1 N ow it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him

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 spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You 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 B ut He answered and said to them, “I also will 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 from men?”

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

5 A nd they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

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

6 B ut if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are 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 S o they answered that they did not know where it was from.

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

8 A nd Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

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 He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, 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 N ow at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

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 gain he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

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 “ Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect 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 vinedressers 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. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to 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 will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”

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 T hen He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’?

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 hoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, 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 that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people —for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

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 S o they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the 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 T hen they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

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 pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

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

23 B ut He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me?

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

24 S how Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” 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 to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are 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 B ut they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent. The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

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 some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and 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: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for 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 N ow there were seven brothers. 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 as wife, and he died childless.

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

31 T hen 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 does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

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

34 J esus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

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

35 B ut those who are counted worthy to attain that age, 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 or can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons 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 B ut even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, 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 the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”

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

39 T hen some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”

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

40 B ut after that they dared not question Him anymore. Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?

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

41 A nd He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?

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

42 N ow David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at 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 Your enemies Your footstool.”’

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

44 T herefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” Beware of the Scribes

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

45 T hen, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,

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

46 “ Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places 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 ho devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

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.”