Jesus’ Authority Challenged (Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)
1 CPDV And it happened that, on one of the days when he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Gospel, the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, gathered together with the elders, BSB BSB: One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.
2 CPDV and they spoke to him, saying: “Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or, who is it that has given you this authority?” BSB BSB: “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
3 CPDV And in response, Jesus said to them: “I will also question you about one word. Respond to me: BSB BSB: “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:
4 CPDV The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” BSB BSB: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”
5 CPDV So they discussed it among themselves, saying: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ BSB BSB: They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6 CPDV But if we say, ‘Of men,’ the whole people will stone us. For they are certain that John was a prophet.” BSB BSB: But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7 CPDV And so they responded that they did not know where it was from. BSB BSB: So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 CPDV And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” BSB BSB: And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12)
9 CPDV Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and he loaned it to settlers, and he was on a sojourn for a long time. BSB BSB: Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
10 CPDV And in due time, he sent a servant to the farmers, so that they would give to him from the fruit of the vineyard. And they beat him and drove him away, empty-handed. BSB BSB: At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
11 CPDV And he continued to send another servant. But beating him and treating him with contempt, they likewise sent him away, empty-handed. BSB BSB: So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
12 CPDV And he continued to send a third. And wounding him also, they drove him away. BSB BSB: Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
13 CPDV Then the lord of the vineyard said: ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps when they have seen him, they will respect him.’ BSB BSB: ‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
14 CPDV And when the settlers had seen him, they discussed it among themselves, saying: ‘This one is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’ BSB BSB: But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
15 CPDV And forcing him outside of the vineyard, they killed him. What, then, will the lord of the vineyard do to them?” BSB BSB: So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 CPDV “He will come and destroy those settlers, and he will give the vineyard to others.” And upon hearing this, they said to him, “Let it not be.” BSB BSB: He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
17 CPDV Then, gazing at them, he said: “Then what does this mean, which is written: ‘The stone which the builders have rejected, the same has become the head of the corner?’ BSB BSB: But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
18 CPDV Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered. And anyone upon whom it falls will be crushed.” BSB BSB: Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Paying Taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17)
19 CPDV And the leaders of the priests, and the scribes, were seeking to lay hands on him in that same hour, but they feared the people. For they realized that he had spoken this parable about them. BSB BSB: When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.
20 CPDV And being attentive, they sent traitors, who would pretend that they were just, so that they might catch him in his words and then hand him over to the power and authority of the procurator. BSB BSB: So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
21 CPDV And they questioned him, saying: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and that you do not consider anyone’s status, but you teach the way of God in truth. BSB BSB: “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
22 CPDV Is it lawful for us to pay the tribute to Caesar, or not?” BSB BSB: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 CPDV But realizing their deceitfulness, he said to them: “Why do you test me? BSB BSB: But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,
24 CPDV Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” In response, they said to him, “Caesar’s.” BSB BSB: “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
25 CPDV And so, he said to them: “Then repay the things that are Caesar’s, to Caesar, and the things that are God’s, to God.” BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 CPDV And they were not able to contradict his word before the people. And being amazed at his answer, they were silent. BSB BSB: And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people. And amazed at His answer, they fell silent.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection (Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27)
27 CPDV Now some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, approached him. And they questioned him, BSB BSB: Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.
28 CPDV saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: If any man’s brother will have died, having a wife, and if he does not have any children, then his brother should take her as his wife, and he should raise up offspring for his brother. BSB BSB: “Teacher,” they said, “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.
29 CPDV And so there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and he died without sons. BSB BSB: Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless.
30 CPDV And the next one married her, and he also died without a son. BSB BSB: Then the second
31 CPDV And the third married her, and similarly all seven, and none of them left behind any offspring, and they each died. BSB BSB: and the third married the widow, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32 CPDV Last of all, the woman also died. BSB BSB: And last of all, the woman died.
33 CPDV In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For certainly all seven had her as a wife.” BSB BSB: So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
34 CPDV And so, Jesus said to them: “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 CPDV Yet truly, those who shall be held worthy of that age, and of the resurrection from the dead, will neither be married, nor take wives. BSB BSB: But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
36 CPDV For they can no longer die. For they are equal to the Angels, and they are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection. BSB BSB: In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
37 CPDV For in truth, the dead do rise again, as Moses also showed beside the bush, when he called the Lord: ‘The God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ BSB BSB: Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38 CPDV And so he is not the God of the dead, but of the living. For all are alive to him.” BSB BSB: He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”
39 CPDV Then some of the scribes, in response, said to him, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” BSB BSB: Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”
40 CPDV And they no longer dared to question him about anything. BSB BSB: And they did not dare to question Him any further.
Whose Son Is the Christ? (Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37)
41 CPDV But he said to them: “How can they say that the Christ is the son of David? BSB BSB: Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?
42 CPDV Even David himself says, in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand, BSB BSB: For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
43 CPDV until I set your enemies as your footstool.’ BSB BSB: until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
44 CPDV Therefore, David calls him Lord. So how can he be his son?” BSB BSB: Thus David calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”
Beware of the Scribes (Mark 12:38–40)
45 CPDV Now in the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples: BSB BSB: In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,
46 CPDV “Be cautious of the scribes, who choose to walk in long robes, and who love greetings in the marketplace, and the first chairs in the synagogues, and the first places at table during feasts, BSB BSB: “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
47 CPDV who devour the houses of widows, feigning long prayers. These will receive the greater damnation.” BSB BSB: They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”