Who, what, why, when, where, and how — read the book introduction
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Learn about the sources and coverage →Jesus continued speaking to them in parables.
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ἐν παραβολαῖς, λέγων,
Kai apokritheis ho Iēsous palin eipen autois en parabolais, legōn,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding celebration for his son.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Ὡμοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησεν γάμους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ∙
Hōmoiōthē hē basileia tōn ouranōn anthrōpō basilei, hostis epoiēsen gamous tō huiō autou;
He sent his servants to call the invited guests to the wedding, but they refused to come.
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκλημένους εἰς τοὺς γάμους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν.
kai apesteilen tous doulous autou kalesai tous keklēmenous eis tous gamous, kai ouk ēthelon elthein.
So he sent other servants with this message:
‘Tell those who were invited, “Look, I have prepared the feast. My bulls and fattened animals have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding celebration!”’
Again, 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.
Πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους, λέγων, Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκλημένοις. Ἰδού, τὸ ἄριστόν μου ἡτοίμασα, οἱ ταῦροί μου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυμένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιμα∙ δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.
Palin apesteilen allous doulous, legōn, Eipate tois keklēmenois. Idou, to ariston mou hētoimasa, hoi tauroi mou kai ta sitista tethymena, kai panta hetoima; deute eis tous gamous.
But they paid no attention and went their own ways—one to his field and another to his business.
But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Οἱ δὲ ἀμελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον, ὁ μὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, ὁ δὲ εἰς τὴν ἐμπορίαν αὐτοῦ∙
Hoi de amelēsantes apēlthon, ho men eis ton idion agron, ho de eis tēn emporian autou;
The rest seized the king’s servants, abused them, and killed them.
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν.
hoi de loipoi kratēsantes tous doulous autou hybrisan kai apekteinan.
When the king heard what had happened, he became furious. He sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Καὶ ἀκούσας ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκεῖνος ὠργίσθη, καὶ πέμψας τὰ στρατεύματα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους, καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν.
Kai akousas ho basileus ekeinos ōrgisthē, kai pempsas ta strateumata autou apōlesen tous phoneis ekeinous, kai tēn polin autōn eneprēsen.
Then he told his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but the people who were invited proved themselves unworthy.
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ, Ὁ μὲν γάμος ἕτοιμός ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ κεκλημένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι.
Tote legei tois doulois autou, Ho men gamos hetoimos estin, hoi de keklēmenoi ouk ēsan axioi.
So go out to the places where the roads leave the city and invite everyone you find to the wedding.’
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν, καὶ ὅσους ἂν εὕρητε, καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάμους.
Poreuesthe oun epi tas diexodous tōn hodōn, kai hosous an heurēte, kalesate eis tous gamous.
The servants went out along the roads and gathered everyone they could find, both bad and good, until the wedding hall was filled with guests.
So 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.
Καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς συνήγαγον πάντας ὅσους εὗρον, πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς∙ καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάμος ἀνακειμένων.
Kai exelthontes hoi douloi ekeinoi eis tas hodous synēgagon pantas hosous heuron, ponērous te kai agathous; kai eplēsthē ho gamos anakeimenōn.
But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man who was not dressed appropriately for the wedding.
¶ And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειμένους εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυμένον ἔνδυμα γάμου∙
Eiselthōn de ho basileus theasasthai tous anakeimenous eiden ekei anthrōpon ouk endedymenon endyma gamou;
He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’
The man had no answer.
And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἑταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε μὴ ἔχων ἔνδυμα γάμου; Ὁ δὲ ἐφιμώθη.
kai legei autō, Hetaire, pōs eisēlthes hōde mē echōn endyma gamou? Ho de ephimōthē.
Then the king told his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’
Then 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.
Τότε εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τοῖς διακόνοις, Δήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας, ἄρατε αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκβάλετε εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον∙ ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων.
Tote eipen ho basileus tois diakonois, Dēsantes autou podas kai cheiras, arate auton kai ekbalete eis to skotos to exōteron; ekei estai ho klauthmos kai ho brygmos tōn odontōn.
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοί, ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί.
Polloi gar eisin klētoi, oligoi de eklektoi.
Then the Pharisees went away and planned how they could trap Jesus with something He said.
¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Τότε πορευθέντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι συμβούλιον ἔλαβον ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσωσιν ἐν λόγῳ.
