¶ And it came to pass, that¹ on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief² priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

And spake unto him, saying, Tell³ us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who⁴ is he that gave thee this authority?

And he answered and said unto them, I will⁵ also ask you one thing; and answer me:

The baptism⁶ of John, was it from⁷ heaven, or of men?

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why⁸ then believed ye him not?

But and if we say, Of men; all⁹ the people will stone us: for¹⁰ they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

And they answered, that¹¹ they could not tell whence it was.

¹²And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

¶ Then began he to speak to the people this¹³ parable; A certain man planted¹⁴ a vineyard, and let¹⁵ it forth to husbandmen, and went¹⁷ into a far country for a long time.

¶ And at the season¹⁸ he sent¹⁹ a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat²⁰ him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated²¹ him shamefully, and sent²² him away empty.

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Then said the lord of the vineyard, What²³ shall I do? I will²⁴ send my beloved son: it may²⁵ be they will reverence him when they see him.

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned²⁶ among themselves, saying, This is the heir²⁷: come, let²⁸ us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

So they²⁹ cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What³⁰ therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

He shall come and destroy³¹ these husbandmen, and shall give³² the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

And he beheld³³ them, and said, What³⁴ is this then that is written, The stone³⁵ which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Whosoever shall fall³⁶ upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And the chief priests and the scribes the same³⁷ hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

¶ And they watched³⁸ him, and sent forth spies, which should feign³⁹ themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver⁴⁰ him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And they asked him, saying, Master⁴¹, we know that thou sayest⁴² and teachest rightly, neither acceptest⁴³ thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly⁴⁴:

⁴⁵Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

But he⁴⁶ perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why⁴⁷ tempt ye me?

Shew me a penny⁴⁸. Whose image⁴⁹ and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's⁵⁰.

And he said unto them, Render⁵¹ therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God⁵² the things which be God's.

And they could⁵³ not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled⁵⁴ at his answer, and held their peace.

¶ Then came to him certain of the Sadducees⁵⁵, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

⁵⁶Saying, 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.

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died⁵⁷ without children.

¶ And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

Last of all the woman died also⁵⁸.

⁵⁹Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children⁶⁰ of this world marry⁶¹, and are given in marriage:

But they which shall be accounted⁶² worthy to⁶³ obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither⁶⁴ marry, nor are given in marriage:

Neither can⁶⁵ they die any more: for they are⁶⁶ equal unto the angels; and are the children of God⁶⁷, being the children of the resurrection.

Now that the dead are raised, even⁶⁸ Moses shewed at the bush, when⁶⁹ he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

For he is not a God⁷⁰ of the dead, but of the living: for all⁷¹ live unto him.

¶ Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou⁷² hast well said.

¶⁷³And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

And he said unto them, How⁷⁴ say they that Christ⁷⁵ is David's son?

And David himself⁷⁶ saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD⁷⁷ said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

⁷⁸Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David therefore calleth him Lord, how⁷⁹ is he then his son?

⁸⁰Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

Beware⁸¹ of the scribes, which⁸² 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;

Which devour⁸³ widows' houses, and for⁸⁴ a shew make long prayers: the same⁸⁵ shall receive greater damnation.