1 A nd it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

As He was teaching and preaching the Good News, the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law and the elders came.

2 A nd spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

They said to Him, “Tell us, by what right and power are You doing these things? Who gave You the right and the power?”

3 A nd he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question also. You answer Me.

4 T he baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

5 A nd they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

They said to themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’

6 B ut and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

But if we say, ‘From men,’ then all the people will throw stones at us because they believe John was one who spoke for God.”

7 A nd they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

They said that they did not know where John’s baptism came from.

8 A nd Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus said to them, “And I will not tell you where I get the right and the power to do these things.” The Picture-Story of the Grape-Field

9 T hen began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

Jesus began to tell the people a picture-story, saying, “There was a man who planted a grape-field. He rented it to farmers. Then he went to a country far away for a long time.

10 A nd at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

At the time of gathering fruit he sent one of his servants to the farmers to get some of the fruit. But the farmers beat him and sent him away without fruit.

11 A nd again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

He sent another servant. The farmers beat him also. They made it very hard for him and sent him away without fruit.

12 A nd again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

He sent a third servant. They hurt him and threw him out of the grape-field.

13 T hen said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

“Then the owner of the grape-field said, ‘What should I do? I will send my much-loved son. They might respect him.’

14 B ut when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

The farmers saw the son. They said to themselves, ‘This is the one who will get everything when the owner dies. Let us kill him, and we will get everything.’

15 S o they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

They put him out of the grape-field and killed him. Now what will the owner of the grape-field do to them?

16 H e shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

He will come and kill those farmers. Then he will rent the grape-field to other farmers.” When they heard this, they said, “May this never be done!”

17 A nd he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Jesus looked at them and said, “What does this writing mean, ‘The Stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important Stone in the building’?

18 W hosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Whoever falls on this Stone will be broken. And on the one it falls, it will make him like dust.” They Try to Trap Jesus

19 A nd the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

At this time the religious leaders and the teachers of the Law tried to take Jesus, but they were afraid of the people. These leaders knew Jesus had told this picture-story against them.

20 A nd they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

They watched Jesus and they sent men who pretended to be good people to watch Him. They wanted to trap Him in something He said. Then they could give Him over to the leader of the people who had the right and the power to say what to do with Him.

21 A nd they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

These men who were sent asked Jesus, “Teacher, we know what You say and teach is right. We know You do not show more respect to one person than to another. We know You teach the truth about God.

22 I s it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 B ut he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

Jesus knew they were trying to trap Him. He said,

24 S hew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

“Show Me a piece of money. Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” And they said, “Caesar’s.”

25 A nd he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.”

26 A nd they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

They could find nothing wrong with what He taught. They were surprised and wondered about what He told the people, so they said nothing more. They Ask about Being Raised from the Dead

27 T hen came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Some people from the religious group who believe no one will be raised from the dead came to Jesus. They asked Him,

28 S aying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

“Teacher, Moses wrote to us in the Law, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, then his brother must marry her. He should have children for his brother who died.’

29 T here were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

There were seven brothers. The first had a wife but died without children.

30 A nd the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

The second brother took her for his wife. He died without children.

31 A nd the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

The third brother took her for his wife. In the same way all seven took her for a wife. They all died without children.

32 L ast of all the woman died also.

Then the woman died also.

33 T herefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

When people are raised from the dead, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers had her for a wife.”

34 A nd Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Jesus said to them, “People of this earth marry and are given in marriage.

35 B ut they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

But those who have the right to have that life and are raised from the dead do not marry and are not given in marriage.

36 N either can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

They cannot die anymore. They are as the angels and are sons of God. They are children who have been raised from the dead.

37 N ow that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

As for the dead being raised, even Moses spoke of that when he told of the burning bush. There he calls the Lord, the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

38 F or he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

For He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living. All live for Him.”

39 T hen certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

One of the teachers of the Law said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”

40 A nd after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

After that they were afraid to ask Him anything. Jesus Asks the Teachers of the Law about the Christ

41 A nd he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?

Jesus said to them, “How do they say that Christ is the Son of David?

42 A nd David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

For David himself said in the Book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to My Lord, “Sit at my right side

43 T ill I make thine enemies thy footstool.

until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.”’

44 D avid therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

David calls Him, ‘Lord!’ Then how can He be his son?” False Teachers

45 T hen in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

All the people were listening. He said to His followers,

46 B eware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

“Look out for the teachers of the Law. They like to walk around in long coats. They like to have people speak words of respect to them in the center of town where people gather. They like the important seats in the places of worship. They like the important places at big suppers.

47 W hich devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

They take houses from poor women whose husbands have died. They cover up their actions by making long prayers. They will be punished all the more.”