Luke 20
New King James Version
Jesus’ Authority Questioned(A)
20 Now (B)it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, (C)by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The (D)baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”
5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why [a]then did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, (E)for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers(F)
9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: (G)“A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to [b]vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 Now at [c]vintage-time he (H)sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the (I)heir. Come, (J)let us kill him, that the inheritance may be (K)ours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and (L)killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to (M)others.”
And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”
17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
(N)‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone’?
18 Whoever falls on that stone will be (O)broken; but (P)on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they [d]feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
The Pharisees: Is It Lawful to Pay Taxes to Caesar?(Q)
20 (R)So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.
21 Then they asked Him, saying, (S)“Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, [e]“Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
25 And He said to them, (T)“Render[f] therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.
The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?(U)
27 (V)Then some of the Sadducees, (W)who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second [g]took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven [h]also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”
34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are (X)counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for (Y)they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, (Z)being sons of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord (AA)‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for (AB)all live to Him.”
39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord?(AC)
41 And He said to them, (AD)“How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:
(AE)‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; (AF)how is He then his Son?”
Beware of the Scribes(AG)
45 (AH)Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 (AI)“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, (AJ)love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 (AK)who devour widows’ houses, and for a (AL)pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Footnotes
- Luke 20:5 NU, M omit then
- Luke 20:9 tenant farmers
- Luke 20:10 Lit. the season
- Luke 20:19 M were afraid—for
- Luke 20:23 NU omits Why do you test Me?
- Luke 20:25 Pay
- Luke 20:30 NU omits the rest of v. 30.
- Luke 20:31 NU, M also left no children
Luke 20
Authorized (King James) Version
20 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 ours. 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 Cæsar, 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, Cæsar’s. 25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’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.
Luke 20
1599 Geneva Bible
20 4 From whence John’s Baptism was. 9 The wickedness of the Priests is noted by the parable of the vineyard and the husbandmen. 21 To give tribute to Caesar. 27 He convinceth the Sadducees denying the resurrection. 41 How Christ is the son of David.
1 And (A)[a]it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the Temple, and preached the Gospel, the high Priests and the Scribes came upon him, with the Elders,
2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is he that hath given thee this authority?
3 And he answered, and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing: tell me therefore:
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5 And they reasoned within themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But if we shall say, Of men, all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a Prophet.
7 Therefore they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8 Then Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.
9 ¶ (B)[b]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 strange country, for a great time.
10 And at the time convenient he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen did beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 Again he sent yet another servant: and they did beat him, and foul entreated him, and sent him away empty.
12 Moreover he sent the third, and him they wounded, and cast out.
13 Then said the Lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be that they will do reverence when they see him.
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned with themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What shall the Lord of the vineyard therefore do unto them?
16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give out his vineyard to others. But when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17 ¶ And he beheld them, and said, What meaneth this then that is written, (C)The stone that the builders refused, that is made the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, shall be broken: and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
19 Then the high Priests, and the Scribes the same hour went about to lay hands on him (but they feared the people) for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
20 (D)[c]And they [d]watched him, and sent forth [e]spies, which should feign themselves just men [f]to take him in his talk, and to deliver him unto the power and [g]authority of the governor.
21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest, and teachest right, neither dost thou accept [h]any man’s person, but teachest the way of God truly.
22 Is it lawful for us to give Caesar tribute or no?
23 But he perceived their [i]craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered, and said, Caesars.
25 Then he said unto them, (E)Give then unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and to God those which are God’s.
26 And they could not reprove his saying before the people: but they marveled at his answer, and held their peace.
27 (F)[j]Then came to him certain of the Sadducees (which deny that there is any resurrection) and they asked him,
28 Saying, Master, (G)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 Now there were seven brethren, and the first took a wife, and he died without children.
30 And the second took the wife, and he died childless.
31 Then the third took her: and so likewise the seven died, and left no children.
32 And last of all, the woman died also.
33 Therefore at the resurrection, whose wife of them shall she be? for seven had her to wife.
34 Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, The [k]children of this world marry wives, and are married.
35 But they which shall be counted worthy to enjoy that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry wives, neither are married.
36 For they can die no more, forasmuch as they are equal unto the Angels, and are the sons of God, since they are the [l]children of the resurrection.
37 And that the dead shall rise again, even (H)Moses showed it besides the bush, when he said, The Lord is the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38 For he is not the God of the dead, but of them which live: for all [m]live unto him.
39 Then certain of the Scribes answered, and said, Master, thou hast well said.
40 And after that, durst they not ask him anything at all.
41 ¶ (I)[n]Then said he unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?
42 And David himself saith in the book of the Psalms, (J)The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit at my right hand,
43 Till I shall make thine enemies thy footstool.
44 Seeing David called him Lord, how is he then his son?
45 ¶ Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46 (K)[o]Beware of the Scribes, which willingly go in long robes, and love salutations in the markets, and the highest seats in the assemblies, and the chief rooms at feasts:
47 Which devour widow’s [p]houses, and in show make long prayers: These shall receive greater damnation.
Footnotes
- Luke 20:1 The Pharisees being overcome with the truth of Christ’s doctrine, move a question about his outward calling, and are overcome by the witness of their own conscience.
