[1] It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the
temple and preaching the gospel, that the chief priests and scribes came to
him with the elders. [2] They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you
do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?" [3] He answered
them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me: [4] the baptism of John,
was it from heaven, or from men?" [5] They reasoned with themselves,
saying, "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, for they
are persuaded that John was a prophet." [7] They answered that they didn`t
know where it was from. [8] Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by
what authority I do these things." [9] He began to tell the people this
parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and
went into another country for a long time. [10] At the proper season, he
sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the
vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. [11] He sent
yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully,
and sent him away empty. [12] He sent yet a third, and they also wounded
him, and threw him out. [13] The lord of the vineyard said, `What will I
do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will
respect him.` [14] But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among
themselves, saying, `This is the heir. Come, let`s kill him, that the
inheritance may be ours.` [15] They threw him out of the vineyard, and
killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? [16]
He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to
others." When they heard it, they said, "God forbid!" [17] But he
looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, `The stone
which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?` [18]
"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will
crush whoever it falls on to dust." [19] The chief priests and the scribes
sought to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they feared the people --
for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. [20] They watched
him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might
trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to
the authority of the governor. [21] They asked him, "Teacher, we know that
you say and teach what is right, and aren`t partial to anyone, but truly
teach the way of God. [22] Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or
not?" [23] But he perceived their slyness, and said to them, "Why do you
test me? [24] Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?"
They answered, "Caesar`s." [25] He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the
things that are Caesar`s, and to God the things that are God`s." [26] They
weren`t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at
his answer, and were silent. [27] Some of the Sadducees came to him, those
who deny that there is a resurrection. [28] They asked him, "Teacher, Moses
wrote to us that if a man`s brother dies having a wife, and he is
childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his
brother. [29] There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife,
and died childless. [30] The second took her as wife, and he died
childless. [31] The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no
children, and died. [32] Afterward the woman also died. [33] Therefore in
the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a
wife." [34] 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 the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage. [36] For neither can they die any more, for they are like the
angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. [37] But that
the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord
`The God of Abraham, 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 are alive to him."
[39] Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well." [40] They
didn`t dare to ask him any more questions. [41] He said to them, "Why do
they say that the Christ is David`s son? [42] 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 the footstool of your feet."` [44] "David
therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?" [45] In the hearing of all
the people, he said to his disciples, [46] "Beware of the scribes, who
desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the
best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; [47] who
devour widows` houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will
receive greater condemnation."
