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Jesus’ Authority Questioned

aOn one of the days while bHe was teaching the people in the temple and cpreaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders dconfronted Him, and they declared, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” But He replied to them, I will also ask you a 1question, and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? They discussed among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, since they are convinced that John was a aprophet.” And so they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.

Parable of the Vine-growers

aBut He began to tell the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and leased it to 1vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10 At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he proceeded to send another slave; but they beat him also and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he proceeded to send a third; but this one too they wounded and threw out. 13 Now the 1owner of the vineyard said, What am I to do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will arespect him. 14 But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, This is the heir; let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours. 15 And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the 1owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and aput these vine-growers to death, and will give the vineyard to others. However, when they heard this, they said, “bMay it never happen!” 17 But 1Jesus looked at them and said, Then what is this statement that has been written:aA STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS HAS BECOME bTHE 2CHIEF CORNERSTONE? 18 aEveryone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests atried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them. 20 aAnd so they watched Him 1closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order bthat they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of cthe governor. 21 And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You 1are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth. 22 Is it 1permissible for us ato pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them, 24 Show Me a 1denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, Then apay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. 26 And they were unable to acatch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 aNow some of the bSadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him, 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that aif 1a man’s brother dies, 2leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to 3marry the wife and raise up children 4for his brother. 29 So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third 1married her; and in the same way 2all seven 3died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, 1which one’s wife does the woman become? For 2all seven 3married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, The sons of athis age marry and the women are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to athat age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are asons of God, being 1sons of the resurrection. 37 But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in athe passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord bTHE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. 38 aNow He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for ball live to Him. 39 Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 For athey did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.

41 aBut He said to them, How is it that they say the 1Christ is bDavid’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,aTHE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

43 aUNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.

44 Therefore David calls Him Lord, and so how is He his son?

45 aAnd while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, awho like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47 who 1devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

aOn one of the days while bHe was teaching the people in the temple and cpreaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders dconfronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask you a 1question, and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a aprophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, Nor 1will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Parable of the Vine-growers

aAnd He began to tell the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to 1vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10 At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. 13 The 1owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will arespect him. 14 But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours. 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the 1owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and adestroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others. When they heard it, they said, “bMay it never be!” 17 But 1Jesus looked at them and said, What then is this that is written:aTHE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS BECAME bTHE CHIEF CORNER stone? 18 aEveryone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.

Tribute to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests atried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them. 20 aSo they watched Him, and sent spies who 1pretended to be righteous, in order bthat they might 2catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of cthe governor. 21 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You 1are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it 1lawful for us ato pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He detected their trickery and said to them, 24 Show Me a 1denarius. Whose 2likeness and inscription does it have? They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, Then arender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. 26 And they were unable to 1acatch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 aNow there came to Him some of the bSadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that aIF A MANS BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD 1MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP CHILDREN TO HIS BROTHER. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third 1married her; and in the same way 2all seven 3died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For 1all seven 2had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, The sons of athis age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to athat age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are asons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in athe passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord bTHE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. 38 aNow He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for ball live to Him. 39 Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 For athey did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything.

41 aThen He said to them, How is it that they say 1the Christ is bDavid’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,aTHE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

43 aUNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.

44 Therefore David calls Him Lord, and how is He his son?

45 aAnd while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, awho like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.

Jesus’ Authority Questioned

aOn one of the days, as bJesus was instructing the people in the temple area and cpreaching the good news (gospel) , 1the chief priests and the scribes along with the elders dconfronted Him, Matt 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33 and said to Him, “Tell us by what kind of authority You are doing these things? Or who is the one who gave You this authority?” Jesus replied, I will also ask you a question. You tell Me: The baptism of John the Baptistwas it from heaven that is, ordained by God or from men? They discussed and debated it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are firmly convinced that John was a aprophet.” So they replied that they did not know from where it came. Then Jesus said to them, Nor am I telling you by what kind of authority I do these things.

Parable of the Vineyard Owner

aThen He began to tell the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time to another country. Is 5:1-7; Matt 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12 10 At harvest time he sent a servant as his representative to the tenants, so that they would give him his share of the fruit of the vineyard; but the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. 11 So he again sent another servant; they also beat him and dishonored and treated him disgracefully and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third; and this one too they wounded and threw out of the vineyard. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will ahave respect for him. 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves, saying, This man is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours. 15 So they threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and aput these tenants to death and will give the vineyard to others. When the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders heard this, they said, “bMay it never be!” 17 But Jesus looked at them and said, What then is the meaning of this that is written:aTHE very STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,bTHIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE? Ps 118:22, 23 18 aEveryone who falls on that stone will be broken and shattered in pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him. Is 8:14, 15; Dan 2:34, 35

