Jesus’ Authority Challenged (Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)
1 WBS And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him , 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 WBS And spoke to him, saying, Tell us, By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? BSB BSB: “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
3 WBS And he answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: BSB BSB: “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:
4 WBS The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? BSB BSB: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”
5 WBS And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? BSB BSB: They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6 WBS But if we say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are 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 WBS And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was . BSB BSB: So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8 WBS And Jesus said to them, Neither 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 WBS Then he began to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it to husbandmen, and went into a far country 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 WBS And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away 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 WBS And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. BSB BSB: So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
12 WBS And again he sent the third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. BSB BSB: Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
13 WBS Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be when they see him they will reverence 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 WBS But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may 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 WBS So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him . What therefore 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 WBS He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it , they said, may that never 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 WBS And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is 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 WBS Whoever shall fall upon that stone, shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 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 WBS And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken 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 WBS And they watched him , and sent forth spies, who should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him to the power and 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 WBS And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any , but teachest the way of God truly: 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 WBS Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Cesar, or not? BSB BSB: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 WBS But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, Why tempt ye me? BSB BSB: But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,
24 WBS Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar's. BSB BSB: “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered.
25 WBS And he said to them, Render therefore to Cesar the things which are Cesar's, and to God the things which are God's. BSB BSB: So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 WBS And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace. 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 WBS Then came to him certain of the Sadducees (who deny that there is any resurrection) and they asked him, BSB BSB: Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him.
28 WBS Saying, Master, Moses wrote to us, If any man's brother should die, having a wife, and he should die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed to 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 WBS There were therefore seven brothers: and the first took a wife, and died without children. BSB BSB: Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife but died childless.
30 WBS And the second took her for a wife, and he died childless. BSB BSB: Then the second
31 WBS And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: And they 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 WBS Last of all the woman died also. BSB BSB: And last of all, the woman died.
33 WBS Therefore in the resurrection, whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. BSB BSB: So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
34 WBS And Jesus answering, said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 WBS But they who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection 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 WBS Neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the 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 WBS Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth 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 WBS For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him. BSB BSB: He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”
39 WBS Then certain of the scribes answering, said, Master, thou hast well said. BSB BSB: Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”
40 WBS And after that, they durst not ask him any question at all. 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 WBS And he said to them, How say they that Christ is David's son? BSB BSB: Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?
42 WBS And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on 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 WBS Till I make thy enemies thy footstool. BSB BSB: until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
44 WBS David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then 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 WBS Then in the audience of all the people, he said to his disciples, BSB BSB: In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples,
46 WBS Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at 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 WBS Who devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation. BSB BSB: They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”