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 ² and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

³ He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, ⁴ was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people^(E) will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”^(F)

⁷ So they answered that they did not know its origin.^[b]

⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

⁹ 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)

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)

God and Caesar

²⁰ They^[g](S) watched closely^(T) and sent spies^(U) who pretended to be righteous,^[h] so they could catch Him in what He said,^[i](V) to hand Him^(W) over to the governor’s^(X) rule and authority. ²¹ They questioned Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly,^(Y) and You don’t show partiality,^[j](Z) but teach truthfully the way of God.^{(AA) 22} Is it lawful^(AB) for us to pay taxes^(AC) to Caesar^(AD) or not?”

²³ But detecting their craftiness, He said to them,^{[k] 24} “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they said.

²⁵ “Well then,” He told them, “give back to Caesar^(AE) the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶ They were not able to catch Him in what He said^[l] in public,^[m] and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.^(AF)