Luke 20

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

11On one of the days while 2He was teaching the people in the temple and 3preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders 4confronted Him, 2and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” 3Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a 5question, and you tell Me: 4Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” 5They reasoned 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, for they are convinced that John was a 6prophet.” 7So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8And Jesus said to them, “Nor 7will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Parable of the Vine-growers

98And He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to 9vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. 12And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. 13The 10owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will 11respect him.’ 14But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the 12owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and 13destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “14May it never be!” 17But 15Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘16The stone which the builders rejected, This became 17the chief corner stone’? 1818Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”

Tribute to Caesar

19The scribes and the chief priests 19tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. 2020So they watched Him, and sent spies who 21pretended to be righteous, in order 22that they might 23catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of 24the governor. 21They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You 25are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22Is it 26lawful for us 27to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23But He detected their trickery and said to them, 24“Show Me a 28denarius. Whose 29likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25And He said to them, “Then 30render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26And they were unable to 3132catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

Is There a Resurrection?

2733Now there came to Him some of the 34Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that 35if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should 36marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30and the second 31and the third 37married her; and in the same way 38all seven 39died, leaving no children. 32Finally the woman died also. 33In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For 40all seven 41had married her.”

34Jesus said to them, “The sons of 42this age marry and are given in marriage, 35but those who are considered worthy to attain to 43that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are 44sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in 45the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord 46the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 3847Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for 48all live to Him.” 39Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40For 49they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything.

4150Then He said to them, “How is it that they say 51the Christ is 52David’s son? 42For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘53The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,4354Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 44Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?”

4555And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes, 56who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”