)
He asked: "Whose head and title are these?"
Matthew 22:21 (show verse)
"The Emperor's," they answered: on which he said to them: "Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God."
Matthew 22:22 (show verse)
They wondered at his answer, and left him alone and went away.
Matthew 22:23 (show verse)
That same day some Sadducees came up to Jesus, maintaining that there is no resurrection. Their question was this:--
Matthew 22:24 (show verse)
"Teacher, Moses said--'Should a man die without children, the man's brother shall become the husband of the widow, and raise a family for his brother.'
Matthew 22:25 (show verse)
Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother.
Matthew 22:26 (show verse)
The same thing happened to the second and the third brothers, and indeed to all the seven.
Matthew 22:27 (show verse)
The woman herself died last of all.
Matthew 22:28 (show verse)
At the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be out of the seven, all of them having had her?"
Matthew 22:29 (show verse)
"Your mistake," replied Jesus, "is due to your ignorance of the Scriptures, and of the power of God.
Matthew 22:30 (show verse)
For at the resurrection there is no marrying or being married, but all who rise are as angels in Heaven.
Matthew 22:31 (show verse)
As to the resurrection of the dead, have you not read these words of God--
Matthew 22:32 (show verse)
'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of dead men, but of living."
Matthew 22:33 (show verse)
The crowds, who had been listening to him, were greatly struck with his teaching.
Matthew 22:34 (show verse)
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they collected together.
Matthew 22:35 (show verse)
Then one of them, a Student of the Law, to test him, asked this question--
Matthew 22:36 (show verse)
"Teacher, what is the great commandment in the Law?"
Matthew 22:37 (show verse)
His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'
Matthew 22:38 (show verse)
This is the great first commandment.
Matthew 22:39 (show verse)
The second, which is like it, is this--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'
Matthew 22:40 (show verse)
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:41 (show verse)
Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this question to them--
Matthew 22:42 (show verse)
"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "David's," they said.
Matthew 22:43 (show verse)
"How is it, then," Jesus replied, "that David, speaking under inspiration, calls him 'lord,' in the passage-
Matthew 22:44 (show verse)
'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, Until I put thy enemies beneath thy feet"'?
Matthew 22:45 (show verse)
Since, then, David calls him 'lord,' how is he David's son?"
Matthew 22:46 (show verse)
No one could say a word in answer; nor did any one after that day venture to question him further.