1And 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 upon him with the elders , 2And spake unto him , saying , Tell us , by what authority doest thou these things ? or who is he that gave thee this authority ? 3And he answered and said unto them , I will also ask you one thing ; and answer me : 4The baptism of John , was it from heaven , or of men ? 5And they reasoned with themselves , saying , If we shall say , From heaven ; he will say , Why then believed ye him not ? 6But and if we say , Of men ; all the people will stone us : for they be persuaded that John was a prophet . 7And they answered , that they could not tell whence it was . 8And Jesus said unto them , Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things .
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
9Then began he to speak to the people this parable ; A certain man planted a vineyard , and let it forth to husbandmen , and went into a far country for a long time . 10And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen , that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard : but the husbandmen beat him , and sent him away empty . 11And again he sent another servant : and they beat him also , and entreated him shamefully , and sent him away empty . 12And again he sent a third : and they wounded him also , and cast him out . 13Then said the lord of the vineyard , What shall I do ? I will send my beloved son : it may be they will reverence him when they see him . 14But when the husbandmen saw him , they reasoned among themselves , saying , This is the heir : come , let us kill him , that the inheritance may be ours . 15So they cast him out of the vineyard , and killed him . What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them ? 16He shall come and destroy these husbandmen , and shall give the vineyard to others . And when they heard it , they said , God forbid . 17And he beheld them , and said , What is this then that is written , The stone which the builders rejected , the same is become the head of the corner ? 18Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken ; but on whomsoever it shall fall , it will grind him to powder .
Paying Taxes to Caesar
19And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him ; and they feared the people : for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them . 20And they watched him , and sent forth spies , which should feign themselves just men , that they might take hold of his words , that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor . 21And they asked him , saying , Master , we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly , neither acceptest thou the person of any , but teachest the way of God truly : 22Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar , or no ? 23But he perceived their craftiness , and said unto them , Why tempt ye me ? 24Shew me a penny . Whose image and superscription hath it ? They answered and said , Cæsar’s . 25And he said unto them , Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s , and unto God the things which be God’s . 26And they could not take hold of his words before the people : and they marvelled at his answer , and held their peace .
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
27Then came to him certain of the Sadducees , which deny that there is any resurrection ; and they asked him , 28Saying , Master , Moses wrote unto us , If any man’s brother die , having a wife , and he die without children , that his brother should take his wife , and raise up seed unto his brother . 29There were therefore seven brethren : and the first took a wife , and died without children . 30And the second took her to wife , and he died childless . 31And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also : and they left no children , and died . 32Last of all the woman died also . 33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she ? for seven had her to wife . 34And Jesus answering said unto them , The children of this world marry , and are given in marriage : 35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world , and the resurrection from the dead , neither marry , nor are given in marriage : 36Neither can they die any more : for they are equal unto the angels ; and are the children of God , being the children of the resurrection . 37Now that the dead are raised , even Moses shewed at the bush , when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham , and the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob . 38For he is not a God of the dead , but of the living : for all live unto him . 39Then certain of the scribes answering said , Master , thou hast well said . 40And after that they durst not ask him any question at all .
Whose Son is the Christ?
41And he said unto them , How say they that Christ is David’s son ? 42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms , The LORD said unto my Lord , Sit thou on my right hand , 43Till I make thine enemies thy footstool . 44David therefore calleth him Lord , how is he then his son ? 45Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples , 46Beware of the scribes , which 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 ; 47Which devour widows’ houses , and for a shew make long prayers : the same shall receive greater damnation .