1It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, that the chief priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 2They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?" 3He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 4the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from people?" 5They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' 6But if we say, 'From people,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 7They answered that they did not know where it was from. 8Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

9He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty. 11He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out. 13The lord of the vineyard said, 'What am I to do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that they will respect him.' 14"But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' 15They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be."

17But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?'

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him."

19The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people--for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. 20They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and are not partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24"Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's." 25He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 26They weren't able to trap him in his words before the people. And amazed at his answer, they fell silent.

27Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 28They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. 29There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 30The second and 31the third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 32Afterward the woman also died. 33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife."

34Jesus said to them, "The people of this age marry and are given to someone to marry. 35But those who are regarded as worthy of a place in that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given to someone to marry. 36For they cannot die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord 'The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him." 39Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well." 40They did not dare to ask him any more questions.

41He said to them, "Why do they say that the Christ is David's son?

42David himself says in the scroll of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

43until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."' 44"David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"

45In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples, 46"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts; 47who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."