Dual Panel1THEN Jesus began to talk to them again in parables.
2"The kingdom of Heaven," he said, "is like a king who arranged a weddingfeast for his son.
3He sent his servants to summon those who had been invited to the festivities, but they refused to come.
4Then he tried again; he sent some more servants, saying to them, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Here is my banquet all ready, my bullocks and fat cattle have been slaughtered and everything is prepared. Come along to the wedding."'
5But they took no notice of this and went off, one to his farm, and another to his business.
6As for the rest, they got hold of the servants, treated them with insults, and finally killed them.
7At this the king was very angry and sent his troops and killed those murderers and burned down their city.
8Then he said to his servants, 'The weddingfeast is all ready, but those who were invited were not good enough for it.
9So go off now to all the street corners and invite everyone you find there to the feast.'
10So the servants went out on to the streets and collected together all those whom they found, bad and good alike. And the hall became filled with guests.
11But when the king came in to inspect the guests, he noticed among them a man not dressed for a wedding.
12'How did you come in here, my friend,' he said to him, 'without being properly dressed for the wedding?' And the man had nothing to say.
13Then the king said to the ushers, 'Tie him up and throw him into the darkness outside, where thane will be tears and bitter regret!'
14For many are invited but few are chosen."
15Then the Pharisees went off and discussed how they could trap him in argument.
16Eventually they sent their disciples with some of the Herodparty to say this, "Master, we know that you are an honest man who teaches the way of God faithfully and that you me not swayed by men's opinion of you. Obviously you don't care for human approval.
17Now tell us'Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'"
18But Jesus knowing their evil intention said, "Why try this trick on me, you frauds?
19Show me the money you pay the tax with." They handed him a silver coin,
20and he said to them, "Whose head is this and whose name is in the inscription?"
21"Caesar's," they said. "Then give to Caesar," he replied, "what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God!"
22This reply astonished them and they went away and let him alone.
23On the same day some Sadducees (who deny that there is any resurrection) approached Jesus with this question:
24"Master, Moses said if a man should die without any children, his brother should marry his widow and raise up a family for him.
25Now, we had a case of seven brothers. The first one married and died, and since he had no family he left his wife to his brother.
26The same thing happened with the second and the third, right up to the seventh.
27Last of all the woman herself died.
28Now in this 'resurrection',whose wife will she be of these seven menfor she belonged to all of them?"
29"You are very wide of the mark," replied Jesus to them, "for you are ignorant of both the scriptures and the power of God.
30For in the resurrection there is no such thing as marrying or being given in marriagemen live like the angels in Heaven.
31And as for the matter of the resurrection of the dead, haven't you ever read what was said to you by God himself,
32'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'?God is not God of the dead but of living men!"
33When the crowds heard this they were astounded at his teaching.
34When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees they came up to him in a body,
35and one of them, an expert in the Law, put this testquestion:
36"Master, which is the Laws greatest commandment?"
37Jesus answered him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'
38This is the first and great commandment.
39And there is a second like it: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'
40The whole of the Law and the Prophets depends on these two commandments."
41Then Jesus asked the assembled Pharisees this question:
42"What is your opinion about Christ? Whose son is he?" "The Son of David," they answered.
43"How then," returned Jesus, "does David when inspired by the Spirit call him Lord? He says
44The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?
45If David then calls him Lord, how can he be his son?"
46Nobody was able to answer this and from that day on no one dared to ask him any further questions.