Luke 20

Jesus’ Authority Challenged

1 And it happened that on one of the days while he was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached together with the elders2 and said, saying to him, “Tell us, by what authority you are doing these things, or who is the one who gave you this authority?3 And he answered and said to them, “I also will ask you a question, and you tell me:4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?5 And they discussed this with one another, saying, “If we say ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”7 And they replied that they did not know where it was from.

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

The Parable of the Tenant Farmers in the Vineyard

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A mant planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.10 And at the proper time he sent a slave to the tenant farmers, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenant farmers sent him away empty-handed after beating him.11 And he proceeded to send another slave, but they beat and dishonored that one also, and sent him away empty-handed.12 And he proceeded to send a third, but they wounded and threw out this one also.13 So 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 began to reason with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance will become ours!’15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?16 He will come and destroy those tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard this, they said, “May this never happen!”

17 But he looked intently at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
this has become the cornerstone.’t
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls—it will crush him!”

19 And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay their hands on him at that same hour, and they were afraid of the people, for they knew that he had told this parable with reference to them.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

20 And they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended they were upright, in order that they could catch him in a statement, so that they could hand him over to the authority and the jurisdiction of the governor.21 And they asked him, saying, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and do not show partiality,t but teach the way of God in truth.22 Is it permitted for us to pay taxest to Caesar or not?”23 But seeing through their craftiness, he said to them,24 “Show me a denarius! Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they answered and said,t “Caesar’s.”25 So he said to them, “Well then, give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!”

26 And they were not able to catch himt in a statement in the sight of the people, and astonished at his answer, they became silent.

A Question About Marriage and the Resurrection

27 Now some of the Sadducees—who deny that there is a resurrectiont—came up and asked him,28 saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us if someone’s brother dies having a wife, and this man is childless, that his brother should take the wife and fathert descendants for his brother.29 Now there were seven brothers, and the first took a wife and died childless,30 and the second,31 and the third took her, and likewise also the seven did not leave children and died.32 Finally the woman also died.33 Therefore in the resurrection, the woman—whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,36 for they are not even able to die any longer, because they are like the angels and are sons of God, because they are sons of the resurrection.37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed in the passage about the bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him!”39 And some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, you have spoken well.”

40 For they no longer dared to ask him anything.

David’s Son and Lord

41 But he said to them, “In what sense do they say that the Christ is David’s son?

42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ’t
44 David therefore calls him ‘Lord,’ and how is he his son?”

Warning to Beware of the Scribes

45 And while all the people were listening, he said to the disciples,t46 “Beware of the scribes, who like walking around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets,

47 who devour the houses of widows and pray lengthy prayers for the sake of appearance. These will receive more severe condemnation!”

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.