- Luke 20:9 It is no new thing to have them the chiefest enemies of Christ and his servants, which are conversant in the very Sanctuary of God’s holy place: but at length they shall not escape unpunished.
- Luke 20:20 The last refuge that false prophets have to destroy the true Prophets, is to lay sedition, and treason to their charge.
- Luke 20:20 A fit time to take him in.
- Luke 20:20 Whom they had deceitfully hired.
- Luke 20:20 That they might take some hold in his talk and thereby forge some false accusation against him.
- Luke 20:20 To put him to death.
- Luke 20:21 Thou are not moved by favor of any: and by person he meaneth outward circumstances, which if a man have respect unto, he will not judge alike of them that are indeed alike.
- Luke 20:23 Craftiness is a certain diligence and witness to do evil, gotten by much use and great practice in matters.
- Luke 20:27 The resurrection of the flesh is avouched against the Sadducees.
- Luke 20:34 They are called here in this place, the children of this world, which live in this world: and not they, that wholly are given to the world, as before Luke 16:8, which are contrary to the children of light.
- Luke 20:36 That is, men partakers of the resurrection, for as we say truly, that they shall live indeed, which shall enjoy everlasting bliss, so do they rise indeed, which rise to life, though if this word resurrection, be taken generally, it belongeth also to the wicked which shall rise to condemnation, which is not properly life, but death.
- Luke 20:38 That is, before him: a notable saying, the godly do not die, though they die here on earth.
- Luke 20:41 Christ is so the son of David according to the flesh, that he is also his Lord (because he is the everlasting son of God) according to the spirit.
- Luke 20:46 We must avoid the example of the ambitious and covetous pastors.
- Luke 20:47 This is spoken by the figure Metonymy, houses, for the goods and substance.
Luke 20
Young's Literal Translation
20 And it came to pass, on one of those days, as he is teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came upon [him],
2 and spake unto him, saying, `Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'
3 And he answering said unto them, `I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me:
4 the baptism of John, from heaven was it, or from men?'
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
6 and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'
7 And they answered, that they knew not whence [it was],
8 and Jesus said to them, `Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'
9 And he began to speak unto the people this simile: `A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,
10 and at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that from the fruit of the vineyard they may give to him, but the husbandmen having beat him, did send [him] away empty.
11 `And he added to send another servant, and they that one also having beaten and dishonoured, did send away empty;
12 and he added to send a third, and this one also, having wounded, they did cast out.
13 `And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;
14 and having seen him, the husbandmen reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, we may kill him, that the inheritance may become ours;
15 and having cast him outside of the vineyard, they killed [him]; what, then, shall the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 He will come, and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others.' And having heard, they said, `Let it not be!'
17 and he, having looked upon them, said, `What, then, is this that hath been written: A stone that the builders rejected -- this became head of a corner?
18 every one who hath fallen on that stone shall be broken, and on whom it may fall, it will crush him to pieces.'
19 And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that against them he spake this simile.
20 And, having watched [him], they sent forth liers in wait, feigning themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his word, to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor,
21 and they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou dost say and teach rightly, and dost not accept a person, but in truth the way of God dost teach;
22 Is it lawful to us to give tribute to Caesar or not?'
23 And he, having perceived their craftiness, said unto them, `Why me do ye tempt?
24 shew me a denary; of whom hath it an image and superscription?' and they answering said, `Of Caesar:'
25 and he said to them, `Give back, therefore, the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'
26 and they were not able to take hold on his saying before the people, and having wondered at his answer, they were silent.
27 And certain of the Sadducees, who are denying that there is a rising again, having come near, questioned him,
28 saying, `Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother may die, having a wife, and he may die childless -- that his brother may take the wife, and may raise up seed to his brother.
29 `There were, then, seven brothers, and the first having taken a wife, died childless,
30 and the second took the wife, and he died childless,
31 and the third took her, and in like manner also the seven -- they left not children, and they died;
32 and last of all died also the woman:
33 in the rising again, then, of which of them doth she become wife? -- for the seven had her as wife.'
34 And Jesus answering said to them, `The sons of this age do marry and are given in marriage,
35 but those accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the rising again that is out of the dead, neither marry, nor are they given in marriage;
36 for neither are they able to die any more -- for they are like messengers -- and they are sons of God, being sons of the rising again.
37 `And that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the Bush, since he doth call the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
38 and He is not a God of dead men, but of living, for all live to Him.'
39 And certain of the scribes answering said, `Teacher, thou didst say well;'
40 and no more durst they question him anything.
41 And he said unto them, `How do they say the Christ to be son of David,
42 and David himself saith in the Book of Psalms, The Lord said to my lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43 till I shall make thine enemies thy footstool;
44 David, then, doth call him lord, and how is he his son?'
45 And, all the people hearing, he said to his disciples,
46 `Take heed of the scribes, who are wishing to walk in long robes, and are loving salutations in the markets, and first seats in the synagogues, and first couches in the suppers,
47 who devour the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, these shall receive more abundant judgment.'
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
