Chronological
Seven Woes
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The[a] experts in the law[b] and the Pharisees[c] sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.[d] 4 They[e] tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. 5 They[f] do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries[g] wide and their tassels[h] long. 6 They[i] love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues[j] 7 and elaborate greetings[k] in the marketplaces,[l] and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8 But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. 9 And call no one your ‘father’ on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one teacher, the Christ.[m] 11 The[n] greatest among you will be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe to you, experts in the law[o] and you Pharisees, hypocrites![p] You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven![q] For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.[r]
15 “Woe to you, experts in the law[s] and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert,[t] and when you get one,[u] you make him twice as much a child of hell[v] as yourselves!
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing.[w] But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’ 17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing.[x] But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’ 19 You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, experts in the law[y] and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth[z] of mint, dill, and cumin,[aa] yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You[ab] should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel![ac]
25 “Woe to you, experts in the law[ad] and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,[ae] so that the outside may become clean too!
27 “Woe to you, experts in the law[af] and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs[ag] that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, experts in the law[ah] and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You[ai] build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves[aj] of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,[ak] we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! 33 You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?[al]
34 “For this reason I[am] am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law,[an] some of whom you will kill and crucify,[ao] and some you will flog[ap] in your synagogues[aq] and pursue from town to town, 35 so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah,[ar] whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth,[as] this generation will be held responsible for all these things![at]
Judgment on Israel
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,[au] you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you![av] How often I have longed[aw] to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but[ax] you would have none of it![ay] 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate! 39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[az]
The Authority of Jesus
20 Now one[a] day, as Jesus[b] was teaching the people in the temple courts[c] and proclaiming[d] the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law[e] with the elders came up[f] 2 and said to him,[g] “Tell us: By what authority[h] are you doing these things?[i] Or who is it who gave you this authority?” 3 He answered them,[j] “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: 4 John’s baptism[k]—was it from heaven or from people?”[l] 5 So[m] 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[n] they replied that they did not know[o] where it came from. 8 Then[p] Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you[q] by whose authority[r] I do these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 Then[s] he began to tell the people this parable: “A man[t] planted a vineyard,[u] leased it to tenant farmers,[v] and went on a journey for a long time. 10 When harvest time came, he sent a slave[w] to the tenants so that they would give[x] him his portion of the crop.[y] However, the tenants beat his slave[z] and sent him away empty-handed. 11 So[aa] he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.[ab] 12 So[ac] he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out. 13 Then[ad] the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son;[ae] 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[af] they threw him out of the vineyard and killed[ag] him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy[ah] those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”[ai] When the people[aj] heard this, they said, “May this never happen!”[ak] 17 But Jesus[al] 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’?[am] 18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces,[an] and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.”[ao] 19 Then[ap] the experts in the law[aq] and the chief priests wanted to arrest[ar] him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But[as] they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Then[at] they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere.[au] They wanted to take advantage of what he might say[av] so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction[aw] of the governor. 21 Thus[ax] they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly,[ay] and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.[az] 22 Is it right[ba] for us to pay the tribute tax[bb] to Caesar[bc] or not?” 23 But Jesus[bd] perceived their deceit[be] and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius.[bf] Whose image[bg] and inscription are on it?”[bh] They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 So[bi] he said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”[bj] 26 Thus[bk] they were unable in the presence of the people to trap[bl] him with his own words.[bm] And stunned[bn] by his answer, they fell silent.
Marriage and the Resurrection
27 Now some Sadducees[bo] (who contend that there is no resurrection)[bp] came to him. 28 They asked him,[bq] “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man[br] must marry[bs] the widow and father children[bt] for his brother.[bu] 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman[bv] and died without children. 30 The second[bw] 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?[bx] For all seven had married her.”[by]
34 So[bz] Jesus said to them, “The people of this age[ca] marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are regarded as worthy to share in[cb] that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.[cc] 36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are equal to angels[cd] and are sons of God, since they are[ce] sons[cf] of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised[cg] in the passage about the bush,[ch] where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.[ci] 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living,[cj] for all live before him.”[ck] 39 Then[cl] some of the experts in the law[cm] answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well!”[cn] 40 For they did not dare any longer to ask[co] him anything.
The Messiah: David’s Son and Lord
41 But[cp] he said to them, “How is it that they say that the Christ[cq] is David’s son?[cr] 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my[cs] lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[ct]
44 If David then calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”[cu]
Jesus Warns the Disciples against Pride
45 As[cv] all the people were listening, Jesus[cw] said to his disciples, 46 “Beware[cx] of the experts in the law.[cy] They[cz] like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings[da] in the marketplaces[db] and the best seats[dc] in the synagogues[dd] and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They[de] devour[df] widows’ property,[dg] and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.”
The Widow’s Offering
21 Jesus[dh] looked up[di] and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.[dj] 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[dk] 3 He[dl] said, “I tell you the truth,[dm] this poor widow has put in more than all of them.[dn] 4 For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth.[do] But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.”[dp]
The Signs of the End of the Age
5 Now[dq] while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned[dr] with beautiful stones and offerings,[ds] Jesus[dt] said, 6 “As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another.[du] All will be torn down!”[dv] 7 So[dw] they asked him,[dx] “Teacher, when will these things[dy] happen? And what will be the sign that[dz] these things are about to take place?” 8 He[ea] said, “Watch out[eb] that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’[ec] and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them! 9 And when you hear of wars and rebellions,[ed] do not be afraid.[ee] For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.”[ef]
Persecution of Disciples
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms[eg] against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and famines[eh] and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights[ei] and great signs[ej] from heaven. 12 But before all this,[ek] they will seize[el] you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues[em] and prisons. You[en] will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.[eo] 14 Therefore be resolved[ep] not to rehearse[eq] ahead of time how to make your defense. 15 For I will give you the words[er] along with the wisdom[es] that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents,[et] brothers, relatives,[eu] and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. 17 You will be hated by everyone because of my name.[ev] 18 Yet[ew] not a hair of your head will perish.[ex] 19 By your endurance[ey] you will gain[ez] your lives.[fa]
The Desolation of Jerusalem
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded[fb] by armies, then know that its[fc] desolation[fd] has come near. 21 Then those who are in Judea must flee[fe] to the mountains. Those[ff] who are inside the city must depart. Those[fg] who are out in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance,[fh] to fulfill[fi] all that is written. 23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress[fj] on the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They[fk] will fall by the edge[fl] of the sword and be led away as captives[fm] among all nations. Jerusalem[fn] will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.[fo]
The Arrival of the Son of Man
25 “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars,[fp] and on the earth nations will be in distress,[fq] anxious[fr] over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. 26 People will be fainting from fear[fs] and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.[ft] 27 Then[fu] they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud[fv] with power and great glory. 28 But when these things[fw] begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption[fx] is drawing near.”
The Parable of the Fig Tree
29 Then[fy] he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.[fz] 30 When they sprout leaves, you see[ga] for yourselves and know that summer is now near. 31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know[gb] that the kingdom of God[gc] is near. 32 I tell you the truth,[gd] this generation[ge] will not pass away until all these things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.[gf]
Be Ready!
34 “But be on your guard[gg] so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.[gh] 35 For[gi] it will overtake[gj] all who live on the face of the whole earth.[gk] 36 But stay alert at all times,[gl] praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must[gm] happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 So[gn] every day Jesus[go] was teaching in the temple courts,[gp] but at night he went and stayed[gq] on the Mount of Olives.[gr] 38 And all the people[gs] came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.[gt]
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.