1One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the chief priests, the religious scholars, and the elders came up to him.
2They asked him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority?”
3He answered them, “I will also ask you one question. Tell me:
4John’s baptism—did it come from heaven, or from human beings?”
5They discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
6But if we say, ‘From human beings,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7So they answered that they didn’t know where it came from.
8Jesus said to them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things either.”
9He began to tell the people this story: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some farmers, and then left for a long trip to another country.
10When the harvesting season came, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the vineyard’s fruit. But the farmers beat the servant and sent him away with nothing.
11He sent another servant, and they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away with nothing.
12He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him and threw him out.
13The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my own dear son. Maybe they will respect him when they see him.’
14But when the farmers saw him, they discussed among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him so the inheritance can be ours.’
15They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. So what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16He will come and destroy these farmers and give the vineyard to others.” When people heard this, they said, “May that never happen!”
17But Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the most important cornerstone’?
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
19The chief priests and the scribes wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the people, because they knew Jesus had told this story against them.
20They watched Jesus closely and sent spies who pretended to be good people. Their goal was to trap him with something he said, so they could hand him over to the governor's power and authority.
21They asked him, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is correct. You don't show favoritism to anyone, but you genuinely teach God's way.
22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23But Jesus saw through their trickery and said to them, “Why are you testing me?
24Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and name are on it?” They answered, “Caesar's.”
25He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
26They were not able to catch him in his words in front of the people. They were amazed by his answer and remained silent.
27Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him.
28They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the brother should marry the wife and have children for his brother.
29There were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died without having children.
30The second brother married her, and he also died childless.
31The third brother married her, and in the same way, all seven brothers died without leaving any children.
32Finally, the woman also died.
33So, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven brothers had her as a wife.”
34Jesus said to them, “People in this present age marry and are given in marriage.
35But those who are considered worthy to live in that future age and in the resurrection from the dead will not marry or be given in marriage.
36For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are God’s children, being children of the resurrection.
37But Moses showed that the dead are raised when he spoke of the bush, calling the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, because all people are alive to him.”
39Some of the religious scholars replied, "Teacher, you have spoken well."
40They no longer dared to ask him any questions.
41Then Jesus asked them, "Why do people say that the Messiah is David’s son?
42For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right side,"
43until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’
44Since David calls him 'Lord,' how can the Messiah also be his son?"
45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his followers,
46"Beware of the religious scholars who love to walk around in long robes, and who love respectful greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at feasts.
47They cheat widows out of their homes, and they make long prayers to show off. These people will receive a much harsher judgment."