Luke 20

The Authority of Jesus Is Questioned

1 One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard. He was preaching the good news to them.
The chief priests and the teachers of the law came up to him. The elders came with them.2 "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they all said. "Who gave you this authority?"
3 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,4 was John's baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men?"
5 They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet."
7 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know where John's baptism came from."
8 Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things either."

The Story of the Renters

9 Jesus went on to tell the people a story. "A man planted a vineyard," he said. "He rented it out to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
10 "At harvest time he sent a servant to the renters. They were supposed to give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the renters beat the servant. Then they sent him away with nothing.11 So the man sent another servant. They beat that one and treated him badly. They also sent him away with nothing.12 The man sent a third servant. The renters wounded him and threw him out.
13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I have a son, and I love him. I will send him. Maybe they will respect him.'
14 "But when the renters saw the son, they talked the matter over. 'This is the one who will receive all the owner's property someday,' they said. 'Let's kill him. Then everything will be ours.'15 So they threw him out of the vineyard. And they killed him.
"What will the owner of the vineyard do to the renters?16 He will come and kill them. He will give the vineyard to others."
When the people heard this, they said, "We hope this never happens!"

17 Jesus looked right at them and said, "Here is something I want you to explain the meaning of. It is written,
" 'The stone the builders didn't accept
has become the most important stone of all.' (Psalm 118:22)

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on."
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest Jesus at once. They knew he had told that story against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Is It Right to Pay Taxes to Caesar?

20 The religious leaders sent spies to keep a close watch on Jesus. The spies pretended to be honest. They hoped they could trap Jesus with something he would say. Then they could hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.
21 So the spies questioned Jesus. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you speak and teach what is right. We know you don't favor one person over another. You teach the way of God truthfully.22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
23 Jesus saw they were trying to trick him. So he said to them,24 "Show me a silver coin. Whose picture and words are on it?"
25 "Caesar's," they replied.
He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give to God what belongs to God."
26 They were not able to trap him with what he had said there in front of all the people. Amazed by his answer, they became silent.

Marriage When the Dead Rise

27 The Sadducees do not believe that people rise from the dead. Some of them came to Jesus with a question.28 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us about a man's brother who dies. Suppose the brother leaves a wife but has no children. Then the man must get married to the widow. He must have children to carry on his dead brother's name.
29 "There were seven brothers. The first one got married to a woman. He died without leaving any children.30 The second one got married to her.31 And then the third one got married to her. One after another, the seven brothers got married to her. They all died. None left any children.32 Finally, the woman died too.33 Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers were married to her."
34 Jesus replied, "People in this world get married. And their parents give them to get married.35 But it will not be like that when the dead rise. Those who are considered worthy to take part in what happens at that time won't get married. And their parents won't give them to be married.36 They can't die anymore. They are like the angels. They are God's children. They will be given a new form of life when the dead rise.
37 "Remember the story of Moses and the bush. Even Moses showed that the dead rise. The Lord said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.' (Exodus 3:6)38 He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living. In his eyes, everyone is alive."
39 Some of the teachers of the law replied, "You have spoken well, teacher!"40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Christ?

41 Jesus said to them, "Why do people say that the Christ is the Son of David?

42 David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand

43 until I put your enemies
under your control." ' (Psalm 110:1)
44 David calls him 'Lord.' So how can he be David's son?"
45 All the people were listening. Jesus said to his disciples,46 "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in long robes. They love to be greeted in the market places. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues. They also love to have the places of honor at dinners.47 They take over the houses of widows. They say long prayers to show off. God will punish those men very much."

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.