1And on one of those days, as He was teaching the people in the Temple, and proclaiming the gospel (good news), the chief priests, scribes and the elders came up to Him, 2And said, “Tell us by what authority You do these things? And who gave You this authority?” 3And He replied, “I will also ask you one question; and tell Me this: 4‘The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?’” 5And they conferred, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men’, then all the people will stone us; because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7And they answered, “We do not know where it was from.” 8And Jesus said to them, “Then I will not tell you by what authority I do these things.”

9Then He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it out to tenants, and went away for a long time. 10And at harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants, to receive some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 11And then he sent another servant; and they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12And when he sent a third; they wounded him, and threw him out. 13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son; maybe they will respect him when they see him.’ 14But when the tenants saw him, they thought, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and get the estate for ourselves.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard, and then killed him. What, do you suppose, will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants? 16He shall come and kill those tenants, and lease the vineyard to other tenants.” And when the people heard it, they said, “God forbid!” 17And Jesus looked directly at them, and said, “What, then, is meant by what is written, ‘The Stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner? 18Everyone who falls upon that Stone shall be broken; but anyone that it falls on will be ground to powder.’”

19And the chief priests and the scribes immediately wanted to arrest Him; because they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them. But they did not dare arrest Him for fear of the people.

20And they watched Him, and sent spies, who feigned being sincere, hoping they might be able to report something that He said, to use it against Him to have the Roman governor arrest Him. 21And so they asked Him, “Master, we know that You say and teach what is right, nor do You favor one person over another, but teach the way of God in truth; 22Is it lawful for us to pay tribute (taxes) to Caesar, or not?” 23But He saw through their craftiness (duplicity), and replied, 24“Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription is on it?” They answered “Caesar's.” 25And He said to them, “Then render (pay) to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.” 26And they could not use any of His words as evidence before the people; and they marveled at His answer, and fell silent.

27Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection, came to Him; and asked Him: 28“Master, Moses wrote unto us, ‘If any man's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife, and raise up offspring to his brother.’ 29There were therefore seven brothers; and the first took a wife, and died without children. 30The second took her for his wife, and he died childless. 31And the third took her; and in the same manner did all seven; who died, leaving no offspring. 32Last of all, the woman also died. 33Now then, in the resurrection, whose wife of them will she be? For all seven had her as wife.” 34And Jesus, answered, “The people here on earth marry, and are given in marriage; 35But those found worthy of participating in the age to come, and in the resurrection from the dead, will neither marry, nor be given in marriage. 36Nor can they die anymore; for they are like the angels; and are the children of God, since they are children of the resurrection. 37Now Moses revealed, when at the burning bush, that the dead are raised, because he calls the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ 38For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for to Him, they are all alive.” 39Then some of the scribes responded, “Well said, Master!” 40And after that they did not dare to ask Him any more question.

41And then Jesus asked them, “Why do they say that Christ is David's son? 42David, himself, said in the Book of Psalms, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 43Until I make Your enemies a footstool under Your feet”’. 44If David calls Him (the Messiah) ‘Lord’, how, then, is He his son?”

45Then, while all the people were listening, He said to His disciples, 46“Beware of the scribes (teachers of the Law), who love to walk in long robes, and enjoy men’s salutations in the market places, the most prominent seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at feasts, 47While they shamelessly cheat widows out of their houses, and for a pretense of piety, make long prayers. These shall receive greater condemnation and punishment.”