Luke 20

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

1 aOn one of the days while bHe was teaching the people in the temple and cpreaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders dconfronted Him, 2and they declared, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” 3But He replied to them, “I will also ask you a
Lit word
question, and you tell Me:
4 Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” 5They discussed among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, since they are convinced that John was a fprophet.” 7And so they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8And Jesus said to them, Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.”

Parable of the Vine-growers

9 gBut He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and leased it to
Or tenant farmers, also vv 10, 14, 16
vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.
10 At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he proceeded to send another slave; but they beat him also and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he proceeded to send a third; but this one too they wounded and threw out. 13 Now the
Lit lord
owner of the vineyard said, ‘What am I to do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will jrespect him.’
14 But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the
Lit lord
owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 He will come and lput these vine-growers to death, and will give the vineyard to others.” However, when they heard this, they said, “ mMay it never happen!” 17But
Lit He
Jesus looked at them and said, Then what is this statement that has been written:

oA stone which the builders rejected,
This has become pthe
Lit head of the corner
chief cornerstone’?

18 rEveryone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests stried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them. 20 tAnd so they watched Him
Or maliciously
closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order vthat they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of wthe governor.
21And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You
Lit do not receive a face
are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.
22Is it
I.e., by Jewish law and tradition
permissible for us zto pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23But He saw through their trickery and said to them, 24 “Show Me a
The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They said, “Caesar’s.”
25And He said to them, Then abpay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26And they were unable to accatch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 adNow some of the aeSadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him, 28and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that afif
Lit someone’s brother
a man’s brother dies,
Lit having
leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to
Lit take
marry the wife and raise up children
I.e., as his brother’s heir
for his brother.
29So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30and the second 31and the third
Lit took
married her; and in the same way
Lit the seven also
all seven
Lit left no children, and died
died, leaving no children.
32Finally the woman also died. 33Therefore, in the resurrection,
Lit of which of them
which one’s wife does the woman become? For
Lit the seven
all seven
Lit had her as wife
married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of aqthis age marry and the women are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to arthat age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are assons of God, being
I.e., participants in
sons of the resurrection.
37 But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in authe passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord avthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 awNow He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for axall live to Him.” 39Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40For aythey did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.

41 azBut He said to them, How is it that they say the
I.e., Messiah
Christ is bbDavid’s son?
42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

bcThe Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
43 bd Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and so how is He his son?”

45 beAnd while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, bfwho like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47 who
I.e., misappropriate their property
devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”


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