Luke 20:1-47, NLT
Luke 20
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
1One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him.
3“Let me ask you a question first,” he replied.
5They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.
8And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Parable of the Evil Farmers
9Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years.
13“‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’
14“But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’
“What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked.
“How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested.
17Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’*20:17 Ps 118:22.
18Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
19The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
Taxes for Caesar
20Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.
23He saw through their trickery and said,
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
26So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.
Discussion about Resurrection
27Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead.
34Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth.
37“But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord*20:37a Greek when he wrote about the bush. He referred to the Lord. as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’*20:37b Exod 3:6.
39“Well said, Teacher!” remarked some of the teachers of religious law who were standing there.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41Then Jesus presented them with a question. “Why is it,” he asked, “that the Messiah is said to be the son of David?
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
43until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.’*20:42-43 Ps 110:1.
44Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”
45Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said,