Luke 20

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

1One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple. He was telling them the good news. The chief priests came to him. The scribes, who were teachers of God's law, came too. So did the elders, the older leaders.

2And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

2They said, "Tell us who gave you the right to do these things."

3And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

3Jesus answered, "I will ask you a question too. Answer me."

4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

4"When John baptized people, who sent him? Did God send him, or did people?"

5And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

5They talked it over together. "If we say God sent him, he will ask why we did not believe John."

6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

6"But if we say people sent him, everyone will throw stones at us. They are sure John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said."

7And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

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

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

8Jesus said to them, "Then I will not tell you who gave me the right to do these things."

9Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

9Then Jesus told the people this story. "A man planted a vineyard, a field full of grapevines. He rented it to some farmers. Then he went far away for a long time."

10And 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.

10"When the grapes were ripe, he sent a servant to the farmers. The servant was to bring back the owner's share of the fruit. But the farmers beat him and sent him away with nothing."

11And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

11"So the owner sent another servant. They beat that one too. They treated him badly and sent him away with nothing."

12And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

12"Then he sent a third servant. They hurt him and threw him out."

13Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

13"The owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my dear son. Maybe they will respect him.'"

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 ours.

14"But when the farmers saw the son, they talked to each other. They said, 'This is the son who will get everything. Let's kill him. Then the vineyard will be ours.'"

15So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

15"So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner do to those farmers?"

16He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

16"He will come and kill them. He will give the vineyard to other farmers." When the people heard this, they said, "May that never happen!"

17And 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?

17Jesus looked right at them. He said, "Then what does this writing mean? 'The stone the builders threw away is now the most important stone of all.'"

Note"The head of the corner" was the cornerstone. It was the stone laid first that held a building straight, so it was the most important one.

18Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

18"Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken. And if the stone falls on someone, it will crush him."

19And 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.

19The chief priests and the scribes knew the story was about them. They wanted to grab him right then. But they were afraid of the people.

20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

20So they watched him closely. They sent men who pretended to be honest. These men hoped to catch Jesus saying something wrong. Then they could hand him over to the governor, the Roman ruler.

21And 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:

21They said, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is right. You treat everyone the same. You truly teach God's way."

22Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

22"Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman emperor, or not?"

23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

23But Jesus knew they were being sneaky. He said to them, "Why are you trying to trap me?"

24Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

24"Show me a coin. Whose picture and whose name are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's."

NoteThe KJV says "a penny." The coin was a denarius, about one day's pay for a worker. It had the emperor's picture stamped on it.

25And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

25Jesus said, "Then give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give God what belongs to God."

26And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

26They could not trap him with his words in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said nothing more.

27Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

27Then some Sadducees came to Jesus. The Sadducees were leaders who said that dead people never come back to life. They asked him a question.

28Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

28They said, "Teacher, Moses wrote a rule for us. If a man dies and leaves a wife but no children, his brother must marry her. Then she can have a child for the brother who died."

29There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

29"Well, there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife and died with no children."

30And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

30"Then the second brother married her, and he died with no children."

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

31"The third married her too. All seven did the same thing. They all died and left no children."

32Last of all the woman died also.

32"Last of all, the woman died too."

33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

33"So when the dead come back to life, whose wife will she be? All seven were married to her."

34And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

34Jesus answered, "In this world, people get married."

35But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

35"But some people will be counted worthy of the world to come. They will rise from the dead, and they will not marry."

36Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

36"They cannot die anymore. They are like the angels. God raised them to life, so they are God's children."

37Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

37"Moses himself showed that the dead are raised. At the burning bush he called the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

38"God is not the God of dead people. He is the God of living people. To him, all of them are alive."

39Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

39Then some of the scribes said, "Teacher, you have answered well!"

40And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

40After that, no one was brave enough to ask him any more questions.

41And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?

41Then Jesus said to them, "Why do people say that the Christ is David's son?" The Christ is the king God promised to send. David was Israel's great king long before.

42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

42"David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right side,'"

43Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

43"'until I put your enemies under your feet.'"

44David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

44"So David calls him Lord. Then how can he be David's son?"

45Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

45All the people were listening. Jesus said this to his disciples, the students who followed him:

46Beware of the scribes, which 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;

46"Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes. They love being greeted in the market. They want the best seats in the meeting places. They want the best places at dinners."

47Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

47"They take the houses of widows, women whose husbands have died. Then they say long prayers so people will think they are good. God will punish them even more."

Note"Damnation" here means condemnation, being judged guilty and punished. It does not mean swearing.