The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ 5But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 9So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. 13Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

15Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 17Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.

Marriage and the Resurrection

23The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 25Now 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. 26The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 27Last of all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29Jesus answered them, “You are deceived, because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 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!” 33When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.

The Greatest Commandment

34Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 35And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: 36“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord

41While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question: 42“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said, “The son of David.” 43He said to them, “How then does David by the Spirit call him ‘Lord,’ saying,

44‘The Lord said to my lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet”’?

45If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.