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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 22 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/22.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/22-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Matthew 22</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/21.htm" title="Matthew 21">◄</a> Matthew 22 <a href="../matthew/23.htm" title="Matthew 23">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Great Banquet</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 14:15-24">Luke 14.15-24</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_1"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.1" class="v40_22_1">1</span>Once again Jesus used stories to teach the people:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_2"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.2" class="v40_22_2">2</span>The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a king gave a wedding banquet for his son. </span><span class="v40_22_3"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.3" class="v40_22_3">3</span>The king sent some servants to tell the invited guests to come to the banquet, but the guests refused. </span><span class="v40_22_4"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.4" class="v40_22_4">4</span>He sent other servants to say to the guests, “The banquet is ready! My cattle and prize calves have all been prepared. Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!”</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_5"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.5" class="v40_22_5">5</span>But the guests did not pay any attention. Some of them left for their farms, and some went to their places of business. </span><span class="v40_22_6"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.6" class="v40_22_6">6</span>Others grabbed the servants, then beat them up and killed them.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_7"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.7" class="v40_22_7">7</span>This made the king so furious that he sent an army to kill those murderers and burn down their city. </span><span class="v40_22_8"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.8" class="v40_22_8">8</span>Then he said to the servants, “It is time for the wedding banquet, and the invited guests don't deserve to come. </span><span class="v40_22_9"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.9" class="v40_22_9">9</span>Go out to the street corners and tell everyone you meet to come to the banquet.” </span><span class="v40_22_10"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.10" class="v40_22_10">10</span>They went out on the streets and brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike. And the banquet room was filled with guests.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_11"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.11" class="v40_22_11">11</span>When the king went in to meet the guests, he found that one of them wasn't wearing the right kind of clothes for the wedding. </span><span class="v40_22_12"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.12" class="v40_22_12">12</span>The king asked, “Friend, why didn't you wear proper clothes for the wedding?” But the guest had no excuse. </span><span class="v40_22_13"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.13" class="v40_22_13">13</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.13!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> So the king gave orders for this person to be tied hand and foot and to be thrown outside into the dark. That's where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. </span><span class="v40_22_14"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.14" class="v40_22_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Many are invited, but only a few are chosen.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Paying Taxes</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 12:13-17">Mark 12.13-17</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 20:20-26">Luke 20.20-26</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_15"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.15" class="v40_22_15">15</span>The Pharisees got together and planned how they could trick Jesus into saying something wrong. </span><span class="v40_22_16"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.16" class="v40_22_16">16</span>They sent some of their followers and some of Herod's followers<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.16!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> to say to him, “Teacher, we know that you are honest. You teach the truth about what God wants people to do. And you treat everyone with the same respect, no matter who they are. </span><span class="v40_22_17"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.17" class="v40_22_17">17</span>Tell us what you think! Should we pay taxes to the Emperor or not?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_18"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.18" class="v40_22_18">18</span>Jesus knew their evil thoughts and said, “Why are you trying to test me? You show-offs! </span><span class="v40_22_19"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.19" class="v40_22_19">19</span>Let me see one of the coins used for paying taxes.” They brought him a silver coin, </span><span class="v40_22_20"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.20" class="v40_22_20">20</span>and he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_21"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.21" class="v40_22_21">21</span>“The Emperor's,” they answered.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_21">Then Jesus told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.” </span><span class="v40_22_22"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.22" class="v40_22_22">22</span>His answer surprised them so much that they walked away.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Life in the Future World</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 12:18-27">Mark 12.18-27</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 20:27-40">Luke 20.27-40</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_23"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.23" class="v40_22_23">23</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.23!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The Sadducees did not believe people would rise to life after death. So that same day some of the Sadducees came to Jesus and said:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_24"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.24" class="v40_22_24">24</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.24!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and has no children, his brother should marry the widow. Their first son would then be thought of as the son of the dead brother.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_25"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.25" class="v40_22_25">25</span>Once there were seven brothers who lived here. The first one married, but died without having any children. So his wife was left to his brother. </span><span class="v40_22_26"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.26" class="v40_22_26">26</span>The same thing happened to the second and third brothers and finally to all seven of them. </span><span class="v40_22_27"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.27" class="v40_22_27">27</span>At last the woman died. </span><span class="v40_22_28"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.28" class="v40_22_28">28</span>When God raises people from death, whose wife will this woman be? She had been married to all seven brothers.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_29"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.29" class="v40_22_29">29</span>Jesus answered:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_29">You are completely wrong! You don't know what the Scriptures teach. And you don't know anything about the power of God. </span><span class="v40_22_30"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.30" class="v40_22_30">30</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.30!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> When God raises people to life, they won't marry. They will be like the angels in heaven. </span><span class="v40_22_31"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.31" class="v40_22_31">31</span>And as for people being raised to life, God was speaking to you when he said, </span><span class="v40_22_32"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.32" class="v40_22_32">32</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> “I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.32!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> He isn't the God of the dead, but of the living.</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_33"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.33" class="v40_22_33">33</span>The crowds were surprised to hear what Jesus was teaching.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Most Important Commandment</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 12:28-34">Mark 12.28-34</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 10:25-28">Luke 10.25-28</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_34"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.34" class="v40_22_34">34</span>After Jesus had made the Sadducees look foolish, the Pharisees heard about it and got together. </span><span class="v40_22_35"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.35" class="v40_22_35">35</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.35!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, </span><span class="v40_22_36"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.36" class="v40_22_36">36</span>“Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_37"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.37" class="v40_22_37">37</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.37!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Jesus answered:</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_22_37">Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. </span><span class="v40_22_38"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.38" class="v40_22_38">38</span>This is the first and most important commandment. </span><span class="v40_22_39"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.39" class="v40_22_39">39</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.39!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” </span><span class="v40_22_40"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.40" class="v40_22_40">40</span>All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.40!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> are based on these two commandments.</span></p><h3 class="s1">About David's Son</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 12:35-37">Mark 12.35-37</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 20:41-44">Luke 20.41-44</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_41"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.41" class="v40_22_41">41</span>While the Pharisees were still there, Jesus asked them, </span><span class="v40_22_42"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.42" class="v40_22_42">42</span>“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose family will he come from?”</span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_42">They answered, “He will be a son of King David.”<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.42!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="par"><span class="v40_22_43"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.43" class="v40_22_43">43</span>Jesus replied, “How then could the Spirit lead David to call the Messiah his Lord? David said,</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_22_44"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.44" class="v40_22_44">44</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.44!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> ‘The Lord said to my Lord:</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_22_44">Sit at my right side<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.22.44!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_22_44">until I make your enemies</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_22_44">into a footstool for you.’</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="m"><span class="v40_22_45"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.45" class="v40_22_45">45</span>If David called the Messiah his Lord, how can the Messiah be a son of King David?” </span><span class="v40_22_46"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.22.46" class="v40_22_46">46</span>No one was able to give Jesus an answer, and from that day on, no one dared ask him any more questions.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.16 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">Herod's followers: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">People who were political followers of the family of Herod the Great (see 2.1) and his son Herod Antipas (see 14.1), and who wanted Herod to be king in Jerusalem.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">I am the God worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Jesus argues that if God is worshiped by these three, they must still be alive, because he is the God of the living.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.40 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.42 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">son of King David: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 9.27.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">22.44 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">right side: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The place of power and honor.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at <a href="http://www.get.bible/cev">www.get.bible/cev</a></span></p><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/21.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 21"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 21" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/23.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 23"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 23" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/matthew/22-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>