Matthew 22King James Version
The parable of the wedding feast: those invited would not come, so the king sends his servants to gather all from the highways. The Pharisees try to trap him with a question about taxes. Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. The Sadducees ask about the resurrection. A lawyer asks the great commandment: love God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself.
Jesus tells the parable of the wedding banquet: invited guests refuse and are replaced by people from the streets. A man without wedding clothes is cast out. The Pharisees and Herodians try to trap him on paying taxes; he asks whose image is on the coin. The Sadducees test him about resurrection; he answers from Exodus that God is not the God of the dead. A lawyer asks for the greatest commandment: love God, love your neighbor. Jesus turns the tables, asking whose son the Messiah is. No one could answer him.
Every faction with a political or theological trap walks away empty-handed, and Jesus's counter-question at the end leaves the whole religious establishment without a response.
37: "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." The greatest commandment, followed immediately by the second, and the two together as the fulcrum of all Torah.
The denarius with Caesar's image was the standard Roman coin. Carrying it implied participation in the Roman economy. The question about taxes was designed to get Jesus to either endorse Roman occupation or commit sedition. His answer makes the question look small.
The Pharisees and Herodians, unlikely collaborators in opposition; the Sadducees, who do not believe in resurrection; the lawyer asking about commandments; the silent Pharisees at the chapter's end.
Chapter 22 is a debate gauntlet, each group attacking from a different angle. Politics (taxes), theology (resurrection), ethics (greatest command). Jesus answers each on its own terms and then asks a question none of them can answer: how can David call his own son 'Lord'? The Messiah is not just David's descendant; he is David's superior.
For when you are being tested by people looking for a mistake rather than an answer. Jesus navigates three different traps in one chapter without becoming defensive or evasive. He answers each question and then asks a better one.
1The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
2And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
3Again, 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.
4But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
5And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
6But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
7Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
8Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
9So 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.
10And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
11And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
12Then 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.
13For many are called, but few are chosen.
14Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
15And 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.
16Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
17But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
18Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
19And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
20They 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.
21When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
22The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
23Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
24Now 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:
25Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
26And last of all the woman died also.
27Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
28Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
29For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
30But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
31I 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.
32And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
33But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
34Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
35Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
36Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
37This is the first and great commandment.
38And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
39On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
40While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
41Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
42He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
43The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
44If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
45And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.