The authority of Jesus questioned

1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’

3He replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?’

5They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?” 6But if we say, “Of human origin,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’

7So they answered, ‘We don’t know where it was from.’

8Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’

The parable of the tenants

9He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

13‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.”

14‘But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. “This is the heir,” they said. “Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’

When the people heard this, they said, ‘God forbid!’

17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

‘ “The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone”20:17 Psalm 118:22?

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’

19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Paying taxes to Caesar

20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21So the spies questioned him: ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’

23He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24‘Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’

‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.

25He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’

26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

The resurrection and marriage

27Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30The second 31and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32Finally, the woman died too. 33Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’

34Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”.20:37 Exodus 3:6 38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.’

39Some of the teachers of the law responded, ‘Well said, teacher!’ 40And no-one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose son is the Messiah?

41Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:

‘ “The Lord said to my Lord:

‘Sit at my right hand

43until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet.’ ”20:43 Psalm 110:1

44David calls him “Lord.” How then can he be his son?’

Warning against the teachers of the law

45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46‘Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. 47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’