Who Enters into the Kingdom?
Matthew 22, verse 1. And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: Matthew 22, verse 2. “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, Matthew 22, verse 3. and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Matthew 22, verse 4. Again, 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.” ’ Matthew 22, verse 5. But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. Matthew 22, verse 6. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. Matthew 22, verse 7. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Matthew 22, verse 8. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Matthew 22, verse 9. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ Matthew 22, verse 10. So 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. Matthew 22, verse 11. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. Matthew 22, verse 12. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Matthew 22, verse 13. Then 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.’ Matthew 22, verse 14. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
A Trap for Jesus
Matthew 22, verse 15. Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. Matthew 22, verse 16. And 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. Matthew 22, verse 17. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” Matthew 22, verse 18. But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Matthew 22, verse 19. Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. Matthew 22, verse 20. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” Matthew 22, verse 21. They 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.” Matthew 22, verse 22. When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.
Resurrection of the Dead
Matthew 22, verse 23. The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, Matthew 22, verse 24. saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Matthew 22, verse 25. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Matthew 22, verse 26. Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. Matthew 22, verse 27. Last of all the woman died also. Matthew 22, verse 28. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.” Matthew 22, verse 29. Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. Matthew 22, verse 30. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. Matthew 22, verse 31. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, Matthew 22, verse 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.” Matthew 22, verse 33. And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.
The Greatest Commandment
Matthew 22, verse 34. But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Matthew 22, verse 35. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, Matthew 22, verse 36. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Matthew 22, verse 37. Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22, verse 38. This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22, verse 39. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22, verse 40. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
David's Son Is His Lord
Matthew 22, verse 41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Matthew 22, verse 42. saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “ The Son of David.” Matthew 22, verse 43. He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: Matthew 22, verse 44. ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? Matthew 22, verse 45. If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” Matthew 22, verse 46. And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.