Matthew 22 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, (Mt 13:34) 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, (Lu 14:16; Re 19:7) 3 and sent his servants^[1] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. (Es 6:14; Pr 9:3; Pr 9:5) 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ (Pr 9:2; Mt 21:36; Lu 11:38; Joh 21:12; Joh 21:15)

Pr 9:2Mt 21:36Lu 11:38Joh 21:12Joh 21:15

5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, (Heb 2:3) 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. (Mt 21:35; Lu 18:32; Ac 14:5; 1Th 2:2)

Mt 21:35Lu 18:32Ac 14:51Th 2:2

7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. (Mt 21:41; Lu 19:27) 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. (Mt 10:11; Lu 20:35; Ac 13:46; Re 3:4)

Mt 10:11Lu 20:35Ac 13:46Re 3:4

9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. (Mt 13:47) 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. (Re 19:8; Re 22:14) 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. (Mt 20:13; Mt 26:50) 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Mt 8:12) 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Re 17:14)

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. (Mr 12:13; Lu 11:54; Lu 20:20) 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.^[2] (Mr 2:18; Mr 3:6; Mr 8:15; Joh 3:2; Ac 10:34; Ac 13:10; Ac 18:26)

Mr 2:18Mr 3:6Mr 8:15Joh 3:2Ac 10:34Ac 13:10Ac 18:26

17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” (Mt 17:25; Lu 2:1; Lu 3:1) 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? (Joh 8:6) 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.^[3] 20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Ro 13:7) 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. (Mr 12:12)

Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, (Mt 3:7; Mt 16:1; Mt 22:34; Ac 4:1; Ac 4:2; Ac 5:17; Ac 23:6; Ac 23:8)

Mt 3:7Mt 16:1Mt 22:34Ac 4:1Ac 4:2Ac 5:17Ac 23:6Ac 23:8

24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ (De 25:5) 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.” 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Joh 20:9; 1Co 6:14) 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Mt 24:38; Lu 17:27) 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: (Mt 21:16) 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” (Ex 3:6; Ac 7:32) 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. (Mt 7:28)

The Great Commandment

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. (Mt 22:23; Mr 12:28) 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. (Mt 22:18; Lu 7:30; Lu 10:25) 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (De 6:5; Lu 10:27) 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Le 19:18; Mt 19:19; 1Jo 4:21) 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 7:12; Ro 13:8; Ro 13:10; Ga 5:14)

Mt 7:12Ro 13:8Ro 13:10Ga 5:14

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, (Mt 22:34; Mr 12:35; Lu 20:41) 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” (Mt 1:1; Mt 1:17) 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, (2Sa 23:2; Re 1:10; Re 4:2) 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? (Ps 110:1; Ac 2:34; 1Co 15:25; Heb 1:13; Heb 10:13)

Ps 110:1Ac 2:341Co 15:25Heb 1:13Heb 10:13

45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (Ro 1:3) 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Mr 12:34; Lu 14:6; Lu 20:40)

New International Version

The parable of the wedding banquet

1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 ‘Then he sent some more servants and said, “Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.” 5 ‘But they paid no attention and went off – one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, ill-treated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 ‘Then he said to his servants, “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 ‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, “How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?” The man was speechless. 13 ‘Then the king told the attendants, “Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 14 ‘For many are invited, but few are chosen.’

Paying the poll-tax to Caesar

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the poll-tax^[1] to Caesar or not?’ 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’ 21 ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Marriage at the resurrection

23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?’ 29 Jesus replied, ‘You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead – have you not read what God said to you, 32 “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.’ (Ex 3:6) 33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

The greatest commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ 37 Jesus replied: ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (De 6:5) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Le 19:18) 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’

Whose son is the Messiah?

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ ‘The son of David,’ they replied. 43 He said to them, ‘How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him “Lord”? For he says, 44 ‘ “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’ ” (Ps 110:1) 45 If then David calls him “Lord”, how can he be his son?’ 46 No-one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no-one dared to ask him any more questions.

King James Version

1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. 15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. 16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. 23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine. 34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

New International Reader’s Version

The story of the wedding dinner

1 Jesus told them more stories. He said, 2 ‘Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king prepared a wedding dinner for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to those who had been invited to the dinner. The slaves told them to come. But they refused. 4 ‘Then he sent some more slaves. He said, “Tell those who were invited that I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattest cattle. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding dinner.” 5 ‘But the people paid no attention. One went away to his field. Another went away to his business. 6 The rest grabbed his slaves. They treated them badly and then killed them. 7 The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city. 8 ‘Then the king said to his slaves, “The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come. 9 So go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.” 10 So the slaves went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 ‘The king came in to see the guests. He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 “Friend”, he asked, “how did you get in here without wedding clothes?” The man couldn’t think of anything to say. 13 ‘Then the king told his slaves, “Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.” 14 ‘Many are invited, but few are chosen.’

Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar?

15 The Pharisees went out. They made plans to trap Jesus with his own words. 16 They sent their followers to him. They sent the Herodians with them. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘we know that you are a man of honour. You teach the way of God truthfully. You don’t let others tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. 17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not?’ 18 But Jesus knew their evil plans. He said, ‘You pretenders! Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin people use for paying the tax.’ They brought him a silver coin. 20 He asked them, ‘Whose picture is this? And whose words?’ 21 ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.’ 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Marriage when the dead rise

23 That same day the Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They do not believe that people rise from the dead. 24 ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘here is what Moses told us. If a man dies without having children, his brother must get married to the widow. He must provide children to carry on his brother’s name. 25 There were seven brothers among us. The first one got married and died. Since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brothers. It happened right on down to the seventh brother. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven of them were married to her.’ 29 Jesus replied, ‘You are mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God. 30 When the dead rise, they won’t get married. And their parents won’t give them to be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 31 What about the dead rising? Haven’t you read what God said to you? 32 He said, “I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.” He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living.’ (Ex 3:6) 33 When the crowds heard this, they were amazed by what he taught.

The most important commandment

34 The Pharisees heard that the Sadducees weren’t able to answer Jesus. So the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them was an authority on the law. So he tested Jesus with a question. 36 ‘Teacher’, he asked, ‘which is the most important commandment in the Law?’ 37 Jesus replied, ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.” (De 6:5) 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 And the second is like it. “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” (Le 19:18) 40 Everything that is written in the Law and the Prophets is based on these two commandments.’

Whose son is the Messiah?

41 The Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus asked them, 42 ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ ‘The son of David,’ they replied. 43 He said to them, ‘Then why does David call him “Lord”? The Holy Spirit spoke through David himself. David said, 44 ‘ “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your control.’ ” (Ps 110:1) 45 So if David calls him “Lord”, how can he be David’s son?’ 46 No one could give any answer to him. From that day on, no one dared to ask him any more questions.