20 (A)And so they watched Him [a]closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order (B)that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of (C)the governor. 21 And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You [b]are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth. 22 Is it [c]permissible for us (D)to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 23 But He saw through their trickery and said to them, 24 “Show Me a [d]denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 And He said to them, “Then (E)pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were unable to (F)catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.

Is There a Resurrection?

27 (G)Now some of the (H)Sadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him, 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that (I)if [e]a man’s brother dies, [f]leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to [g]marry the wife and raise up children [h]for his brother. 29 So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third [i]married her; and in the same way [j]all seven [k]died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman also died. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, [l]which one’s wife does the woman become? For [m]all seven [n]married her.”

34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of (J)this age marry and the women are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to (K)that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are (L)sons of God, being [o]sons of the resurrection. 37 But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in (M)the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord (N)the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 (O)Now He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for (P)all live to Him.” 39 Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 For (Q)they did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.

41 (R)But He said to them, “How is it that they say the [p]Christ is (S)David’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

(T)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
43 (U)Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and so how is He his son?”

45 (V)And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, (W)who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47 who [q]devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more condemnation.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:20 Or maliciously
  2. Luke 20:21 Lit do not receive a face
  3. Luke 20:22 I.e., by Jewish law and tradition
  4. Luke 20:24 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  5. Luke 20:28 Lit someone’s brother
  6. Luke 20:28 Lit having
  7. Luke 20:28 Lit take
  8. Luke 20:28 I.e., as his brother’s heir
  9. Luke 20:31 Lit took
  10. Luke 20:31 Lit the seven also
  11. Luke 20:31 Lit left no children, and died
  12. Luke 20:33 Lit of which of them
  13. Luke 20:33 Lit the seven
  14. Luke 20:33 Lit had her as wife
  15. Luke 20:36 I.e., participants in
  16. Luke 20:41 I.e., Messiah
  17. Luke 20:47 I.e., misappropriate their property

Paying Taxes to Caesar(A)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(B) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(C) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(D) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(E) and to God what is God’s.”

26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

The Resurrection and Marriage(F)

27 Some of the Sadducees,(G) who say there is no resurrection,(H) came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(I) 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come(J) and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children,(K) since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[a](L) 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.(M)

Whose Son Is the Messiah?(N)

41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?(O) 42 David himself declares 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.”’[b](P)

44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Warning Against the Teachers of the Law

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(Q) 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:37 Exodus 3:6
  2. Luke 20:43 Psalm 110:1