NOW it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the eldes, confronted Him.

2 And spoke to Him, saying" Tell us, by what authority are You doing these thngs? Or who is he who gave you this authority?"

3 But He answered and said to them, " I also will ask you one thing, and answere Me :

4 "The bapitism of John  - was it from heaven or from men?"

5 And they reasoned among themselves saying, "If we say, 'From heaven, ' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him ? '

6 "But if we say, 'From men,`all the people will stone us, for they are persauded that John was a prophet."

7 So the answered that they did not know where it was from.

8 And Jesus said to them, " Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A cerain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.

10 "Now at vintage  - time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent away empty - handed.

11 "Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefull, and sent him away empty - handed.

12 "And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respec him when they see him.'

14 "But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, sayng,' This is the heir. Come let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

15 "So they cast him out of the vineyard and kill him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 "He will come and destroy those vinedresers and give the the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said," Certainly not! "

17 Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornorstone'?

18 "Whoever falls on the stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grnd him to powder."

19 And the chief priest and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands  on Him, but they feared the people - for they knew He had spoken this parable against  them.

20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

21 Then they asked Hm, saying, "Teacher rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:

22 "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Ceasar or not?"

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?

24 "Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said," Caesar's."

25 And He said to them," Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."

26 But they could ot catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they maveled at His amswer and kept silent.

27 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrecton, came to Him and asked Him,

28 Sayng: "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man 's brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offsring for his  brother.

29 "Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children.

30 "And the second took her as wife and he died chldless.

31" Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died.

32 "Last of all the woman died also.

33" Therefore, in resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife."

34 Jesus answered and said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are  given in mirrage;

35 " But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in mirrage;

36 "Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of resurrection.

37 "But even Moses showed in the burning bush that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

38 "For He is not the God of the dead but of living, for all live to Him."

39 Then some of the scribes answered and said," Teacher, You have spoken well."

40 But afer that they dared not question Him aymore.

41 And He said to them," How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?

42 "Now David hmself said in the Book of Psalms: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,

43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." '

44 "Therefore David calls Him 'Lord'; how is He then his Son?"

45 Then in he hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,

46 "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synaggues, and the best places at feasts,

47 "Who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive condemnation." LUKE 20