Luke 20

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

1 One day as He was teaching the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came up

2 and said to Him: "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?"
3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question. Tell Me,

4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"
5 They discussed it among themselves: "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, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."

7 So they answered that they did not know its origin.

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

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.'
14 "But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!'

15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
"Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others."
But when they heard this they said, "No-never!"

17 But He looked at them and said, "Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:
The stone that the builders rejected-
this has become the cornerstone?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!"

19 Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on Him that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.

God and Caesar

20 They watched closely and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, so they could catch Him in what He said, to hand Him over to the governor's rule and authority. 21 They questioned Him, "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You don't show partiality, but teach truthfully the way of God.

22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23 But detecting their craftiness, He said to them,

24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?"
"Caesar's," they said.

25 "Well then," He told them, "give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."

26 They were not able to catch Him in what He said in public, and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came up and questioned Him: 28 "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. 30 Also the second 31 and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too.

33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her."
34 Jesus told them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 For they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection. 37 Moses even indicated [in the passage] about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

38 He is not God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to Him."
39 Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, You have spoken well."

40 And they no longer dared to ask Him anything.

The Question about the Messiah

41 Then He said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is the Son of David?

42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:
The Lord declared to my Lord,
'Sit at My right hand

43 until I make Your enemies Your footstool.'

44 David calls Him 'Lord'; how then can the Messiah be his Son?"

Warning against the Scribes

45 While all the people were listening, He said to His disciples, 46 "Beware of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

47 They devour widows' houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive greater punishment."

Luke 20

1 And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;2 and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?3 And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?6 But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.7 And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.9 And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.10 And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.11 And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty.12 And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.15 And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.17 But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?

18 Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.19 And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.21 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar’s.25 And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.26 And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.27 And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection;28 and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless;30 and the second:31 and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died.32 Afterward the woman also died.33 In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.34 And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage:35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:36 for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and 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 live unto him.39 And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.40 For they durst not any more ask him any question.41 And he said unto them, How say they that the Christ is David’s son?42 For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.

44 David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?45 And in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples,46 Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.