Luke

The Gospel according to Saint Luke, chapter 20, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 20 New English Translation

The Authority of Jesus

   1 Now one day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law with the elders came up 2 and said to him, "Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 John's baptism - was it from heaven or from people?" 5 So they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven, ' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'From people, ' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they replied that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by whose authority I do these things."

The Parable of the Tenants

   9 Then he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10 When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed. 11 So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so the inheritance will be ours!' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never happen!" 17 But Jesus looked straight at them and said, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed." 19 Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

   20 Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 Thus they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar or not?" 23 But Jesus perceived their deceit and said to them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They said, "Caesar's." 25 So he said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 26 Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.

Marriage and the Resurrection

   27 Now some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection) came to him. 28 They asked him, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died without children. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died too. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her."
   34 So Jesus said to them, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the LORD the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him." 39 Then some of the experts in the law answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well!" 40 For they did not dare any longer to ask him anything.

The Messiah: David's Son and LORD

   41 But he said to them, "How is it that they say that the Christ is David's son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The LORD said to my LORD, "Sit at my right hand,
   43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'
   44 If David then calls him 'LORD, ' how can he be his son?"

Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride

   45 As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment."

King James Version

   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,
   2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
   3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
   4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
   5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
   6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
   7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
   8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
   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.
   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.
   11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
   12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
   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.
   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 our's.
   15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
   16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
   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?
   18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
   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.
   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.
   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:
   22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
   23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
   24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
   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.
   26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
   27 ¶ Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
   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.
   29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
   30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
   31 And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
   32 Last of all the woman died also.
   33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
   34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given 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:
   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.
   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.
   38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
   39 ¶ Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
   40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
   41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
   42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
   43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
   44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
   45 ¶ Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
   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;
   47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.