Luke 20 :: New International Version (NIV)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

(Mat 21:23–27; Mar 11:27–33 )

Luk 20:1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

Luk 20:2

Luk 20:2“Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

Luk 20:3

Luk 20:3He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me:

Luk 20:4

Luk 20:4John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

Luk 20:5

Luk 20:5They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’

Luk 20:6

Luk 20:6But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

Luk 20:7

Luk 20:7So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

Luk 20:8

Luk 20:8Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Tenants

(Mat 21:33–46; Mar 12:1–12 )

Luk 20:9

Luk 20:9He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.

Luk 20:10

Luk 20:10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

Luk 20:11

Luk 20:11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.

Luk 20:12

Luk 20:12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

Luk 20:13

Luk 20:13“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’

Luk 20:14

Luk 20:14“But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

Luk 20:15

Luk 20:15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

Luk 20:16

Luk 20:16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

Luk 20:17

Luk 20:17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’[fn]?

Luk 20:18

Luk 20:18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Luk 20:19

Luk 20:19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

(Mat 22:15–22; Mar 12:13–17 )

Luk 20:20

Luk 20:20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.

Luk 20:21

Luk 20:21So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Luk 20:22

Luk 20:22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Luk 20:23

Luk 20:23He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Luk 20:24

Luk 20:24“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.

Luk 20:25

Luk 20:25He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Luk 20:26

Luk 20:26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

The Resurrection and Marriage

(Mat 22:23–33; Mar 12:18–27 )

Luk 20:27

Luk 20:27Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.

Luk 20:28

Luk 20:28“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.

Luk 20:29

Luk 20:29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.

Luk 20:30

Luk 20:30The second

Luk 20:31

Luk 20:31and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.

Luk 20:32

Luk 20:32Finally, the woman died too.

Luk 20:33

Luk 20:33Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Luk 20:34

Luk 20:34Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.

Luk 20:35

Luk 20:35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,

Luk 20:36

Luk 20:36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Luk 20:37

Luk 20:37But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[fn]

Luk 20:38

Luk 20:38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Luk 20:39

Luk 20:39Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!”

Luk 20:40

Luk 20:40And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

(Mat 22:41–46; Mar 12:35–37 )

Luk 20:41

Luk 20:41Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?

Luk 20:42

Luk 20:42David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

Luk 20:43

Luk 20:43until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’[fn]

Luk 20:44

Luk 20:44David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

(Mat 23:1–7; Mar 12:38–40 )

Luk 20:45

Luk 20:45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,

Luk 20:46

Luk 20:46“Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

Luk 20:47

Luk 20:47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

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