Luke 20 Explained — Wicked Husbandmen And Trapped Questions

¹And 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

³²Last of all the woman died also.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

⁴³Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

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

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

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;

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