Luke 20
The Authority of Jesus
20:1 Now one1 day, as Jesus2 was teaching the people in the temple courts3 and proclaiming4 the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law5 with the elders came up6 20:2 and said to him,7 “Tell us: By what authority8 are you doing these things?9 Or who it is who gave you this authority?” 20:3 He answered them,10 “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 20:4 John’s baptism11 – was it from heaven or from people?”12 20:5 So13 they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 20:6 But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 20:7 So14 they replied that they did not know15 where it came from. 20:8 Then16 Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you17 by whose authority18 I do these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
20:9 Then19 he began to tell the people this parable: “A man20 planted a vineyard,21 leased it to tenant farmers,22 and went on a journey for a long time. 20:10 When harvest time came, he sent a slave23 to the tenants so that they would give24 him his portion of the crop.25 However, the tenants beat his slave26 and sent him away empty-handed. 20:11 So27 he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.28 20:12 So29 he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out. 20:13 Then30 the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son;31 perhaps they will respect him.’ 20:14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours!’ 20:15 So32 they threw him out of the vineyard and killed33 him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 20:16 He will come and destroy34 those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”35 When the people36 heard this, they said, “May this never happen!”37 20:17 But Jesus38 looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?39 20:18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces,40 and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.”41 20:19 Then42 the experts in the law43 and the chief priests wanted to arrest44 him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But45 they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20:20 Then46 they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere.47 They wanted to take advantage of what he might say48 so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction49 of the governor. 20:21 Thus50 they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly,51 and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.52 20:22 Is it right53 for us to pay the tribute tax54 to Caesar55 or not?” 20:23 But Jesus56 perceived their deceit57 and said to them, 20:24 “Show me a denarius.58 Whose image59 and inscription are on it?”60 They said, “Caesar’s.” 20:25 So61 he said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”62 20:26 Thus63 they were unable in the presence of the people to trap64 him with his own words.65 And stunned66 by his answer, they fell silent.
Marriage and the Resurrection
20:27 Now some Sadducees67 (who contend that there is no resurrection)68 came to him. 20:28 They asked him,69 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man70 must marry71 the widow and father children72 for his brother.73 20:29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman74 and died without children. 20:30 The second75 20:31 and then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children. 20:32 Finally the woman died too. 20:33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be?76 For all seven had married her.”77
20:34 So78 Jesus said to them, “The people of this age79 marry and are given in marriage. 20:35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in80 that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.81 20:36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are equal to angels82 and are sons of God, since they are83 sons84 of the resurrection. 20:37 But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised85 in the passage about the bush,86 where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.87 20:38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living,88 for all live before him.”89 20:39 Then90 some of the experts in the law91 answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well!”92 20:40 For they did not dare any longer to ask93 him anything.
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
20:41 But94 he said to them, “How is it that they say that the Christ95 is David’s son?96 20:42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my97 lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
20:43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’98
20:44 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”99
Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride
20:45 As100 all the people were listening, Jesus101 said to his disciples, 20:46 “Beware102 of the experts in the law.103 They104 like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings105 in the marketplaces and the best seats106 in the synagogues107 and the places of honor at banquets. 20:47 They108 devour109 widows’ property,110 and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”