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LUKE 20
D. Passing through the Final Examinations
1. Of the Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders

1. And on one of the days, as He was teaching the people in the temple and announcing the good news, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came upon Him,
2. And spoke, saying to Him, Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who is the one who gave you this authority?
3. And He answered and said to them, I also will ask you one thing, and you tell Me:
4. The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men?
5. And they reasoned together among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven, He will say, Why did you not believe him?
6. But if we say, From men, all the people will stone us to death, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
7. And they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8. And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
9. And He began to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard and leased it out to vinedressers and went abroad for a considerable time.
10. And at the proper time he sent a slave to the vinedressers so that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard; but the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11. And he went on to send another slave, but they beat that one also, and dishonored him, and sent him away empty-handed.
12. And he went on to send a third, but that one also they wounded and threw out.
13. And the master of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son, the beloved; they will probably respect this one.
14. But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him that the inheritance may become ours.
15. And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the master of the vineyard do to them?
16. He will come and destroy these vinedressers and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard this, they said, May it never happen!
17. But He looked at them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, this has become the head of the corner?
18. Everyone who falls on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it shall crush him to powder and scatter him like chaff.
19. And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on Him in that hour; yet they feared the people, for they perceived that it was with them in view that He spoke this parable.

2. Of the Pharisees and Herodians

20. And they watched Him closely and sent spies who feigned themselves to be righteous, in order that they might lay hold on some word of His, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and authority of the governor.
21. And they questioned Him, saying, Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and do not accept mans person, but teach the way of God in truth.
22. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
23. But He perceived their craftiness and said to them,
24. Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have? And they said, Caesars.
25. And He said to them, Therefore render the things that are Caesars to Caesar, and the things that are Gods to God.
26. And they were not able to lay hold of a saying of His in the presence of the people; and marveling at His answer, they kept silent.