Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)

1AND it came to pass, on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and scribes with the elders came upon him, 2and spake to him, saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things or who is he that giveth thee this authority? 3Then he answering said to them, I also will ask you one question; and resolve me: 4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we reply, From heaven; he will say, Wherefore then did ye not believe him? 6But if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 7And they answered, We know not from whence. 8And Jesus said to them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12)

9Then he began to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, and delivered it to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long while. 10And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that they might give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat, and sent him away empty. 11And he again sent another servant: and him also they beat, and treating him with indignity, sent him away empty. 12And he sent yet a third: and him they also wounded, and cast out. 13Then said the master of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: probably when they see him, they will shew him respect. 14But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our own. 15So casting him out of the vineyard, they slew him. What then will the master of the vineyard do with these men? 16He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said God forbid.

17Then he looked on them, and said, What is this then which is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18Every one who falleth upon this stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17)

19And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him at that time; and were afraid of the people: for they knew that he had spoken this parable against them. 20And watching him, they sent men they had suborned, who pretended that they were righteous persons, in order to lay hold of some word of his, that they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governor. 21And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou speakest and teachest rightly, and respectest no man?s person, but teachest the way of God in truth: 22Is it lawful for us to pay tribute to C‘sar, or not? 23Then he, aware of their crafty design, said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

24Shew me a denarius. Whose image and inscription hath it? And they answering said, C‘sar?s. 25Then said he to them, Pay therefore to C‘sar the things which are C‘sar?s, and to God the things which are God?s. 26And they were unable to lay hold of a single expression of his before the people: and marvelling at his answer, they were silenced.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27)

27Then certain of the Sadducees, who contend that there is no resurrection, asked him, 28saying, Master, Moses wrote for us, If a man?s brother die, having a wife, and he die childless, that his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed for his brother. 29Now there were seven brothers: and the first taking a wife, died childless. 30And the second taking the wife, he also died childless. 31Then the third took her; and also all the seven in like manner: and left no children, and died. 32And last of all died also the woman. 33In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.

34And Jesus in reply said to them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35but they who are counted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection of the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36neither can they die any more: for they are like the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37Now that the dead are raised, even Moses intimated at the bush, when he called the Lord, ?the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.? 38Now God is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live with him. 39Then some of the scribes addressing him said, Master, admirably hast thou spoken! 40And after that they durst not put another question to him.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37)

41Then he spake to them: How say they that the Messiah is the son of David?

42Yet David himself, in the book of Psalms, saith, ?The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit down at my right hand,

43until I put thine enemies for a footstool of thy feet.? 44David then calleth him Lord, and how then is he his son?

Beware of the Scribes
(Mark 12:38–40)

45And whilst all the people were hearkening, he said to his disciples,

46Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk about in trailing robes, and love salutations in the public places, and the principal seats in the synagogues, and the most honourable couch at suppers; 47who devour the houses of widows, and for a pretext make long prayers: these shall receive a more abundant punishment.