16
He will destroy these workers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "That's unthinkable!"
17
Then Jesus looked straight at them and asked, "What, then, does this Scripture verse mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?
18
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken. If that stone falls on anyone, it will crush that person."
19
The scribes and the chief priests wanted to arrest him right there, but they were afraid of the people. They knew that he had directed this illustration at them.
20
So they watched for an opportunity to send out some spies. The spies were to act like sincere religious people. They wanted to catch him saying the wrong thing so that they could hand him over to the governor.
21
They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're right in what you say and teach. Besides, you don't play favorites. Rather, you teach the way of God truthfully.
22
Is it right for us to pay taxes to the emperor or not?"
23
He saw through their scheme, so he said to them,
24
"Show me a coin. Whose face and name is this?" They answered, "The emperor's."
25
He said to them, "Well, then give the emperor what belongs to the emperor, and give God what belongs to God."
26
They couldn't make him say anything wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they said no more.