New Century Version NCV
New Living Translation NLT
1 One day Jesus was in the Temple, teaching the people and telling them the Good News. The leading priests, teachers of the law, and older Jewish leaders came up to talk with him,
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One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him.
2 saying, "Tell us what authority you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
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They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”
3 Jesus answered, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me:
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“Let me ask you a question first,” he replied.
4 When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
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“Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”
5 They argued about this, saying, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
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They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John.
6 But if we say, 'It was from other people,' all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet."
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But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they didn't know where it came from.
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So they finally replied that they didn’t know.
8 Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things."
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And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
9 Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
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Now Jesus turned to the people again and told them this story: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and moved to another country to live for several years.
10 When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
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At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers attacked the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.
11 Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.
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So the owner sent another servant, but they also insulted him, beat him up, and sent him away empty-handed.
12 So the man sent a third servant. The farmers wounded him and threw him out.
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A third man was sent, and they wounded him and chased him away.
13 The owner of the vineyard said, 'What will I do now? I will send my son whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'
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“‘What will I do?’ the owner asked himself. ‘I know! I’ll send my cherished son. Surely they will respect him.’
14 But when the farmers saw the son, they said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.'
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“But when the tenant farmers saw his son, they said to each other, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’
15 So the farmers threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the owner of this vineyard do to them?
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So they dragged him out of the vineyard and murdered him. “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do to them?” Jesus asked.
16 He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers." When the people heard this story, they said, "Let this never happen!"
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“I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.” “How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested.
17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does this verse mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone'?
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Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what does this Scripture mean? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!"
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Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
19 The teachers of the law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus at once, because they knew the story was about them. But they were afraid of what the people would do.
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The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
20 So they watched Jesus and sent some spies who acted as if they were sincere. They wanted to trap Jesus in saying something wrong so they could hand him over to the authority and power of the governor.
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Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus.
21 So the spies asked Jesus, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. You pay no attention to who people are, and you always teach the truth about God's way.
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“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.
22 Tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
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Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 But Jesus, knowing they were trying to trick him, said,
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He saw through their trickery and said,
24 "Show me a coin. Whose image and name are on it?" They said, "Caesar's."
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“Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 Jesus said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's."
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“Well then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
26 So they were not able to trap Jesus in anything he said in the presence of the people. And being amazed at his answer, they became silent.
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So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.
27 Some Sadducees, who believed people would not rise from the dead, came to Jesus.
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Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead.
28 They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.
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They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.
29 Once there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, but had no children.
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Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children.
30 Then the second brother married the widow, and he died.
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So the second brother married the widow, but he also died.
31 And the third brother married the widow, and he died. The same thing happened with all seven brothers; they died and had no children.
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Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children.
32 Finally, the woman died also.
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Finally, the woman also died.
33 Since all seven brothers had married her, whose wife will she be when people rise from the dead?"
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So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”
34 Jesus said to them, "On earth, people marry and are given to someone to marry.
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Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth.
35 But those who will be worthy to be raised from the dead and live again will not marry, nor will they be given to someone to marry.
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But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.
36 In that life they are like angels and cannot die. They are children of God, because they have been raised from the dead.
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And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.
37 Even Moses clearly showed that the dead are raised to life. When he wrote about the burning bush, he said that the Lord is 'the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'
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“But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’
38 God is the God of the living, not the dead, because all people are alive to him."
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So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law said, "Teacher, your answer was good."
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“Well said, Teacher!” remarked some of the teachers of religious law who were standing there.
40 No one was brave enough to ask him another question.
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And then no one dared to ask him any more questions.
41 Then Jesus said, "Why do people say that the Christ is the Son of David?
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Then Jesus presented them with a question. “Why is it,” he asked, “that the Messiah is said to be the son of David?
42 In the book of Psalms, David himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit by me at my right side,
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For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
43 until I put your enemies under your control.'
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until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’
44 David calls the Christ 'Lord,' so how can the Christ be his son?"
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Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his followers,
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Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said,
46 "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around wearing fancy clothes, and they love for people to greet them with respect in the marketplaces. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues and at feasts.
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“Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.
47 But they cheat widows and steal their houses and then try to make themselves look good by saying long prayers. They will receive a greater punishment."
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Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.