Matthew 22:1-22

1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2“1The kingdom of heaven 2may be compared to 3a king who 4gave a 5wedding feast for his son. 3And he 6sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4Again he 7sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ 5But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own 8farm, another to his business, 6and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore to 9the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with 10dinner guests.

11“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw 11a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12and he said to him, ‘12Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into 13the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are 1415called, but few are 16chosen.”

1517Then the Pharisees went and 18plotted together how they might trap Him 19in what He said. 16And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the 20Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and 21defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17Tell us then, what do You think? Is it 22lawful to give a 23poll-tax to 24Caesar, or not?” 18But Jesus perceived their 25malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19Show Me the 26coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a 27denarius. 20And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “28Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22And hearing this, they were amazed, and 29leaving Him, they went away.