20
1 On
one of those
days, as he
was teaching the
people in the
temple and
preaching the Good
News, the
priests and
scribes came to
him with the
elders.
2 They
asked him, “Tell
us: by what
authority do you
do these things?
Or who is
giving you this
authority?”
3 He
answered them,
“I also will
ask you one
question. Tell
me:
4 the baptism of
John, was it
from heaven, or
from men?”
5 They
reasoned with
themselves, saying, “If
we say, ‘From
heaven,’ he will
say, ‘Why didn’t
you believe him?’
6 But
if we say, ‘From
men,’ all the
people will stone
us, for they
are persuaded that
John was a
prophet.”
7 They answered
that they didn’t
know where it
was from.
8 Jesus
said to them,
“Neither will I
tell you by
what authority I
do these
things.”
9 He
began to tell
the people this
parable: “A
man planted
a vineyard and
rented it out
to some farmers,
and went into
another country for
a long time.
10 At the proper
season, he sent
a servant to
the farmers to collect
his share of the
fruit of
the vineyard. But
the farmers beat
him and sent
him away empty.
11 He sent yet
another servant,
and they also
beat him
and treated him shamefully,
and sent him
away empty.
12 He sent yet
a third, and
they also
wounded him and
threw him out.
13 The lord of
the vineyard said, ‘What
shall I do?
I will send
my beloved son.
It may be
that seeing him,
they will
respect him.’
14 “But when
the farmers saw
him, they
reasoned among
themselves, saying, ‘This
is the heir.
Come, let’s kill
him, that the
inheritance may
be ours.’
15 Then they threw
him out of
the vineyard and killed
him. What
therefore will
the lord of
the vineyard do
to them?
16 He will come
and destroy these farmers,
and will give
the vineyard to
others.”
When they heard
that, they said,
“May that never
be!”
17 But
he looked at
them and said,
“Then what is
this that is
written,
‘The stone
which the
builders rejected
was made the
chief cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who
falls on that
stone will be
broken to pieces,
but it
will crush whomever
it falls on
to dust.”
19 The
chief priests and
the scribes sought
to lay hands
on him that
very hour, but
they feared the
people—for they
knew he had
spoken this
parable against
them.
20 They
watched him and
sent out spies,
who pretended to
be righteous, that
they might trap
him in something
he said, so
as to deliver
him up to
the power and
authority of the
governor.
21 They
asked him, “Teacher, we know that
you say and
teach what is
right, and aren’t
partial to anyone,
but truly teach
the way of
God.
22 Is
it lawful for
us to pay
taxes to Caesar,
or not?”
23 But
he perceived their
craftiness, and
said to them,
“Why do you test
me?
24 Show me a
denarius. Whose
image and
inscription are
on it?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.”
25 He
said to them,
“Then give to
Caesar the
things that are
Caesar’s, and to
God the things
that are
God’s.”
26 They weren’t able
to trap him in
his words before
the people. They
marveled at
his answer and
were silent.
27 Some
of the Sadducees
came to him,
those who deny
that there is
a resurrection.
28 They
asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to
us that if
a man’s brother
dies having a wife,
and he
is childless, his brother
should take the
wife and raise
up children for
his brother.
29 There
were therefore
seven brothers. The
first took a
wife, and
died childless.
30 The
second took her
as wife, and he
died childless.
31 The
third took her,
and likewise the
seven all left
no children, and
died.
32 Afterward
the woman also
died.
33 Therefore
in the resurrection
whose wife of
them will she
be? For the
seven had her
as a wife.”
34 Jesus
said to them,
“The children
of this age
marry and are
given in
marriage.
35 But those who
are considered
worthy to attain
to that age and
the resurrection from
the dead neither
marry nor are
given in
marriage.
36 For they can’t
die any more,
for they are
like the angels
and are children
of God, being
children of
the resurrection.
37 But that the
dead are raised,
even Moses
showed at
the bush, when
he called the
Lord ‘The God
of Abraham, the
God of Isaac,
and the God
of Jacob.’
38 Now he is
not the God
of the dead,
but of the
living, for all
are alive
to him.”
39 Some
of the scribes
answered, “Teacher,
you speak well.”
40 They didn’t
dare to ask
him any more
questions.
41 He
said to them,
“Why do they
say that the
Christ is David’s
son?
42 David himself says
in the book
of Psalms,
‘The Lord said
to my Lord,
“Sit at my
right hand,
43 until I make
your enemies the
footstool of
your feet.” ’
44 “David therefore
calls him Lord,
so how is
he his
son?”
45 In
the hearing of all
the people, he
said to his
disciples,
46 “Beware of
those scribes
who like to
walk in long
robes, and
love greetings in
the marketplaces, the best
seats in the
synagogues, and
the best places
at feasts;
47 who devour
widows’ houses,
and for a
pretense make
long prayers.
These will
receive greater
condemnation.”