Matthew 22:1-21 ▼

1 And Jesus answering, spoke to them again in parables, saying:

2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king that made a marriage feast for his son;

3 and sent his servants to call those who had been invited to the marriage feast; and they refused to come.

4 Again, he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who have been invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.

5 But they were careless, and went away, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.

6 And the rest laid hold of his servants, and abused them, and killed them.

7 And when that king heard of it, he was angry, and sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then he said to his servants: The marriage feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Go, therefore, to the cross-ways, and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.

10 And those servants went out into the roads, and brought together all, as many as they found, both bad and good: and the banquet-room was filled with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man that had not put on a wedding-robe.

12 And he said to him, Friend, how came you in hither without a wedding-robe? And he was silent.

13 Then the king said to his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and throw him into the darkness without: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few chosen.

15 Then the Pharisees went and held a consultation, that they might entrap him in his words.

16 And they sent to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying: Teacher, we know that you are true, and that you teach the way of God in truth, and care not for any one: for you do not look upon the person of men.

17 Tell us, therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said to them: "Why do you tempt me, hypocrites?

19 Show me the tribute-money. And they brought him a denarius.

20 And he said to them: Whose image and superscription is this?

21 They said to him: Caesar's. Then he said to them: Give, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.