Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts 1and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. Mat 21:23-27Luk 8:11Ch 24:1-31Act 4:1Act 6:12Jhn 18:20Luk 19:47-48Mat 26:55 “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Act 7:27Exo 2:14Jhn 2:18Mat 21:23-27Mrk 11:28-33Act 4:7-10Act 7:35-39Act 7:51
“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: Col 4:6Luk 22:68Mat 15:2-3 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?” Luk 15:18Mat 11:7-19Dan 4:25-26Jhn 1:19-28Luk 7:28-35Mat 17:11-12Mat 21:25-32Jhn 1:6
They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ Act 13:25Jhn 1:15-18Jhn 1:30Jhn 1:34Jhn 3:26Jhn 3:36Jhn 5:33-35 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” Mat 21:26Mat 11:9Act 5:26Jhn 10:41Luk 1:76Luk 7:26-29Mat 14:5Mat 21:46
So they answered that they did not know where it was from. Isa 41:28Isa 42:19-202Pe 3:32Th 2:10-122Ti 3:8-9Isa 26:11Isa 29:14Isa 44:18
And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Job 5:12-13Mat 15:14Mat 16:4Mat 21:27Mrk 11:33Pro 26:4-5Luk 22:68
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12)
Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time. Mat 21:33-46Mrk 12:1-12Isa 5:1-7Jer 2:21Jhn 15:1-8Psa 80:8-14Mat 25:14Sng 8:11-12 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed. 2Ch 36:15-16Neh 9:26Mat 21:34-361Ki 22:242Ch 16:102Ch 24:19-212Ki 17:13Jdg 6:8-10
So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed. 1Th 2:2Act 7:52Heb 11:36-37Hos 10:1Mat 23:30-37
Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’ Mat 3:17Jhn 3:16-17Jer 36:3Jer 36:7Jhn 1:341Jn 4:9-15Gal 4:4Hos 11:8
But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ Rom 8:17Heb 1:2Act 2:23Act 3:15Gen 37:18-20Jhn 11:47-50Luk 19:47Luk 20:19 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Heb 13:12Mat 21:37-40Mrk 12:6-9
What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.” Luk 19:27Act 13:46Mat 21:41Mat 22:7Neh 9:36-37Psa 2:8-9Psa 21:8-10
And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: Psa 118:22Isa 28:16Act 4:11Mat 21:421Pe 2:7-8Mrk 12:10Zec 3:9Jhn 15:25
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’ 2?
Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Isa 8:14-15Dan 2:34-35Dan 2:44-45Mat 21:44Zec 12:3Mat 21:341Th 2:16
Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17)
When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people. Luk 19:47-48Luk 20:14Mat 21:45-46Mat 26:3-4Mrk 12:12
So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. Luk 11:54Mat 22:15-22Jer 11:19Psa 81:152Pe 2:3Isa 29:20-21Jhn 18:28-32Luk 20:26 “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 1Th 2:4-5Mat 22:16Mat 26:49-502Co 2:172Ch 19:7Act 10:34-35Gal 1:10Jer 42:2-3 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Neh 9:37Act 5:37Deu 17:15Ezr 4:13Ezr 4:19-22Ezr 9:7Mat 22:17-21Mrk 12:14-17
But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, 1Co 3:19Luk 5:22Mat 22:181Co 10:9Heb 4:13Jhn 2:24-25Luk 11:16-17Luk 11:53-54 “Show Me a denarius. 3 Whose image and inscription are on it?” Mat 18:28Act 11:28Act 25:8-12Act 26:32Luk 2:1Luk 20:22Luk 23:2Luk 3:1
“Caesar’s,” they answered.
So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Rom 13:6-71Co 10:311Pe 2:13-17Act 4:19-20Act 5:29Mat 17:27Mat 22:21Mrk 12:17
And they were unable to trap Him in His words before the people; and amazed at His answer, they fell silent. Luk 20:202Ti 3:8-9Job 5:12-13Luk 13:17Luk 20:39-40Mat 22:12Mat 22:22Mat 22:34
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27)
Then some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to question Him. Act 4:1-21Co 15:12Mat 22:23-33Mrk 12:18-27Act 23:6-8Act 5:17Mat 16:12Ti 2:17-18 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man is to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him. 4 Deu 25:5-10Gen 38:8Gen 38:11Gen 38:26Rut 1:11-12 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a wife, but died childless. Jer 22:30Lev 20:20 Then the second 5 and the third married the widow, and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. And last of all, the woman died. Ecc 1:4Ecc 9:5Heb 9:27Jdg 2:10 So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.” Mat 22:24-28Mrk 12:19-23
Jesus answered, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. Luk 16:8Heb 13:4Luk 17:271Co 7:2-16Eph 5:31 But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. 2Th 1:5Dan 12:2-3Jhn 5:29Mat 12:32Act 24:15Act 5:41Luk 21:36Heb 11:35 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God. Php 3:21Rev 21:4Mat 22:301Co 15:42Rev 20:61Co 15:261Jn 3:1-2Mrk 12:25
Even Moses demonstrates that the dead are raised, in the passage about the burning bush. For he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 6 Exo 3:2-6Mrk 12:26-27Act 7:30-32Deu 33:16Exo 3:15Gen 17:7Gen 28:13Gen 28:21 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.” Jhn 11:25-26Col 3:3-4Rom 6:10-11Jhn 14:19Rom 14:7-92Co 13:42Co 6:16Psa 145:1-2
Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!” Act 23:9Mat 22:34-40Mrk 12:28-34 And they did not dare to question Him any further. Mat 22:46Mrk 12:34Pro 26:5
Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37)
Then Jesus declared, “How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David? Mrk 12:35-37Mat 1:1Mat 22:41-45Act 2:30Isa 11:1-2Isa 9:6-7Jer 23:5-6Jer 33:15-16 For David himself says in the book of Psalms: Psa 110:1Act 2:34-35Heb 1:13Mrk 12:36-37Mat 22:43-451Co 15:25Luk 24:442Sa 23:1-2
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies Luk 19:27Psa 110:1Rev 19:14-21Psa 110:5-6Psa 2:1-9Psa 72:9Psa 109:4-20Psa 21:8-12
a footstool for Your feet.”’ 7
Thus David calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” Rev 22:161Ti 3:16Gal 4:4Isa 7:14Luk 1:31-35Luk 2:11Mat 1:23Rom 9:5
Beware of the Scribes
(Mark 12:38–40)
In the hearing of all the people, Jesus said to His disciples, 1Ti 5:20Mat 15:10Mat 23:1-2Mat 23:5-7Mrk 12:38-39Mrk 8:34 “Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets. Mrk 12:38-39Luk 11:43Luk 14:7Luk 12:1Mat 16:6Mat 23:5-7Php 2:3-52Ti 4:15 They defraud widows of their houses, 8 and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” Mrk 12:40Jas 3:1Luk 12:1Luk 12:47-48Tit 1:16Amo 2:7Amo 8:4-6Ezk 33:31