22:1 Jesus told them several other stories to illustrate the Kingdom. He said,
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 1 , Jesus told them several other stories to illustrate the Kingdom. He said,
22:2 'The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 2 , 'The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.
22:3 Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused!
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 3 , Many guests were invited, and when the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify everyone that it was time to come. But they all refused!
22:4 So he sent other servants to tell them, `The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 4 , So he sent other servants to tell them, `The feast has been prepared, and choice meats have been cooked. Everything is ready. Hurry!'
22:5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 5 , But the guests he had invited ignored them and went about their business, one to his farm, another to his store.
22:6 Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 6 , Others seized his messengers and treated them shamefully, even killing some of them.
22:7 'Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 7 , 'Then the king became furious. He sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their city.
22:8 And he said to his servants, `The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 8 , And he said to his servants, `The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren't worthy of the honor.
22:9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 9 , Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.'
22:10 'So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 10 , 'So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.
22:11 But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 11 , But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.
22:12 `Friend,' he asked, `how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' And the man had no reply.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 12 , `Friend,' he asked, `how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' And the man had no reply.
22:13 Then the king said to his aides, `Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 13 , Then the king said to his aides, `Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 14 , For many are called, but few are chosen.'
22:15 Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 15 , Then the Pharisees met together to think of a way to trap Jesus into saying something for which they could accuse him.
22:16 They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: 'Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 16 , They decided to send some of their disciples, along with the supporters of Herod, to ask him this question: 'Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences. You are impartial and don't play favorites.
22:17 Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 17 , Now tell us what you think about this: Is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?'
22:18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. 'You hypocrites!' he said. 'Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions?
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 18 , But Jesus knew their evil motives. 'You hypocrites!' he said. 'Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions?
22:19 Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.' When they handed him the coin,
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 19 , Here, show me the Roman coin used for the tax.' When they handed him the coin,
22:20 he asked, 'Whose picture and title are stamped on it?'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 20 , he asked, 'Whose picture and title are stamped on it?'
22:21 'Caesar's,' they replied. 'Well, then,' he said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 21 , 'Caesar's,' they replied. 'Well, then,' he said, 'give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God.'
22:22 His reply amazed them, and they went away.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 22 , His reply amazed them, and they went away.
22:23 That same day some Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question:
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 23 , That same day some Sadducees stepped forward--a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question:
22:24 'Teacher, Moses said, `If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 24 , 'Teacher, Moses said, `If a man dies without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.'
22:25 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children, so the second brother married the widow.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 25 , Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest married and then died without children, so the second brother married the widow.
22:26 This brother also died without children, and the wife was married to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 26 , This brother also died without children, and the wife was married to the next brother, and so on until she had been the wife of each of them.
22:27 And then she also died.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 27 , And then she also died.
22:28 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them!'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 28 , So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For she was the wife of all seven of them!'
22:29 Jesus replied, 'Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 29 , Jesus replied, 'Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.
22:30 For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 30 , For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven.
22:31 But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead--haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 31 , But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead--haven't you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said,
22:32 `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 32 , `I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' So he is the God of the living, not the dead.'
22:33 When the crowds heard him, they were impressed with his teaching.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 33 , When the crowds heard him, they were impressed with his teaching.
22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 34 , But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they thought up a fresh question of their own to ask him.
22:35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 35 , One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question:
22:36 'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 36 , 'Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?'
22:37 Jesus replied, ' `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 37 , Jesus replied, ' `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.'
22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 38 , This is the first and greatest commandment.
22:39 A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 39 , A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.'
22:40 All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 40 , All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.'
22:41 Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 41 , Then, surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question:
22:42 'What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' They replied, 'He is the son of David.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 42 , 'What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?' They replied, 'He is the son of David.'
22:43 Jesus responded, 'Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For David said,
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 43 , Jesus responded, 'Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, call him Lord? For David said,
22:44 `The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 44 , `The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'
22:45 Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?'
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 45 , Since David called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?'
22:46 No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
The NLT Book of Matthew , Chapter 22 , Verse 46 , No one could answer him. And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.