Tote poreuthentes hoi Pharisaioi symboulion elabon hopōs auton pagideusōsin en logō.
They sent their disciples to Him along with some Herodians.
“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are truthful and that You faithfully teach the way of God. You are not influenced by anyone’s status, because You do not judge people by outward appearances.
And 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.
Καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτῶν μετὰ τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶν, λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ, καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ διδάσκεις, καὶ οὐ μέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός∙ οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων.
Kai apostellousin autō tous mathētas autōn meta tōn Hērōdianōn, legontes, Didaskale, oidamen hoti alēthēs ei, kai tēn hodon tou theou en alētheia didaskeis, kai ou melei soi peri oudenos; ou gar blepeis eis prosōpon anthrōpōn.
So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay the tax to Caesar or not?”
Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Εἰπὲ οὖν ἡμῖν, τί σοι δοκεῖ; Ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι, ἢ οὔ;
Eipe oun hēmin, ti soi dokei? Exestin dounai kēnson Kaisari, ē ou?
But Jesus knew their evil intent.
“Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν εἶπεν, Τί με πειράζετε, ὑποκριταί;
Gnous de ho Iēsous tēn ponērian autōn eipen, Ti me peirazete, hypokritai?
Show Me the coin used to pay the tax.”
They brought Him a denarius.
Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Ἐπιδείξατέ μοι τὸ νόμισμα τοῦ κήνσου. Οἱ δὲ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δηνάριον.
Epideixate moi to nomisma tou kēnsou. Hoi de prosēnenkan autō dēnarion.
Jesus asked them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”
And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή;
Kai legei autois, Tinos hē eikōn hautē kai hē epigraphē?
“Caesar’s,” they answered.
Then Jesus told them, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar—and give to God what belongs to God.”
They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Καίσαρος. Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι, καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ.
Legousin autō, Kaisaros. Tote legei autois, Apodote oun ta Kaisaros Kaisari, kai ta tou theou tō theō.
When they heard His answer, they were amazed. They left Him and went away.
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
Καὶ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύμασαν∙ καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθον.
Kai akousantes ethaumasan; kai aphentes auton apēlthon.
That same day, some Sadducees came to Jesus. They say there is no resurrection, so they presented Him with a question.
¶ The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ Σαδδουκαῖοι, οἱ λέγοντες μὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν, καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν,
En ekeinē tē hēmera prosēlthon autō Saddoukaioi, hoi legontes mē einai anastasin, kai epērōtēsan auton,
“Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies without having children, his brother should marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.
Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
λέγοντες, Διδάσκαλε, Μωσῆς εἶπεν, Ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ μὴ ἔχων τέκνα, ἐπιγαμβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.
legontes, Didaskale, Mōsēs eipen, Ean tis apothanē mē echōn tekna, epigambreusei ho adelphos autou tēn gynaika autou, kai anastēsei sperma tō adelphō autou.
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died without children, leaving his wife to his brother.
Now 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:
Ἦσαν δὲ παρ’ ἡμῖν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί∙ καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γαμήσας ἐτελεύτησεν∙ καὶ μὴ ἔχων σπέρμα, ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ.
Ēsan de par’ hēmin hepta adelphoi; kai ho prōtos gamēsas eteleutēsen; kai mē echōn sperma, aphēken tēn gynaika autou tō adelphō autou.
The same thing happened to the second brother, then the third, and eventually all seven.
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.
Ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ δεύτερος, καὶ ὁ τρίτος, ἕως τῶν ἑπτά.
Homoiōs kai ho deuteros, kai ho tritos, heōs tōn hepta.
Finally, the woman died too.
And last of all the woman died also.
Ὕστερον δὲ πάντων ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἡ γυνή.
Hysteron de pantōn apethanen kai hē gynē.
So when the resurrection comes, whose wife will she be? All seven of them had been married to her.”
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.
Ἐν τῇ οὖν ἀναστάσει, τίνος τῶν ἑπτὰ ἔσται γυνή; Πάντες γὰρ ἔσχον αὐτήν.
En tē oun anastasei, tinos tōn hepta estai gynē? Pantes gar eschon autēn.
Jesus answered them, “You are mistaken because you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Πλανᾶσθε, μὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφάς, μηδὲ τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ θεοῦ.
