Luke 20-21

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 One^(A) day^[a] as He was teaching^(B) the people in the temple complex and proclaiming the good news,^(C) the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders,^(D) came up ² and said to Him: “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Who is it who gave You this authority?”

³ He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me, ⁴ was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people^(E) will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”^(F)

⁷ So they answered that they did not know its origin.^[b]

⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

⁹ Then^(G) He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,^(H) leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. ¹⁰ At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

¹³ “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my beloved^(I) son. Perhaps^[c] they will respect him.’

¹⁴ “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!’^{(J) 15} So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy^(K) those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

But when they heard this they said, “No—never!”^(L)

¹⁷ But He looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:^[d](M)

¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!”^(O)

¹⁹ Then the scribes and the chief priests^(P) looked for a way to get their hands on Him^(Q) that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.^(R)

God and Caesar

²⁰ They^[g](S) watched closely^(T) and sent spies^(U) who pretended to be righteous,^[h] so they could catch Him in what He said,^[i](V) to hand Him^(W) over to the governor’s^(X) rule and authority. ²¹ They questioned Him, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly,^(Y) and You don’t show partiality,^[j](Z) but teach truthfully the way of God.^{(AA) 22} Is it lawful^(AB) for us to pay taxes^(AC) to Caesar^(AD) or not?”

²³ But detecting their craftiness, He said to them,^{[k] 24} “Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they said.

²⁵ “Well then,” He told them, “give back to Caesar^(AE) the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

²⁶ They were not able to catch Him in what He said^[l] in public,^[m] and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.^(AF)

The Sadducees and the Resurrection

²⁷ Some^(AG) of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection,^(AH) came up and questioned Him: ²⁸ “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother has a wife, and dies childless, his brother should take the wife and produce offspring for his brother.^{(AI)[n] 29} Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife and died without children. ³⁰ Also the second^{[o] 31} and the third took her. In the same way, all seven died and left no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.”^[p]

³⁴ Jesus told them, “The sons of this age^(AJ) marry and are given in marriage.^{(AK) 35} But those who are counted worthy^(AL) to take part in that age^(AM) and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶ For they cannot die anymore,^(AN) because they are like angels and are sons of God,^(AO) since they are sons of the resurrection. ³⁷ Moses even indicated in the passage about the burning bush that the dead are raised, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.^{(AP)[q] 38} He is not God of the dead but of the living, because all are living to^[r] Him.”^(AQ)

³⁹ Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” ⁴⁰ And they no longer dared to ask Him anything.

The Question about the Messiah

⁴¹ Then^(AR) He said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is the Son of David?^{(AS) 42} For David himself says in the Book of Psalms:^(AT)

⁴⁴ David calls Him ‘Lord’; how then can the Messiah be his Son?”^(AV)

Warning against the Scribes

⁴⁵ While^(AW) all the people were listening, He said to His disciples, ⁴⁶ “Beware^(AX) of the scribes, who want to go around in long robes and who love greetings in the marketplaces, the front seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.^{(AY) 47} They devour widows’ houses and say long prayers just for show. These will receive greater punishment.”^[t]

The Widow’s Gift

21 He^(AZ) looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury.^{(BA) 2} He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins.^{[u](BB) 3} “I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them.^{(BC) 4} For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Destruction of the Temple Predicted

⁵ As^(BD) some were talking about the temple complex, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God,^[v] He said, ⁶ “These things that you see—the days will come^(BE) when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down!”^(BF)

Signs of the End of the Age

⁷ “Teacher,” they asked Him, “so when will these things be? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”^(BG)

⁸ Then He said, “Watch out that you are not deceived.^(BH) For many will come in My name,^(BI) saying, ‘I am He,’^(BJ) and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.^{(BK) 9} When you hear of wars and rebellions,^[w] don’t be alarmed. Indeed, these things must take place first, but the end won’t come right away.”

¹⁰ Then He told them: “Nation will be raised up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.^{(BL) 11} There will be violent earthquakes,^(BM) and famines and plagues^(BN) in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven.^{(BO) 12} But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you^(BP) and persecute^(BQ) you. They will hand you over to the synagogues^(BR) and prisons,^(BS) and you will be brought before kings and governors^(BT) because of My name. ¹³ It will lead to an opportunity for you to witness.^{[x](BU) 14} Therefore make up your minds^[y] not to prepare your defense ahead of time,^{(BV) 15} for I will give you such words^[z](BW) and a wisdom^(BX) that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.^{(BY) 16} You will even be betrayed by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.^(BZ) They will kill some of you. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of My name,^{(CA) 18} but not a hair of your head will be lost.^{(CB) 19} By your endurance gain^[aa] your lives.^(CC)

The Destruction of Jerusalem

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,^(CD) then recognize that its desolation^(CE) has come near. ²¹ Then those in Judea must flee^(CF) to the mountains!^(CG) Those inside the city^[ab] must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, ²² because these are days of vengeance^(CH) to fulfill all the things that are written. ²³ Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days,^(CI) for there will be great distress in the land^[ac] and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the edge of the sword^(CJ) and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles^[ad](CK) until the times of the Gentiles^(CL) are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ “Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars;^(CM) and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring sea and waves.^{(CN) 26} People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.^{(CO) 27} Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud^(CP) with power and great glory.^{(CQ) 28} But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”^(CR)

The Parable of the Fig Tree

²⁹ Then He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. ³¹ In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize^[ae] that the kingdom of God is near. ³² I assure you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place.^{(CS) 33} Heaven and earth will pass away,^(CT) but My words will never pass away.^(CU)

The Need for Watchfulness

³⁴ “Be on your guard,^(CV) so that your minds are not dulled^[af] from carousing,^[ag] drunkenness,^(CW) and worries of life,^(CX) or that day will come on you unexpectedly^{(CY) 35} like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But be alert at all times,^(CZ) praying that you may have strength^[ah] to escape^(DA) all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³⁷ During^(DB) the day, He was teaching in the temple complex,^(DC) but in the evening He would go out and spend the night on what is called the Mount of Olives.^{(DD) 38} Then all the people would come early in the morning to hear Him in the temple complex.^(DE)