Matthew 22 Jesus continued to speak to them with illustrations.

NSB⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Jesus continued to speak to them with illustrations. ² »The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. ³ »He sent out his servants to invite guests to the feast, but they would not come. ⁴ »Again he sent out other servants with orders to say to the guests, ‘I have prepared my feast. Oxen and fat livestock are butchered and everything is ready, so come to the feast.’ ⁵ »But they paid no attention and went about their business. One went to his farm and another went to his trade. ⁶ »The rest violently attacked his servants and put them to death. ⁷ »The king was angry, and sent his armies to put the evil servants to death and to destroy their town with fire. ⁸ »He said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but the guests were not worthy. ⁹ »‘Go then, to the main roads, and invite all those whom you see to come to the feast.’ ¹⁰ »They went to the roads and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests. ¹¹ »When the king met the guests he found that one of them was not wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding. ¹² »The king asked why did he not wear proper clothes for the wedding? But the guest had no excuse. ¹³ »The king gave orders for that person to be tied hand and foot and thrown outside into the dark. That is where people will cry and grind their teeth in pain. ¹⁴ »Many are called, but few chosen.« ¹⁵ The Pharisees took counsel how they might trap him in his talk. ¹⁶ They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: »Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men. ¹⁷ »Tell us what you think? Is it lawful to pay the poll tax to Caesar, or not?« ¹⁸ Jesus perceived their wickedness. He said: »Why do you test me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ »Show me the tribute money.« They brought a penny (denarius) to him. ²⁰ He asked: »Whose image and superscription is on this coin?« ²¹ »Caesar’s,« they said. Then he said: »Pay Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Pay God the things that are God’s.« ²² When they heard it, they were amazed and left him. ²³ That same day, Sadducees came to him. They believe there is no resurrection. They asked him a question. ²⁴ »Teacher, Moses said if a man dies having no children, his brother should marry his wife, and bring up seed for his brother. ²⁵ »There were seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no children, left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ »The same happened to the second, right on through the seventh. ²⁷ »After that the woman died. ²⁸ »In the resurrection, with which of the seven will she be married? All seven had her.« ²⁹ Jesus answered: »You are mistaken! You do not know the scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ »In the resurrection they will not marry nor be given in marriage. They will be like the angels in heaven. ³¹ »Concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you read that which was spoken to you by God? ³² »God said: ‘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 When many people heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. ³⁴ The Pharisees assembled together when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence. ³⁵ One of them, a lawyer, tested him by asking a question. ³⁶ »Teacher what is the greatest commandment in the law?« ³⁷ Jesus told him: »You shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart (Greek: kardia: feelings, emotions), and with all your being, and with your entire mind (Greek: dianoia: understanding). (Deuteronomy 6:5) ³⁸ »This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹ »The second like it is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ »The law and the prophets are based on these two commandments.« ⁴¹ The Pharisees were gathered together, so Jesus asked them a question. ⁴² »What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?« They said: »The son of David.« ⁴³ He said: »How then does David, directed by Spirit, call him Lord, saying, ⁴⁴ »‘Jehovah said to my Lord, »Sit on my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet.«’ (Psalm 110:1) ⁴⁵ »If David called him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?« ⁴⁶ No one was able to answer him. After that they asked no more questions.