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Luke 20-21
English Standard Version
Luke 20-21
English Standard Version
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
20 (A)One day, (B)as Jesus[a] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, (C)the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us (D)by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John (E)from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, (F)‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was (G)a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
9 (H)And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted (I)a vineyard and (J)let it out to tenants and (K)went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant[b] to the tenants, so that (L)they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. (M)But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 (N)And (O)he sent another servant. But they also beat and (P)treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 (Q)And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my (R)beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, (S)‘This is the heir. (T)Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they (U)threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 (V)He will (W)come and destroy those tenants and (X)give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he (Y)looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
18 (AA)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls (AB)on anyone, it will crush him.”
Paying Taxes to Caesar
19 (AC)The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 (AD)So they (AE)watched him and sent spies, who (AF)pretended to be sincere, that they might (AG)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (AH)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (AI)show no partiality,[d] but truly teach (AJ)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (AK)tribute to (AL)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (AM)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (AN)a denarius.[e] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (AO)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people (AP)to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
27 There came to him (AQ)some Sadducees, (AR)those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us (AS)that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[f] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
34 And Jesus said to them, (AT)“The sons of this age (AU)marry and (AV)are given in marriage, 35 but those who are (AW)considered worthy to attain to (AX)that age and to the resurrection from the dead (AY)neither marry (AZ)nor are given in marriage, 36 for (BA)they cannot die anymore, because they are (BB)equal to angels and (BC)are (BD)sons of God, being (BE)sons[g] of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, (BF)even Moses showed, in (BG)the passage about the bush, where he calls (BH)the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all (BI)live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes (BJ)answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For (BK)they no longer dared to ask him any question.
Whose Son Is the Christ?
41 (BL)But he said to them, “How can they say that (BM)the Christ is (BN)David's son? 42 For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,
(BO)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
43 until I make your enemies (BP)your footstool.”’
44 David thus calls him Lord, so (BQ)how is he his son?”
Beware of the Scribes
45 (BR)And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and (BS)the places of honor at feasts, 47 (BT)who devour widows' houses and (BU)for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The Widow's Offering
21 (BV)Jesus[h] looked up and saw the rich (BW)putting their gifts into (BX)the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two (BY)small copper coins.[i] 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, (BZ)this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her (CA)poverty put in all (CB)she had to live on.”
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
5 (CC)And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, (CD)the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, (CE)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, (CF)“See that you are not led astray. For (CG)many will come in my name, saying, (CH)‘I am he!’ and, (CI)‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be (CJ)terrified, for these things (CK)must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, (CL)“Nation will rise against nation, and (CM)kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great (CN)earthquakes, and in various places (CO)famines and pestilences. And there will be (CP)terrors and great (CQ)signs from heaven. 12 But before all this (CR)they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to (CS)the synagogues and (CT)prisons, and you (CU)will be brought before (CV)kings and (CW)governors for my name's sake. 13 (CX)This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds (CY)not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for (CZ)I will give you a mouth and (DA)wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or (DB)contradict. 16 You will be delivered up (DC)even by parents and brothers[j] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 (DD)You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But (DE)not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your (DF)endurance you will gain your lives.
Jesus Foretells Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “But (DG)when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that (DH)its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are (DI)days of (DJ)vengeance, to fulfill (DK)all that is written. 23 (DL)Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and (DM)wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and (DN)be led captive among all nations, and (DO)Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, (DP)until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
The Coming of the Son of Man
25 “And (DQ)there will be signs in sun and moon (DR)and stars, and on the earth (DS)distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For (DT)the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see (DU)the Son of Man coming in a cloud (DV)with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and (DW)raise your heads, because (DX)your redemption is drawing near.”
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see (DY)for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 (DZ)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 (EA)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (EB)my words will not pass away.
Watch Yourselves
34 “But watch yourselves (EC)lest (ED)your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and (EE)cares of this life, and (EF)that day come upon you suddenly (EG)like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But (EH)stay awake at all times, (EI)praying that you may (EJ)have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and (EK)to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And (EL)every day he was teaching in the temple, but (EM)at night he went out and lodged on (EN)the mount called Olivet. 38 And early in the morning (EO)all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.
Footnotes
- Luke 20:1 Greek he
- Luke 20:10 Or bondservant; also verse 11
- Luke 20:17 Greek the head of the corner
- Luke 20:21 Greek and do not receive a face
- Luke 20:24 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer
- Luke 20:28 Greek his brother
- Luke 20:36 Greek huioi; see Preface
- Luke 21:1 Greek He
- Luke 21:2 Greek two lepta; a lepton was a Jewish bronze or copper coin worth about 1/128 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
- Luke 21:16 Or parents and brothers and sisters
Luke 20-21
New International Version
Luke 20-21
New International Version
The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)
20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts(B) and proclaiming the good news,(C) the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”(D)
3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism(E)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people(F) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”(G)
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”
8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants(H)
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(I) rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.(J) 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love;(K) perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants(L) and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”(N)
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him(O) immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.(P)
Paying Taxes to Caesar(Q)
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(R) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(S) 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.(T) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s,(U) and to God what is God’s.”
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage(V)
27 Some of the Sadducees,(W) who say there is no resurrection,(X) came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(Y) 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come(Z) and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children,(AA) since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[b](AB) 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.(AC)
Whose Son Is the Messiah?(AD)
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?(AE) 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’[c](AF)
44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(AG) 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The Widow’s Offering(AH)
21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.(AI) 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”(AJ)
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times(AK)(AL)
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another;(AM) every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.(AN) 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.(AO) 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.(AP)
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me.(AQ) 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.(AR) 15 For I will give you(AS) words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends,(AT) and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.(AU) 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.(AV) 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.(AW)
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,(AX) you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.(AY) 22 For this is the time of punishment(AZ) in fulfillment(BA) of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled(BB) on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.(BC) 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.(BD) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man(BE) coming in a cloud(BF) with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”(BG)
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God(BH) is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation(BI) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(BJ)
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life,(BK) and that day will close on you suddenly(BL) like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray(BM) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple,(BN) and each evening he went out(BO) to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,(BP) 38 and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.(BQ)
Footnotes
- Luke 20:17 Psalm 118:22
- Luke 20:37 Exodus 3:6
- Luke 20:43 Psalm 110:1
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.