Luke 20

The chief priests and scribes challenge Jesus's authority, and He answers with the parable of the wicked husbandmen. They try to trap Him with questions about paying tribute to Caesar and the resurrection of the dead, but He silences them each time.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	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,	One day as He was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came up to Him with the elders.
2	And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?	They said to Him, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?"
3	And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:	He answered them, "I also will ask You a question. Tell me:"
4	The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?	"Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men?"
5	And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?	They discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did You not believe Him?'"
6	But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.	"But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
7	And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.	So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8	And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.	Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell You by what authority I do these things."
9	Then 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.	Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to farmers, and went away to a distant country for a long time."
10	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.	At harvest time He sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit. But the farmers beat Him and sent Him away empty-handed.
11	And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.	He sent another servant, but they beat that one too, treated Him shamefully, and sent Him away empty-handed.
12	And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.	He sent a third, and they wounded Him too and threw Him out.
13	Then 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.	Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect Him when they see Him.'
14	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.	But when the farmers saw Him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill Him so that the inheritance will be ours.'
15	So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?	So they threw Him out of the vineyard and killed Him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16	He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.	He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others. When they heard this, they said, "May that never happen!"
17	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?	He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?"
18	Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.	"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. And when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."
19	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.	The chief priests and the scribes wanted to arrest Him that very hour, but they feared the people. They knew he had spoken this parable against them.
20	And 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.	They watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Him in something He said, so they could hand Him over to the authority of the governor.
21	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:	They asked Him, "Master, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and that You show no partiality. You teach the way of God truthfully."
22	Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?	"Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
23	But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?	He saw through their trickery and said to them, "Why do You tempt Me?"
24	Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.	"Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered, "Caesar's."
25	And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.	He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God."
26	And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.	They could not trap Him in His words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.
27	Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,	Some of the Sadducees — who deny that there is a resurrection — came to Him and asked,
28	Saying, 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.	"Master, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother."
29	There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.	Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children.
30	And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.	The second took her as wife, and he also died childless.
31	And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.	The third took her, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32	Last of all the woman died also.	Finally, the woman also died.
33	Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.	"In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."
34	And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:	Jesus said to them, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage."
35	But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:	"But those who are considered worthy to reach that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage."
36	Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.	"They can no longer die, for they are like the angels. They are children of God, being children of the resurrection."
37	Now 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.	"That the dead are raised — even Moses showed this at the burning bush, when he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'"
38	For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.	"He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all are alive to Him."
39	Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.	Some of the scribes answered, "Master, you have spoken well."
40	And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.	After that they did not dare to ask Him anything else.
41	And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?	He said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is David's son?"
42	And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,	"David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,"'"
43	Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.	"'until I make Your enemies Your footstool.'"
44	David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?	"David therefore calls him Lord. How then is he his son?"
45	Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,	While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples,
46	Beware 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;	"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at feasts."
47	Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.	"They devour widows' houses and for a show make long prayers. These will receive greater damnation."