And Iesus answered and spake unto them again, in similitudes, saying:
¶ The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, which married his son, and sent forth his servants, to call them that were bid to the wedding, and they would not come. Again he sent forth other servants, saying: tell them which are bidden: Lo I have prepared my dinner, mine oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready, come unto the marriage. They made light of it, and went their ways: one to his firm place, another about his merchandise, the remnant took his servants, and intreated them ungoodly, and slew them. When the king heard that, he was wroth, and sent forth his warriors and destroyed those murderers, and burnt up their city.
¶ Then said he to his servants: The wedding was prepared: but they which were bidden thereto, were not worthy. Go ye therefore out into the high ways, and as many as ye find, bid them to the marriage. The servants went out into the ways, and gathered togedder as many as they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding was furnished with guests. The king came in, to visit the guests, and spied there a man which had not on a wedding garment, and said unto him: friend, how camest thou in hither, and * hast not on a wedding garment? and he was even speechless. *[til here the text is from Tyndale's Cologne quarto fragment 1525; the text thereafter is from the octavo edition of 1526.] Then said the king to his ministers: take and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called and few be chosen.
¶ Then went the pharises and took counsel, how they might tangle him in his words. And sent unto him their disciples with Herode's servants, saying: Master, we know that thou art true, and that thou teachest the way of God truly, neither carest for any man, for thou considerest not men's estate. Tell us therefore: how thinkest thou? is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not? Iesus perceived their wickedness, and said: Why tempt ye me ye hypocrites? let me see the tribute money. And they took him a penny. And he said unto them: whose is this image and superscription? They said unto him: Cesar's. Then said he unto them: Give therefore to Cesar, that which is cesar's: and give unto god, that which is godde's. When they heard that they marvelled, and left him and went their way.
¶ The same day the sadducees came to him (which say that there is no resurrection) and they asked him saying: Master, Moses bade, if a man die having no children, that the brother marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were with us seven brethren, the first married and died without issue, and left his wife unto his brother. Likewise the second and the third, unto the seventh: Last of all the woman died also. Now in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the vij.? for all had her. Iesus answered and said unto them: ye are deceived, and know not what the scripture meaneth, nor yet the virtue of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are married: but are as the angels of God in heaven.
¶ As touching the resurrection of the dead: have ye not read what is said unto you of God, which sayeth: I am Abraham's God, and Isaac's God, and the God of Iacob? God is not the God of the dead: but of the living. And when the people heard that, they were astonied at his doctrine.
¶ When the pharises had heard, how that he had put the sadducees to silence, they drew togedder, and one of them which was a doctor of law asked him a question tempting him and saying: Master which is the great commandment in the law? Iesus said unto him: thou shalt love thy Lord God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and that great commandment. And there is another like unto this. Thou shalt love thine neighbor as thyself. In these two commandments, hang all the law and the prophets.
¶ While the pharises were gathered together Iesus asked them saying: what think ye of Christ? whose son is he? they said unto him: the son of David. He said unto them: how then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying? The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand: till I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David call him Lord: how is he then his son? And none of them could answer him again one word. Neither durst any from that day forth, ask him any more questions.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1525 - 1526