Jesus' Authority Questioned

1Now it came to pass on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him,

2and they spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

3But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and so tell Me:

4The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

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

6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

9Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

10Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the farmers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers flogged him and sent him away empty-handed.

11And again he sent another servant; and they flogged him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

12And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and threw him out.

13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps when they see him they will respect him.’

14But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’

15And casting him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “May it never be!”

17Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this which is written:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’?

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

19And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they were afraid—for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them.

The Question of Paying Taxes

20And having watched Him closely, they sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor.

21Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23But perceiving their craftiness, He said to them, “Why do you test Me?

24Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar's.”

25And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

26But they could not catch Him in His words in front of the people. And marveling at His answer, they kept silent.

The Question About the Resurrection

27Then some of the Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, coming to Him and asked Him,

28saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and this man dies childless, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

29Now there were seven brothers. And the first, having taken a wife, died childless.

30And the second took her as wife, and this man died childless.

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

32Last of all the woman died also.

33Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

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

35But those who have been counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

36nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

37Now even Moses revealed that the dead are raised, in the burning bush passage, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

38For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all are alive to Him.”

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

40But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

The Question About the Son of David

41And He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?

42Even David himself said in the Book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,

43till I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’

44Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

Beware of the Scribes

45And as all the people listened, He said to His disciples,

46“Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk about in long robes, and love greetings in the market places, and the first seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at dinners,

47who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”