Apokritheis de ho Iēsous eipen autois, Planasthe, mē eidotes tas graphas, mēde tēn dynamin tou theou.
In the resurrection, people neither marry nor are given in marriage. Instead, they are like the angels of God in heaven.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἀναστάσει οὔτε γαμοῦσιν, οὔτε ἐκγαμίζονται, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἄγγελοι τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν οὐρανῷ εἰσιν.
En gar tē anastasei oute gamousin, oute ekgamizontai, all’ hōs angeloi tou theou en ouranō eisin.
And concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God said to you:
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
Περὶ δὲ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῶν νεκρῶν, οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑμῖν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, λέγοντος,
Peri de tēs anastaseōs tōn nekrōn, ouk anegnōte to rhēthen hymin hypo tou theou, legontos,
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
I 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.
Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ θεὸς Ἀβραάμ, καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰσαάκ, καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰακώβ; Οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ θεὸς θεὸς νεκρῶν, ἀλλὰ ζώντων.
Egō eimi ho theos Abraam, kai ho theos Isaak, kai ho theos Iakōb? Ouk estin ho theos theos nekrōn, alla zōntōn.
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished by His teaching.
And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
Καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ὄχλοι ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ.
Kai akousantes hoi ochloi exeplēssonto epi tē didachē autou.
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
¶ But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι, ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἐφίμωσεν τοὺς Σαδδουκαίους, συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό.
Hoi de Pharisaioi, akousantes hoti ephimōsen tous Saddoukaious, synēchthēsan epi to auto.
One of them, an expert in the Law, tested Him with a question:
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
Καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν νομικός, πειράζων αὐτόν, καὶ λέγων,
Kai epērōtēsen heis ex autōn nomikos, peirazōn auton, kai legōn,
“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?”
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Διδάσκαλε, ποία ἐντολὴ μεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόμῳ;
Didaskale, poia entolē megalē en tō nomō?
Jesus answered him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
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.
Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἔφη αὐτῷ, Ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου, ἐν ὅλῃ καρδίᾳ σου, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου.
Ho de Iēsous ephē autō, Agapēseis kyrion ton theon sou, en holē kardia sou, kai en holē psychē sou, kai en holē tē dianoia sou.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
This is the first and great commandment.
Αὕτη ἐστὶν πρώτη καὶ μεγάλη ἐντολή.
Hautē estin prōtē kai megalē entolē.
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Δευτέρα δὲ ὁμοία αὐτῇ, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν.
Deutera de homoia autē, Agapēseis ton plēsion sou hōs seauton.
Everything in the Law and the Prophets hangs upon these two commandments.”
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς ὅλος ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται κρέμανται.
En tautais tais dysin entolais holos ho nomos kai hoi prophētai kremantai.
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question.
¶ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Συνηγμένων δὲ τῶν Φαρισαίων, ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς,
Synēgmenōn de tōn Pharisaiōn, epērōtēsen autous ho Iēsous,
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
“David’s,” they answered.
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
λέγων, Τί ὑμῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ χριστοῦ; Τίνος υἱός ἐστιν; Λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Τοῦ Δαυίδ.
legōn, Ti hymin dokei peri tou christou? Tinos huios estin? Legousin autō, Tou Dauid.
Jesus asked them, “Then how is it that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls Him ‘Lord’ when he says:
He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Λέγει αὐτοῖς, Πῶς οὖν Δαυὶδ ἐν πνεύματι κύριον αὐτὸν καλεῖ, λέγων,
Legei autois, Pōs oun Dauid en pneumati kyrion auton kalei, legōn,
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool beneath Your feet”’?
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου;
Eipen ho kyrios tō kyriō mou, Kathou ek dexiōn mou, heōs an thō tous echthrous sou hypopodion tōn podōn sou?
If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He merely be David’s Son?”
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Εἰ οὖν Δαυὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον, πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν;
Ei oun Dauid kalei auton kyrion, pōs huios autou estin?
No one was able to answer Him a word. And from that day forward, no one dared to question Him anymore.
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
Καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο αὐτῷ ἀποκριθῆναι λόγον∙ οὐδὲ ἐτόλμησέν τις ἀπ’ ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας ἐπερωτῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐκέτι.
Kai oudeis edynato autō apokrithēnai logon; oude etolmēsen tis ap’ ekeinēs tēs hēmeras eperōtēsai auton ouketi.