Tribute to Caesar

19 The scribes and the chief priests atried to find a way to arrest Him at that very hour, but they were afraid of the people; because they understood that He spoke this parable against them. 20 aSo they watched for a chance to trap Him. They sent spies who pretended to be upright and sincere, bin order that they might catch Him in some statement that they could distort and use against Him, so that they could turn Him over to the control and authority of Pilate cthe governor. Matt 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17 21 They asked Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality to anyone, but teach the way of God truthfully. 22 Is it lawful according to Jewish law and tradition for us ato pay taxes (tribute money) to 1Caesar or not?” 23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them, 24 Show Me a Roman denarius. Whose image and inscription does the coin have? They answered, “ the Emperor Tiberius Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, Then apay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. 26 They were not able to aseize on anything He said in the presence of the people; and being unnerved at His reply, they were silent.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 aNow some of the bSadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him Matt 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us a law that aIF A MAN’S BROTHER DIES, leaving a wife AND NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER SHOULD 1MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER. Deut 25:5, 6 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless. 30 And the second, 31 and the third married her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 So in the life after resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, The sons of athis world and present age marry and the women are given in marriage; 35 but those who are considered worthy to gain athat other world and that future age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 and they cannot die again, because they are immortal like the angels (equal to, angel-like) . And they are 1children of God, being 2aparticipants in the resurrection. 37 But as for the fact that the dead are raised from death, even Moses showed, in athe passage about the burning bush, when he calls the Lord bTHE GOD OF ABRAHAM, THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. Ex 3:6 38 aNow He is not the God of the dead, but of the living so these forefathers will be among the resurrected; for ball live in a definite relationship to Him. 39 Some of the scribes replied, “Teacher, you have spoken well so that there is no room for blame.” 40 And athey did not dare to question Him further about anything because of the wisdom He displayed in His answers.

41 aThen He said to them, How is it that people say that the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) is bDavid’s son? Matt 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,aTHE LORD (the Father) SAID TO MY LORD (the Son, the Messiah) ,SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

43 aUNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET. Ps 110:1

44 1So David calls Him (the Son) Lord, and how then is He David’s son?

45 aAnd with all the people listening, He said to His disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, awho like to walk around in long robes displaying their prominence, and love respectful greetings in the crowded market places, and 1chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 These men who confiscate and devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense to appear devout offer long prayers. These men will receive the greater sentence of condemnation.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

aAnd it happened that on one of the days while bHe was teaching the people in the temple and cproclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders dcame up to Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” And Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask you a 1question, and you tell Me: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a aprophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, Neither 1will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Parable of the Vine-Growers

aAnd He began to tell the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to 1vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10 And at the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vine-growers sent him away empty-handed having beaten him. 11 And he proceeded to send another slave; and when they beat him also and treated him shamefully, they sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Now the 1owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will arespect him. 14 But when the vine-growers saw him, they were reasoning with one another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours. 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the 1owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and adestroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others. When they heard this, they said, “bMay it never be!” 17 But when 1Jesus looked at them, He said, What then is this that is written:aTHE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THIS HAS BECOME bTHE CHIEF CORNER stone? 18 aEveryone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.

Taxes to Caesar

19 And the scribes and the chief priests atried to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they feared the people. For they understood that He spoke this parable against them. 20 aSo they watched Him, and sent spies who 1pretended to be righteous, so bthat they might 2catch Him in some statement, in order to deliver Him to the rule and the authority of cthe governor. 21 And they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You 1are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. 22 Is it 1lawful for us ato pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 Show Me a 1denarius. Whose 2likeness and inscription does it have? They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, Then arender to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. 26 And they were unable to 1acatch Him in a word in the presence of the people; and marveling at His answer, they became silent.

The Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection

27 aNow some of the bSadducees (who say that there is no resurrection) came to Him, 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that aIF A MANS BROTHER DIES, having a wife, AND HE IS CHILDLESS, HIS BROTHER SHOULD 1MARRY THE WIFE AND RAISE UP 2SEED FOR HIS BROTHER. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first married a wife and died childless, 30 and the second 31 and the third 1married her; and in the same way, 2all seven 3died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 Therefore, this woman—in the resurrectionwhose wife will she be? For all seven had her as a wife.”

34 And Jesus said to them, The sons of athis age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to athat age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 For they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels and are asons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed in athe passage about the burning bush, where he calls the 1Lord bTHE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB. 38 aNow He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for ball live to Him. 39 And some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 For athey did not dare to question Him any longer about anything.

41 aThen He said to them, How is it that they say the 1Christ is bDavid’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,aTHE 1LORD SAID TO MY LORD,SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

43 aUNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.

44 Therefore David calls Him Lord, so how is He his son?

45 aAnd while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 Beware of the scribes, awho want to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, and best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.

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