2 Kings 14:23–15:16

14:23 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Joash became king over Israel. He reigned for 41 years in Samaria. 24He did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. 25He restored the border of Israel from Lebo Hamath in the north to the sea of the rift valley in the south, just as in the message from the Lord God of Israel that he had announced through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. 26The Lord saw Israel’s intense suffering; everyone was weak and incapacitated and Israel had no deliverer. 27The Lord had not decreed that he would blot out Israel’s memory from under heaven, so he delivered them through Jeroboam son of Joash.

28The rest of the events of Jeroboam’s reign, including all his accomplishments, his military success in restoring Israelite control over Damascus and Hamath, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 29Jeroboam passed away and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah replaced him as king.

15:1 In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam’s reign over Israel, Amaziah’s son Azariah became king over Judah. 2He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. 3He did what the Lord approved, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. 5The Lord afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

6The rest of the events of Azariah’s reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. 7Azariah passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.

8In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah’s reign over Judah, Jeroboam’s son Zechariah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for six months. 9He did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his ancestors had done. He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. 10Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him; he assassinated him in Ibleam and took his place as king. 11The rest of the events of Zechariah’s reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 12His assassination fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jehu, “Four generations of your descendants will rule on Israel’s throne.” And that is how it happened.

13Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah’s reign over Judah. He reigned for one month in Samaria. 14Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and attacked Shallum son of Jabesh. He killed him and took his place as king. 15The rest of the events of Shallum’s reign, including the conspiracy he organized, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. 16At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender. He even ripped open the pregnant women.

Ps. 45

45:1 For the music director, according to the tune of “Lilies”; by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song.

My heart is stirred by a beautiful song.

I say, “I have composed this special song for the king;

my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”

2You are the most handsome of all men.

You speak in an impressive and fitting manner.

For this reason God grants you continual blessings.

3Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior.

Appear in your majestic splendor.

4Appear in your majesty and be victorious.

Ride forth for the sake of what is right,

on behalf of justice.

Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts.

5Your arrows are sharp

and penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies.

Nations fall at your feet.

6Your throne, O God, is permanent.

The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.

7You love justice and hate evil.

For this reason God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.

8All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.

9Princesses are among your honored women.

Your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.

10Listen, O princess.

Observe and pay attention!

Forget your homeland and your family.

11Then the king will be attracted by your beauty.

After all, he is your master. Submit to him.

12Rich people from Tyre

will seek your favor by bringing a gift.

13The princess looks absolutely magnificent,

decked out in pearls and clothed in a brocade trimmed with gold.

14In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king.

Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her,

are led before you.

15They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession

and enter the royal palace.

16Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors;

you will make them princes throughout the land.

17I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years,

then the nations will praise you forever.

Matt. 22:15–33

22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words. 16They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. 17Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” So they brought him a denarius. 20Jesus said to them, “Whose image is this, and whose inscription?” 21They replied, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.

23The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him, 24“Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.’ 25Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother. 26The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh. 27Last of all, the woman died. 28In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.” 29Jesus answered them, “You are deceived because you don’t know the scriptures or the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, 32‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!” 33When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.