The Picture-Story of the Marriage Supper

22 Again Jesus spoke to them in picture-stories. He said, ² “The holy nation of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding supper for his son. ³ He sent his servants to tell the people, who had been asked, to come to the supper. But the people did not want to come.

⁴ “He sent other servants, saying to them, ‘Tell those who have been asked to come, “See! My supper is ready. My cows and fat calves are killed. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding supper!”’ ⁵ But they did not listen and went on working. One went to his farm. Another went to his store. ⁶ The others took hold of his servants, and hurt them and killed them.

⁷ “When the king heard this, he was very angry. He sent his soldiers to put those to death who had killed his servants. He burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding supper is ready. Those who were asked to come to the supper were not good enough. ⁹ Go out into the roads and as many people as you can find, ask them to come to the wedding supper.’

¹⁰ “The servants went out into the roads and brought all they could find, both bad and good. The wedding supper room was full of people. ¹¹ The king came in to see those who had come. He saw one man who did not have on wedding supper clothes. ¹² He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding supper clothes?’ The man could not speak! ¹³ Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him out into the darkness. In that place there will be loud crying and grinding of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called but few are chosen.”

The Proud Religious Law-Keepers Try to Trap Jesus ^(A)

¹⁵ Then the proud religious law-keepers got together to think how they could trap Jesus in His talk. ¹⁶ They sent their followers to Jesus with some of King Herod’s men. They asked, “Teacher, we know that You are true. We know that You are teaching the truth about God. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You. ¹⁷ Tell us what You think of this. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸ Jesus knew their sinful thoughts and said, “You pretend to be someone you are not! Why do you try to trap Me? ¹⁹ Show Me a piece of money.” They brought Him a piece. ²⁰ Jesus said to them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” ²¹ They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” ²² When they heard this, they were surprised and wondered about it. Then they went away from Him.