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 upon him with the elders,

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:

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

John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

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

But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

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

And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Then 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.

Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.

And 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.

At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

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

So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.

Then 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.

‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’

But 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.

But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”

And 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?

But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

And 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.

When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

And 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.

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

And 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:

“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people; and amazed at His answer, they fell silent.

Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.

Saying, 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.

“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife, but died childless.

And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

Then the second

And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

and the third married the widow, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.

Last of all the woman died also.

And last of all, the woman died.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.

Now 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.

Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”

Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”

And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

And they did not dare to question Him any further.

And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?

Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?

And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand

Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

Thus David calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”

Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,

Beware 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;

“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.

Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”