1 T hen He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

Jesus began to teach them by using picture-stories, saying, “There was a man who planted grapes in a field. He put a fence around it and made a place for making wine. He built a tower to look over the field. Then he let farmers rent it and went into another country.

2 N ow at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.

“The time came for gathering the grapes. He sent his servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes.

3 A nd they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

The farmers took him and beat him. They sent him back with nothing.

4 A gain he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

The owner sent another servant. The farmers threw stones at him and hit him on the head and did other bad things to him.

5 A nd again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

Again the owner sent another servant. The farmers killed that one. Many other servants were sent. They beat some and they killed others.

6 T herefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

“He had a much-loved son to send yet. So last of all he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

7 B ut those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

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

8 S o they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.

They took him and killed him. They threw his body outside the field.

9 “ Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

What will the owner of the field do? He will come and kill the farmers. He will give the field to other farmers.

10 H ave you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

“Have you not read what the Holy Writings say? ‘The Stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important Stone in the corner of the building.

11 T his was the Lord ’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

The Lord has done this. It is great in our eyes.’”

12 A nd they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away. The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

The leaders wanted to take Him but they were afraid of the people. They knew He had told the picture-story against them. They left Him and went away. They Try to Trap Jesus

13 T hen they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words.

Some of the proud religious law-keepers and Herod’s men were sent to trap Jesus in His talk.

14 W hen they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?

They came to Him and said, “Teacher, we know You are true. We know You are not afraid of what men think or say about You. You teach the way of God in truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

15 S hall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it. ”

Should we pay or not pay?” Jesus knew how they pretended to be someone they were not. He said to them, “Why do you try to trap Me? Bring Me a small piece of money so I may look at it.”

16 S o they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

They brought Him one. He asked them, “Whose picture is this? Whose name is on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

17 A nd Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him. The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

Then Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” They were surprised and wondered at Him. They Ask about Being Raised from the Dead

18 T hen some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying:

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

19 “ Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

“Teacher, Moses gave us a Law. It said, ‘If a man’s brother dies and leaves his wife behind, but no children, then his brother should marry his wife and raise children for his brother.’

20 N ow there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

There were seven brothers. The first was married. He died before he had any children.

21 A nd the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

The second married her and died. He had no children. The same happened with the third.

22 S o the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.

All seven had her for a wife. All died without children. Last of all the woman died.

23 T herefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

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

24 J esus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you do not know the Holy Writings or the power of God?

25 F or when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

When people are raised from the dead, they do not marry and are not given in marriage. They are like angels in heaven.

26 B ut concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’?

As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses how God spoke to him in the burning bush? He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’

27 H e is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.” The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

He is not the God of the dead, He is the God of the living. So you are very much wrong.” The Great Law

28 T hen one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

Then one of the teachers of the Law heard them arguing. He thought Jesus had spoken well. He asked Him, “Which Law is the greatest of all?”

29 J esus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Jesus said to him, “The greatest Law is this, ‘Listen, Jewish people, The Lord our God is one Lord!

30 A nd you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This is the first Law.

31 A nd the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

“The second Law is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other Law is greater than these.”

32 S o the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.

Then the teacher of the Law said, “Teacher, You have told the truth. There is one God. There is no other God but Him.

33 A nd to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

A man should love Him with all his heart and with all his understanding. He should love Him with all his soul and with all his strength and love his neighbor as himself. This is more important than to bring animals to be burned on the altar or to give God other gifts on the altar in worship.”

34 N ow when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him. Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

Jesus saw he had spoken with understanding. He said to him, “You are not far from the holy nation of God.” After that no one thought they could ask Him anything. Jesus Asks the Proud Religious Law-Keepers about the Christ

35 T hen Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?

Jesus was in the house of God teaching. He asked, “How do the teachers of the Law say that Christ is the Son of David?

36 F or David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

For David himself, led by the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right side until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.’

37 T herefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly. Beware of the Scribes

David himself calls Him Lord. Then how can He be his son?” Many people were glad to hear Him. False Teachers

38 T hen He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,

Jesus taught them, saying, “Look out for the teachers of the Law. They like to walk around in long coats. They like to have the respect of men as they stand in the center of town where people gather.

39 t he best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,

They like to have the important seats in the places of worship and the important places at big suppers.

40 w ho devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” The Widow’s Two Mites

They take houses from poor women whose husbands have died. They cover up the bad they do by saying long prayers. They will be punished all the more.” The Woman Whose Husband Had Died Gave All She Had

41 N ow Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.

Jesus sat near the money box in the house of God. He watched the people putting in money. Many of them were rich and gave much money.

42 T hen one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.

A poor woman whose husband had died came by and gave two very small pieces of money.

43 S o He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;

Jesus called His followers to Him. He said, “For sure, I tell you, this poor woman whose husband has died has given more money than all the others.

44 f or they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

They all gave of that which was more than they needed for their own living. She is poor and yet she gave all she had, even what she needed for her own living.”