Matthew 22

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

Jesus responded to them once more, using simple stories to express his message, saying,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

Heaven's realm is akin to a loving king, who joyously plans a wedding for his cherished son.

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

He sent his servants to call the invited guests to share the joy of his son's wedding, but they simply refused to come.

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.

He sent more messengers, pleading, "Tell my invited guests, 'Look, I've prepared a feast with the best of my livestock, everything is set. Please, join the celebration.'"

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

But they brushed it off, each returning to their own world, one to his fields, another to his business.

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

The remaining few treated his servants with cruel disdain, mercilessly taking their lives.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

When the king learned of it, he was filled with rage. He dispatched his soldiers, who annihilated the killers and set their city ablaze.

Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Then he told his servants, "The wedding is all set, but those invited didn't deserve to be there."

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

Venture out into the world, and invite everyone you meet to join in the celebration of unity.

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.

So, the helpers went out to the streets, inviting everyone they met, the flawed and the virtuous alike. And so, the wedding was filled with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

When the king entered to greet his guests, he noticed a man not dressed for the wedding, which deeply surprised and disappointed him.

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

He asked him, "Buddy, how did you get in here without a wedding outfit?" The man was left speechless.

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.

The king ordered his servants, "Tie him up, take him away, and throw him into the lonely darkness where he will cry and grind his teeth in despair."

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Many receive the invitation, but only a handful are truly selected.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

The Pharisees, filled with cunning, plotted to trap him with his own words.

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.

The Pharisees sent their own disciples to him along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know you are honest and teach God's truth without bias, not swayed by anyone's status or influence."

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

So, what's your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

Jesus sensed their deceit and asked, "Why do you test me, you pretenders?"

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

Show me the coin used to pay the tax. They brought him a denarius, a Roman silver coin.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

He asked them, "Whose face and name are on this?"

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.

They told him, "It belongs to Caesar." So he responded, "Then give to Caesar what is his, and to God what is rightfully His."

When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

After hearing his words, they were awestruck. Silently, they left his presence and continued on their journey.

The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,

On that day, the Sadducees, who didn't believe in life after death, approached him with a question.

Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

Teacher, Moses taught us that if a man passes away without children, his brother should wed his widow to continue his family line.

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:

Among us were seven brothers. The eldest married but died childless, leaving his wife to his next brother.

Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.

Similarly, the second, third, and all the way up to the seventh followed suit.

And last of all the woman died also.

Finally, with a heavy heart, the woman too, breathed her last.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

So, in the afterlife, who will she be married to out of the seven men, since they all were her husband at some point?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Jesus gently corrected them, "You're mistaken because you don't understand the scriptures or God's power."

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

In the afterlife, there's no marriage, we're like heavenly angels.

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

Haven't you heard about life after death, as God himself has told you?

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.

I am the divine guide of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God doesn't reign over the departed, but over those who are alive.

And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

When the crowd heard his teachings, they were deeply moved and amazed.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.

When the Pharisees learned that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, filled with astonishment and curiosity.

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

One of them, a lawyer, with a sly grin, tried to trap him with a question, asking,

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Teacher, what is the most important rule in the law?

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.

Jesus told him, "Pour all your love, every bit of your soul and every thought into loving God."

This is the first and great commandment.

This is the most important rule to follow.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Just as important, treat others with the same love and kindness you give to yourself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

All laws and teachings of the prophets fundamentally rely on these two commandments.

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

As the Pharisees huddled together, Jesus, with a curious tone, posed a question to them.

Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

Asking, "What's your opinion about Christ? Whose child is he?" They responded, "He's David's descendant."

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

He asked them, "Why then, filled with divine inspiration, does David refer to him as 'Lord'?"

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

God told my Master, "Take the seat of honor at my right side, and remain there until I've put all your enemies beneath your feet."

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

If David refers to him as Lord, how can he also be his son? It's a puzzle, filled with wonder and confusion.

And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

From that day on, no one dared to challenge him with questions, silenced by his wisdom, they found no words to respond.