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¹ And Jesus continued to speak to them in parables, and said, ² the kingdom of the Messiah is such, as when a certain king made a wedding-feast for his son. ³ he sent out his servants to call those that were invited to the wedding: but they would not come. ⁴ then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment. ⁵ but instead of showing any regard, they went their ways, one to his farm, another to his traffick. ⁶ others seiz'd his servants, outrageously abused them, and slew them. ⁷ when the king was informed of this, he was greatly incensed, and having order'd his forces to march, he put those murderers to death, and laid their city in ashes. ⁸ then he said to his servants, the feast is ready, but they who were invited were very unworthy. ⁹ go therefore into the high streets, and as many as ye find, invite to the marriage: ¹⁰ accordingly they went about the streets, and assembled all they met indifferently, both good and bad: so that the hall was furnished with guests. ¹¹ but upon the king's coming in to see the guests, he observ'd one there without a wedding garment: and he said to him, ¹² friend, how came you in hither, without a wedding garment? and he was speechless. ¹³ then said the king to the servants, bind him hand and foot, take him away, and turn him out in the dark: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ¹⁴ thus many are called, but few are converted.

¹⁵ Upon this the Pharisees withdrew, and consulted how they might insnare him in his discourse. ¹⁶ they dispatch'd therefore some of their disciples, together with the Herodians, who thus address'd themselves to him; master, we know that you are sincere, and faithfully teach the divine law without fear or flattery: for you have no regard to the outward quality of men. ¹⁷ tell us therefore, what is your opinion? is it lawful to pay tribute to Cesar, or no? ¹⁸ but Jesus perceiving their malice, said, why, hypocrites, would you insnare me? ¹⁹ shew me the tribute money. and they brought him a penny. ²⁰ and he said unto them, whose image and inscription is this? ²¹ they answer'd, Cesar's. then said he to them, render therefore unto Cesar, the things which are Cesar's: and unto God, the things that are God's. ²² on hearing this, they were filled with admiration, and so leaving him, they went their way.

²³ About that time the Sadducees, who say there is no future life, came and propos'd this question, ²⁴ master, said they, by the law of Moses, in case a man die without children, his brother is oblig'd to marry his wife, in order to perpetuate his brother's name. ²⁵ now there happen'd among us seven brothers, the first married but died without issue, leaving his wife to his brother: ²⁶ the same happen'd to the second, and the third, and so on to the seventh. ²⁷ last of all the woman died too: ²⁸ now if there be another life after this, whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all married her. ²⁹ Jesus answered them, you are mistaken, for want of a true notion of the scriptures, and of the divine power. ³⁰ for in the other life after this, there will be no such thing as marriage; but they will be as the angels of God in heaven. ³¹ now as to the state of life after death, have ye not read that expression of God himself, ³² " I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" God is not a benefactor to the dead, but to the living. ³³ when the people heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

³⁴ but the Pharisees hearing that he had dumb-founded the Sadducees, they met together in council. ³⁵ In the mean time one of them, a Doctor of the law, to try him, started this question, master, ³⁶ which is the most important commandment of the law? ³⁷ Jesus said to him, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." ³⁸ this is the first and most important precept, ³⁹ and the second has an affinity with it, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self." ⁴⁰ these two precepts comprehend the substance of all the law and the prophets.

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were still assembled, Jesus asked them, ⁴² what think ye of Christ? whose son is he to be? they answered, David's. ⁴³ how comes it then, said he, that David by inspiration calls him Lord, in these words, ⁴⁴ " the Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?" ⁴⁵ why then does David call him Lord, if He be David's son? ⁴⁶ but not a man was able to answer him a word, and from that time there was no body so hardy as to ask him any more questions.