The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 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 and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people(E) will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”(F)

So they answered that they did not know its origin.[b]

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

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. 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. 11 He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

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.’

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) 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 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)

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]

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)

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:1 Lit It happened on one of the days
  2. Luke 20:7 Or know where it was from
  3. Luke 20:13 Other mss add when they see him
  4. Luke 20:17 Lit What then is this that is written
  5. Luke 20:17 Lit the head of the corner
  6. Luke 20:17 Ps 118:22

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts(B) and proclaiming the good news,(C) the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”(D)

He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism(E)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people(F) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”(G)

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

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

The Parable of the Tenants(H)

He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(I) rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.(J) 10 At 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. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

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

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.’ 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 kill those tenants(L) and give the vineyard to others.”

When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

17 Jesus 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’[a]?(M)

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”(N)

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

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:17 Psalm 118:22