Luke 20

(1)  And 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,
(2)  And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
(3)  And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
(4)  The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
(5)  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
(6)  But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
(7)  And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
(8)  And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
(9)  Then 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.
(10)  And 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.
(11)  And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
(12)  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
(13)  Then 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.
(14)  But 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.
(15)  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
(16)  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
(17)  And 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?
(18)  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
(19)  And 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.
(20)  And 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.
(21)  And 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:
(22)  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
(23)  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
(24)  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
(25)  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
(26)  And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
(27)  Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
(28)  Saying, 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.
(29)  There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
(30)  And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
(31)  And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
(32)  Last of all the woman died also.
(33)  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
(34)  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
(35)  But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
(36)  Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(37)  Now 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.
(38)  For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
(39)  Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
(40)  And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
(41)  And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
(42)  And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
(43)  Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
(44)  David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
(45)  Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
(46)  Beware 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;
(47)  Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

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Study Questions

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1. What did Jesus do that caused the chief priests, scribes, and elders to ask about His authority? Verses 1-2.

2. Upon what terms did Jesus agree to answer their question? Verses 3-4.

3. Why didn’t the chief priests, scribes, and elders answer Jesus’ question and why didn’t He answer theirs? Verses 5-8.

4. Who is represented by the following: (Verses 9-10)
The owner of the vineyard:
The husbandmen:
The far country:
The long time:
The servant:

5. Who is represented by other servants and the son? Verses 11-13.

6. What is represented by the husbandmen’s recognition of the son as the heir, their casting him out of the vineyard, and killing him? Verses 14-15.

7. What two things will happen to the husbandmen? Verses 16-17.

8. What will happen to those who reject the stone and who thought Jesus applied the parable to them? Verses 18-19.

9. Do you think the chief priests and scribes were sincere in praising Jesus? If not, why not? Verses 20-21.

10. Did Jesus think the chief priests and scribes were sincere in asking Him the question? Verses 22-23.

11. In what dilemma were the chief priests and scribes trying to involve Jesus and how did Jesus outwit them? Verses 24-26.

12. What feature of Jesus’ teaching did the Sadducees not teach and believe? Verse 27.

13. Did Moses teach what the Sadducees claimed? Verse 28.

14. What part of the hypothetical case presented by the Sadducees is unbelievable and contrary to reason? Verses 29-31.

15. What were the Sadducees trying to prove with their story? Verses 32-33.

16. Where do people marry and give in marriage? Verse 34.

17. What is the fallacy of the Sadducees’ case? Verse 35.

18. What is the advantage of the resurrection and why is it an advantage? Verse 36.

19. How did Moses show that the dead are raised by referring to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Verses 37-38.

20. What did some of the scribes think about Jesus’ answers? Verses 39-40.

21. How was Christ to be David’s son and who is the Lord who spoke to David’s Lord? Verses 41-42.

22. What conclusion does Jesus expect His hearers to reach about Himself? Verses 43-44.

23. Do you think Jesus wanted the multitude to hear His warning to the disciples? Verse 45.

24. What one word sums up Jesus’ criticism of the scribes? Verses 46-47.