1 ARST Then Jesus started to tell a story to the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders. He said,“A certain man planted a vineyard. He built a fence around it{ in order to protect it}. He made a stone tank{ to collect the grape juice that they would press out of the grapes}. He also built a tower{ for someone to sit in to guard his vineyard}. He rented the vineyard to some people who would take care of it, and he left to travel to a different country. BSB BSB: Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.
2 ARST When it was time{ to harvest the grapes}, the man told one of his servants to go to the people who were taking care of the vineyard. He wanted them to give him his share of the grapes that the vineyard had produced. BSB BSB: At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 ARST However, the people who were taking care of the vineyard grabbed the man’ s servant. They beat him up and told him to go away without giving him any of the grapes. BSB BSB: But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4 ARST After that, the man told another servant to go to the people who were taking care of the vineyard. However, they beat this servant on the head and insulted him. BSB BSB: Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.
5 ARST After that, the man told another servant to go{ to the people who were taking care of the vineyard}. However, they killed this servant. After that, the man sent many other servants. However, they beat up some of them and killed the others. BSB BSB: He sent still another, and this one they killed. He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.
6 ARST Finally, the man still had only one other person with him, his son, whom he loved very much. So, the man told his son to go to them last of all. He thought that they would treat his son well{ and give him his share of the grapes}. BSB BSB: Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
7 ARST However,{ when} the people who were taking care of the vineyard{ saw the man’ s son arriving, they} told each other,‘This man is the one who will inherit the vineyard. We should kill him, and then we can take the vineyard for ourselves.’ BSB BSB: But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8 ARST So, they grabbed the man’ s son and murdered him. Then, they dragged his corpse outside the vineyard. BSB BSB: So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 ARST I will tell you how the man who owned the vineyard will act. He will arrive{ at the vineyard}, and he will kill the people who were taking care of the vineyard. Then, he will arrange for other people to take care of it. BSB BSB: What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.
10 ARST { What I have said fits with} this scripture that you have read:‘The people who were constructing a building refused to use a certain stone. However, that stone is now the most important one in the building. BSB BSB: Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
11 ARST The Lord{ God} did that, and we think it is amazing.’” BSB BSB: This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
12 ARST Then the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders realized that Jesus was accusing them when he told that story. Because of that, they wanted to arrest him. However, they were afraid of how the large group of people would react. So, they left where he was{ without arresting him}. BSB BSB: At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.
13 ARST Then, the ruling priests, the teachers of the Jewish law, and the other Jewish leaders told some of the Pharisees and some people who supported King Herod to go to Jesus.{ They instructed them} to try to cause him to make a mistake in what he said. BSB BSB: Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words.
14 ARST When they arrived where Jesus was, they said to him,“Instructor, we realize that you say what is true. You do not pay attention to how important or powerful people are. So, you do not care about what other people think. Further, you truthfully instruct people about what God wants them to do.{ So, we want to ask you this}: Does our law allow us to pay taxes to the Roman government, or{ does it} not{ allow that}? Should we pay the taxes, or should we not pay them?” BSB BSB: “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?”
15 ARST However, Jesus realized that they were only pretending to respect him. He replied,“You are trying to make me say something wrong. Hand me a Roman coin so I can examine it.” BSB BSB: But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.”
16 ARST So, someone handed him{ a Roman coin}. Then Jesus asked,“Whose picture and name are on this coin?” They replied,“{ It is} the leader of the Roman government’ s{ picture and name}.” BSB BSB: So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
17 ARST Then Jesus told them,“{ So then,} give to the Roman government what belongs to it and give to God what belongs to him.” What Jesus said impressed the Pharisees and the people who supported King Herod. BSB BSB: Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
18 ARST After that, some Sadducees approached Jesus. They are a Jewish group that does not believe that God will make people who have died alive again. They asked Jesus, BSB BSB: Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him:
19 ARST “Instructor, Moses wrote for us{ in the Scriptures} about what should happen when a man with a wife, but no children, dies. When that happens, the dead man’ s brother should marry the{ dead man’ s} wife. When they have a child, they should consider it to be the child of the dead man. BSB BSB: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him.
