Luke 20

 

1 And it came to pass that on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came to Him with the elders,

 

2 And spoke to Him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you do these things (forgiving sin, healing on the Sabbath and throwing the moneychangers out of the temple)? Or who is He that gave you this authority?

 

3 And He answered and said to them, I will also ask you one question; and (you) answer Me:

 

4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

 

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why did you not believe him then?

 

6 But if we say, Of men, all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

 

7 And they answered that they could not tell where it was from.

 

8 And Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

9 Then began He to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard and rented it out to farmers (symbolic of the nation of Israel, who, having received the oracles of God, were supposed to be priests to the world), and went into a far country for a long time.

 

10 And at the opportune time, he sent a servant to the farmers, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the farmers beat him and sent him away empty.

 

11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

 

12 And again he sent a third (servant, a prophet, and messenger of God), and they wounded him also and threw him out.

 

13 Then the master of the vineyard said, What will I do? I will send my beloved son (Jesus referring to Himself): it might be that they will reverence him when they see him.

 

14 But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.

 

15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, therefore, will the master of the vineyard do to them?

 

16 He will come and destroy these farmers (work) and shall give the vineyard to others (the Gentiles). And when they heard it (knowing that He spoke of them), they said, God forbid.

 

17 And He beheld them, and said, What then is this that is written (pertaining to)? The stone which the builders (who seek to establish their own perishable foundation) rejected, the same has become the head of the corner (a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, and a sure foundation, he that believes shall not ever be ashamed).

 

18 Whoever shall (stumble at the truth about Christ and) fall on the basis of (rejecting) that stone (as their foundation, in this lifetime) shall be broken (that they might turn to Him); but, upon whomsoever (refuses and rejects Him as their sure foundation and does not repent) it shall fall, it will scatter him like dust.

 

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on Him; but they feared the people: for they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.

 

20 And they watched Him, and sent forth spies, which should pretend themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, so that they might deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor.

 

21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that you say and teach correctly, neither do you show partiality of any person, but on the basis of the truth do you teach the way of God:

 

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, (Yes) or no?

 

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, Why do you tempt Me?

 

24 Show Me a penny. Whose image and (marking) inscription does it have on it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

 

25 And He said to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's (which bear his image and his marks), and to God the things which are God's (that bear His image, upon whom He has inscribed His own name).

 

26 And they could not take hold of His words (to accuse Him) before the people: and they marveled at His answer and held their peace.

 

27 Then came to Him certain of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked Him,

 

28 Saying, Master, Moses wrote to us, If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.

 

29 Therefore if there were seven brothers: and the first took a wife and died without children.

 

30 And the second took her for a wife, and he died childless.

 

31 And the third took her; and in like manner also all of the seven: and they all died leaving no children.

 

32 Last of all the woman also died.

 

33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for all seven had her as a wife.

 

34 And Jesus answered and said to them, The children of this (present temporal) world marry, and are given in marriage:

 

35 But they who shall be considered worthy to obtain to that world (to come), and the (bodily) resurrection from the dead, neither (is there any need for them to) marry, nor are (they) given in marriage (but are sharers in communion with the life that God serves them for all the ages to come):

 

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are like to the angels (unchangeable in the presence of God forever); and are (by union) the children (born) of God, being the children of the resurrection.

 

37 Now concerning the dead being raised (from the grave), even (the patriarch) Moses (testified of the resurrection when it was) revealed (to him) at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

 

38 For He (who is the living God) is not God of the dead, but (God) of the living: for all (who call Him their God shall), live of Him (perpetually unto the deification of their bodies raised immortal).

 

39 Then certain of the scribes answered and said, Master, you have well said.

 

40 And after that they did not dare ask Him any question at all.

 

41 And He said to them, How do they say that the Christ is David's son?

 

42 And David himself said in the book of Psalms, The LORD (God the Father) said to my Lord (Christ the Son), Sit on My right hand,

 

43 Till I make your enemies (death and the grave) your footstool.

 

44 Therefore if David calls him Lord, how is he then his son?

 

45 Then in the audience 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 markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; (who love the glory and honor they receive from men);

 

47 Who (taking advantage) devour widows' houses (their properties and their substance), and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater condemnation (in their hearts and fearful expectation of judgment).