Jesus' Authority Challenged
1 And it happened on one of the days that Jesus was teaching people in the Temple and preaching the good news, that the leading priests and the experts in the law of Moses, [along] with the [Jewish] elders, came to Him.
1 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,
1 (A)On one of the days while (B)He was teaching the people in the temple and (C)preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders (D)confronted Him,
1 One(A) day(a) as He was teaching(B) the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news,(C) the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders,(D) came up
1 One day, while Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the high priests and the scribes came with the elders
2 They said to Him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things [i.e., miracles and teaching]? Or, who is the one who gave you this authority?"
2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
2 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?”
2 and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”
2 and asked him, "Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
5 And they discussed this among themselves, saying, "If we say 'from heaven,' He will say 'Why [then] did you not believe him [i.e., believe his message]?'
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
5 They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
5 They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’
5 They discussed this among themselves: "If we say, "From heaven,' he will ask, "Then why didn't you believe him?'
6 But if we say 'from men,' all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a (E)prophet.”
6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people(E) will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”(F)
6 But if we say, "From humans,' all the people will stone us to death, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
8 So, Jesus said to them, " [Then] neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
8 Then Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things."
The Parable Of The Tenant Farmers In The Vineyard
9 Then Jesus began speaking to the people. [Note: And perhaps to the religious leaders as well. See Mark 11:18 with 12:1]. He told them this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, then leased it out to tenant farmers and went to another country for a long time.
9 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.
9 (F)And He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to (c)vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.
9 Then(G) He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(H) leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time.
9 Then he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went abroad for a long time.
10 And when the [grape harvest] season came, the owner of the farm sent a slave to the tenant farmers, asking them for the grape harvest [to be delivered to him]. But the tenant farmers beat the slave and sent him away empty handed.
10 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.
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.
10 At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
10 At the right time he sent a servant to the farmers in order to get his share of the produce of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him back empty-handed.
11 Then he sent out another slave [i.e., to arrange for receiving the crop], but the tenant farmers beat him also, shamefully abused him and sent him away empty handed [as well].
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
11 And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed.
11 He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
11 He sent another servant, and they beat him, too, treated him shamefully, and sent him back empty-handed.
12 So, he sent a third [slave] and they wounded him also and threw him out [of the vineyard].
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
12 And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out.
12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.
12 Then he sent a third, and they wounded him and threw him out, too.
13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do [about this]? I will send my dearly loved son. Hopefully, they will treat him with respect.'
13 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.
13 The (d)owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will (G)respect him.’
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved(I) son. Perhaps(c) they will respect him.’
13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, "What should I do? I'll send my son whom I love. Maybe they'll respect him.'
14 But when the tenant farmers saw him, they began reasoning with one another, saying, 'This is the heir [to the vineyard]; let us kill him so the inheritance will be ours.'
14 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.
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.’
14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!’(J)
14 But when the farmers saw him, they talked it over among themselves and said, "This is the heir. Let's kill him so that the inheritance will be ours!'
15 So, they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? [Jesus asked].
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the (e)owner of the vineyard do to them?
15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 He will come and kill those tenant farmers and will give the vineyard to other people." And when the people heard [Him say] this, they said, "May that never happen."
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
16 He will come and (H)destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “(I)May it never be!”
16 He will come and destroy(K) those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”But when they heard this they said, “No—never!”(L)
16 He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "That must never happen!"
17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does it mean that is written [Psa. 118:22], 'The building block rejected by the builders [is] the same [one] that was made the principal stone by which the entire building was aligned?'
17 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?
17 But (f)Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:‘(J)The stone which the builders rejected,This became (K)the chief corner stone’?
17 But He looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:(d)(M)The stone that the builders rejected—this has become the cornerstone?(e)(N)(f)
17 But Jesus looked at them and asked, "What does this text mean: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?
18 Every person who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but whoever it falls on will be scattered like dust."
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
18 (L)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!”(O)
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls."
19 Then the experts in the law of Moses and the leading priests attempted to arrest Jesus right away, [but hesitated] because they feared [what] the people [might do], since they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.
19 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.
19 The scribes and the chief priests (M)tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.
19 Then the scribes and the chief priests(P) looked for a way to get their hands on Him(Q) that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.(R)
19 When the scribes and the high priests realized that Jesus had told this parable about them, they wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the crowd.
Paying Taxes To Caesar
20 And they kept watching Him, [even] sending informants who pretended to be good [men], in order to get hold of something He said so they could turn Him over to the ruling authority of the governor.
20 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.
20 (N)So they watched Him, and sent spies who (g)pretended to be righteous, in order (O)that they might (h)catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of (P)the governor.
20 They(g)(S) watched closely(T) and sent spies(U) who pretended to be righteous,(h) so they could catch Him in what He said,(i)(V) to hand Him(W) over to the governor’s(X) rule and authority.
20 So they watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be honest men in order to trap him in what he would say. They wanted to hand him over to the jurisdiction of the governor,
21 And they asked Him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly and that you do not show partiality to anyone, but [rather] teach the truth about God's way.
21 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:
21 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You (i)are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth.
21 They questioned Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly,(Y) and You don’t show partiality,(j)(Z) but teach truthfully the way of God.(AA)
21 so they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're right in what you say and teach, and that you don't favor any individual, but teach the way of God truthfully.
24 "Show me the coin [used for paying the taxes]. [Note: This coin was equivalent to one day of a farm laborer's pay, or about $60-$84 in 1994]. Whose image and inscription are on this coin?" And they answered Him, "Caesar's."
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
24 “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”“Caesar’s,” they said.
24 "Show me a denarius. Whose face and name does it have?" "Caesar's," they replied.
25 He replied, "Then pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and pay to God the things that belong to God."
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
25 And He said to them, “Then (R)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
25 “Well then,” He told them, “give back to Caesar(AE) the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
25 So he told them, "Then give back to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
26 And they were not able to get hold of anything Jesus said in front of the people. And they marveled at His answer and did not say anything [further].
26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
26 And they were unable to (m)(S)catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.
26 They were not able to catch Him in what He said(l) in public,(m) and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.(AF)
26 So they couldn't catch him before the people in what he said. Amazed at his answer, they became silent.
A Question About Marriage And The Resurrection
28 They said to Him, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us [Deut 25:5] that if a man's brother dies, leaving his widow [behind] without having had any children, his brother should marry his widow and father children [by her]. These children would then be considered his [dead] brother's.
28 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.
28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (V)if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should (n)marry the wife and raise up children to his brother.
28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.(AI)(n)
28 and asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no child, the man should marry the widow and have children for his brother.
29 [Now] there were these seven brothers; the first one got married, but when he died he did not leave any children behind.
29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless;
29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children.
29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died childless.
31 Then the third one married the [surviving] widow [of the first two brothers]. And in the same way, all seven [brothers] married her, but left no children [behind when they died].
31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
31 and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children.
31 and the third married her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children.
33 [Now] whose wife will she be in the resurrected state, for all seven [brothers] were married to her?"
33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For (r)all seven (s)had married her.”
33 Now in the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be, since the seven had married her?"
35 but those who are considered worthy of gaining that age [i.e., the future, never ending state] and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given away in marriage.
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to (X)that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
35 But those who are counted worthy(AL) to take part in that age(AM) and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
35 but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.
36 For they cannot die anymore either, because they are equal to the angels and are children of God, as well as children of the resurrection [i.e., people who are assured of being resurrected].
36 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.
36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are (Y)sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
36 For they cannot die anymore,(AN) because they are like angels and are sons of God,(AO) since they are sons of the resurrection.
36 Nor can they die anymore, because they are like the angels and, since they share in the resurrection, are God's children.
37 But even Moses showed that dead people would be raised in the incident about the bush [Ex. 3:6], where he called the Lord, 'Abraham's God, and Isaac's God, and Jacob's God.'
37 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.
37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in (Z)the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord (AA)the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
37 Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.(AP)(q)
37 Even Moses demonstrated in the story about the bush that the dead are raised, when he calls the Lord, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
38 So, He is not God to those who are dead, but [He is] God to those who are alive, for to God, all people are alive."
38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, because he considers all people to be alive to him."
39 Then certain experts in the law of Moses replied to Jesus, "Teacher, you have spoken well."
39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
39 Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
39 Then some of the scribes replied, "Teacher, you have given a fine answer."
David's Son And Lord
41 And Jesus said to them [i.e., the Pharisees. See Matt. 22:41], "How is it that they [i.e., the experts in the law of Moses. See Mark 12:35] can say that the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] is the son of David?
41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
41 Then he asked them, "How can people say that the Messiah is David's son?
42 For David himself said in the book of Psalms [Psa. 110:1], 'The Lord [i.e., God] said to my [i.e., David's] Lord [i.e., Jesus], sit at my right side
42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,‘(AG)The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at My right hand,
42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:(AT)The Lord declared to my Lord,‘Sit at My right hand
42 Because David himself in the book of Psalms says, "The Lord told my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,
Warning To Beware Of The Scribes
46 "Look out for the experts in the law of Moses, who like to walk [around] in long [flowing] robes and love the special greetings they receive at the open shopping markets, and the principal seats in the synagogues, and the head places at dinner tables.
46 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;
46 “Beware of the scribes, (AJ)who 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,
46 “Beware(AX) of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.(AY)
46 "Beware of the scribes! They like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
47 They consume widows' houses [i.e., by foreclosing on them] and [then] cover it up by offering lengthy prayers. These people will receive a heavier judgment."
47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
47 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
47 They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive greater punishment.”(t)
47 They devour widows' houses and say long prayers to cover it up. They will receive greater condemnation!"