20 ARST { So, consider this situation}: there were seven brothers. One brother married a woman, but then he died before he had children. BSB BSB: Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children.
21 ARST Then, the second brother{ obeyed this law and} married the woman. However, he too died before he had children. The same thing happened to the third brother. BSB BSB: Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise.
22 ARST In this way, each of the seven brothers{ married the woman but} died before they had children. Finally, the woman died too. BSB BSB: In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died.
23 ARST So, of those brothers, whose wife will she be when God makes people alive again?{ We ask} because she got married to all seven brothers{ at different times}.” BSB BSB: In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
24 ARST Jesus replied,“You do not realize what the Scriptures mean or how powerful God is. Because of that, you believe what is wrong! BSB BSB: Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
25 ARST Here is what I mean: when God makes people alive again, they will not get married. Instead, they will be like angels who dwell in heaven{ and do not get married}. BSB BSB: When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
27 ARST It is living people who worship God, not dead people.{ So, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who all have died, must become alive again!} So, you have believed many things that are wrong.” BSB BSB: He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”
30 ARST You must love the Lord, the God whom we worship, with everything that you desire, everything that you do, everything that you think, and everything that you accomplish.’ BSB BSB: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
31 ARST Here is the next most important law:‘You must care for people you know as much as you care for yourselves.’ No other laws are more important than these two laws!” BSB BSB: The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
32 ARST The teacher of the Jewish law replied,“That is a good answer, instructor. You are right when you say that God is the only God and that no other gods exist. BSB BSB: “Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,
33 ARST Further, we should love God with everything that we desire, everything that we think, and everything that we accomplish. Also, we should care for people we know as much as we care for ourselves. Doing those things is more important than burning or presenting any offering to God.” BSB BSB: and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 ARST Jesus realized that the teacher of the Jewish law had responded in a wise way. So, Jesus told him,“You are close to participating in God’ s kingdom.” After that, nobody was bold enough to ask him any more questions. BSB BSB: When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any further.
35 ARST Then, while Jesus was instructing people in the temple area, he asked a question of his own. He said,“Does it make sense when the teachers of the Jewish law claim that the Messiah must be a descendant of King David? BSB BSB: While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
36 ARST { I ask that because} the Holy Spirit caused King David to write that the Lord God said to David’ s Lord,‘Rule with me while I defeat all of your enemies!’ BSB BSB: Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’
37 ARST So, King David called the Messiah‘Lord.’{ However, people do not describe their descendants as their lords.} Therefore, how is it possible for the Messiah to be a descendant of King David?” A very large group of people enjoyed listening to Jesus{ say these things}. BSB BSB: David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
38 ARST While Jesus was instructing those people, he told them,“Make sure that you do not act like the teachers of the Jewish law. They like to put on long robes and walk around{ so they look important}. They also like people to greet them{ respectfully} in the open areas of towns. BSB BSB: In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,
39 ARST They like to sit in the places for important people when they go to the Jewish meeting places or attend feasts. BSB BSB: and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
40 ARST They steal the property of women whose husbands have died. To make other people think that they are righteous, they pray for a long time. God will punish them very severely.” BSB BSB: They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
41 ARST Later, Jesus sat down{ in the temple area} in front of the offering boxes that were there. He observed the large group of people drop coins into the boxes. Many wealthy people gave large amounts of money. BSB BSB: As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts.
42 ARST Then a woman whose husband had died and who did not have much money arrived. She dropped{ into one of the offering boxes} two small copper coins. Those two coins together were worth only the least valuable Roman coin. BSB BSB: Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius.
43 ARST Then Jesus told his apprentices to come to him. He told them,“Most of these people have a lot of money, but they gave only a small part of it. However, this woman, who does not have very much money, has given all the money that she had to pay for the things she needs. So, she has given to God more than what everyone else gave! What I have said is true.” BSB BSB: Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury.