Jesus’ Authority Challenged (Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)
1 ULT And it happened that, on one of the days{ when} he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached 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 ULT And they spoke, saying to him,“Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who the one is having 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 ULT But answering, he said to them,“I also will ask you a word, and you tell me: BSB BSB: “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:
4 ULT The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?” BSB BSB: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”
5 ULT Then they reasoned with each other, saying,“If we say,‘From heaven,’ he will say,‘For what{ reason} 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 ULT But if we say,‘From men,’ the whole people will stone us, for it is persuaded 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 ULT And they answered that they did not know from where. BSB BSB: So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 ULT And Jesus said to them,“Nor do 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 ULT Then he began to speak this parable to the people:“A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to farmers and went abroad 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 ULT And at the time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they would give him from the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers sent him away, having beaten{ him}, empty. 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 ULT And he proceeded to send another servant, but they, beating{ him} and treating{ him} shamefully, sent that one also away empty. BSB BSB: So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
12 ULT And he proceeded to send a third, but they, wounding{ him}, cast this one also out. BSB BSB: Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
13 ULT So the lord of the vineyard said,‘What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps 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 ULT But having seen him, the farmers were reasoning with each other, saying,‘This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may become 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 ULT And having thrown him out 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 ULT He will come and destroy these farmers and will give the vineyard to others.” But having heard this, they said,“May 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 ULT But he, having looked at them, said,“What then is this that is written:‘A stone that the builders rejected, this 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 ULT Everyone having fallen on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.” 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 ULT And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that he spoke this parable against 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 ULT And having watched{ him} carefully, they sent spies pretending themselves to be righteous, so that they might take hold of his word, in order to hand him over to the rule and to the authority of the governor. 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 ULT And they asked him, saying,“Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and you do not receive a face, 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 ULT Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” BSB BSB: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 ULT But having perceived their craftiness, he said to them, BSB BSB: But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,
24 ULT “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” And they said,“Caesar’ s.” BSB BSB: “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
25 ULT And he said to them,“Therefore give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God.” BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 ULT And they were not able to take hold of his word in front of the people, and marveling at his answer, they became 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 ULT Then some of the Sadducees, the ones saying there is no resurrection, having approached, questioned him, BSB BSB: Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.
28 ULT saying,“Teacher, Moses wrote for us, if someone’ s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, that his brother should take his wife and raise up seed 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 ULT Therefore, there were seven brothers, and the first, having taken a wife, died childless; BSB BSB: Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless.
30 ULT and the second BSB BSB: Then the second
31 ULT and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died. BSB BSB: and the third married the widow, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32 ULT Last, the woman also died. BSB BSB: And last of all, the woman died.
33 ULT Therefore, in the resurrection, of which of them is she a wife? For the seven had her{ as} wife.” BSB BSB: So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
34 ULT And Jesus said to them,“The sons 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 ULT But the ones having been considered worthy to obtain that age and the resurrection{ that is} from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 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 ULT For neither are they able to die anymore, for they are{ like} angels; and they are sons of God, being sons 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 ULT But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calls 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 ULT And he is not a 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 ULT Then answering some of the scribes said,“Teacher, you have spoken well.” BSB BSB: Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”
40 ULT For they no longer dared to ask him 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 ULT Then he said to them,“How do 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 ULT For 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 ULT until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ BSB BSB: until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
44 ULT David therefore calls him‘Lord.’ And how is he 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 ULT And{ while} all the people were listening, he said to his disciples, BSB BSB: In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,
46 ULT “Beware of the scribes, desiring to walk in long robes and loving greetings in the marketplaces and first seats in the synagogues and first places at the banquets. 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 ULT They devour the houses of widows, and for a pretext they pray at length. These will receive greater condemnation.” BSB BSB: They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”