The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:9–18)
Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey. Isa 5:1-4Mrk 13:34Sng 8:11-12Mat 25:14Mrk 4:2Mrk 4:33-34Psa 80:8-16Rom 11:17-24
At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. Jhn 15:1-82Ch 36:152Ki 17:13Ezr 9:11Heb 1:1Jdg 6:8-10Jer 25:4-5Jer 35:15 But they seized the servant, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 1Th 2:152Ch 36:16Act 7:52Heb 11:36-37Jer 26:20-24Jer 29:26Neh 9:261Ki 18:13
Then he sent them another servant, and they struck him over the head and treated him shamefully.
He sent still another, and this one they killed. Jer 7:25-28Luk 6:22-23Luk 6:36Mat 21:35-36Mat 22:6Mat 23:37Mat 5:12Mrk 9:13
He sent many others; some they beat and others they killed.
Finally, having one beloved son, he sent him to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. Heb 1:1-2Mat 3:17Jhn 1:341Jn 4:91Jn 5:11-12Gen 22:12Gen 22:2Gen 37:3
But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ Act 13:27-28Act 2:23Act 5:28Act 7:52Gen 3:15Gen 37:20Isa 49:7Isa 53:7-8 So they seized the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Luk 20:15Mat 21:33Mat 21:39Heb 13:11-13
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants, and will give the vineyard to others. Rom 10:20Luk 19:27Mat 21:43Rom 9:30-33Act 13:46-48Act 28:23-28Dan 9:26-27Deu 28:15-68 Have you never read this Scripture: Psa 118:22-231Pe 2:7-8Isa 28:16Luk 20:17-18Act 4:11-12Mat 21:42Eph 2:20-22Rom 9:33
‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is from the Lord, Psa 118:23Act 2:32-36Act 3:12-16Hab 1:51Ti 3:16Act 13:40-41Act 2:12Col 1:27
and it is marvelous in our eyes’ 1?”
At this, the leaders sought 2to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away. Mrk 11:18Jhn 7:25Jhn 7:30Jhn 7:44Mat 22:22Mrk 11:321Ki 20:38-411Ki 21:17-27
Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Luke 20:19–26)
Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. Luk 11:54Luk 20:20-26Mrk 3:6Mrk 8:15Isa 29:21Jer 18:18Mat 16:6Mat 22:15-22 “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?” 1Th 2:42Co 2:172Co 2:22Co 5:112Co 5:16Gal 1:10Gal 2:11-14Gal 2:6
But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius 3to inspect.” Rev 2:231Co 10:9Act 5:9Ezk 17:2Heb 4:13Jhn 2:24-25Jhn 21:17Luk 20:23 So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 2Ti 2:19Luk 20:24-26Mat 22:19-22Rev 3:12
“Caesar’s,” they answered.
Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Rom 13:71Co 14:24-251Pe 2:172Co 5:14-15Act 4:19-20Job 5:12-13Mat 22:22Mat 22:46
And they marveled at Him.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Luke 20:27–40)
Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and questioned Him: Act 4:1-2Mat 22:23-331Co 15:13-182Ti 2:18Act 23:6-9Luk 20:27-40 “Teacher, 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 38:8Rut 1:11-13Rut 4:5 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died, leaving no children. Luk 20:29-33Mat 22:25-28 Then the second one married the widow, but he also died and left no children. And the third did likewise. In this way, none of the seven left any children. And last of all, the woman died. In the resurrection, then, 5 whose wife will she be? For all seven were married to her.”
Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 2Ti 3:15-17Jhn 20:9Mat 22:29Eph 1:19Isa 25:8Act 17:11Hos 6:2Jer 32:17 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven. Luk 20:35-36Mat 22:301Jn 3:2Heb 12:22-231Co 15:42-54
But concerning the dead rising, have you not read about the burning bush in the Book of Moses, how God told him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’ 6? Exo 3:2-6Gen 17:7-8Luk 20:37Gen 33:20Act 7:30-32Exo 3:16Gen 26:24Gen 31:42 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!” Rom 14:9Mrk 12:24Rom 4:17Heb 11:13-16Heb 3:10Pro 19:27
The Greatest Commandment
(Deuteronomy 6:1–19; Matthew 22:34–40)
Now one of the scribes had come up and heard their debate. Noticing how well Jesus had answered them, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Mat 22:34-40Luk 10:25-28Luk 20:39Mat 19:18Mat 5:19Luk 11:42Mat 23:23
Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Deu 6:4Luk 10:27Gal 3:20Rom 3:301Co 8:4Jas 2:19Jud 1:25Mrk 12:32-33 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 7 Deu 6:5 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 8 No other commandment is greater than these.” Rom 13:8-9Mat 22:39Lev 19:18Luk 10:271Co 13:4-8Mat 7:12Gal 5:141Jn 4:21
“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him, Deu 4:39Deu 4:35Isa 46:9Deu 6:4Isa 45:14Isa 45:18Isa 45:5-6Deu 5:7 and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Hos 6:6Mic 6:6-81Sa 15:22Mat 9:13Mat 12:71Co 13:1-3Amo 5:21-24Jer 7:21-23
When Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely, He said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Col 4:6Luk 20:40Mat 22:46Gal 2:19Job 32:15-16Mat 12:20Rom 3:19-20Rom 7:9
And no one dared to question Him any further.
Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Luke 20:41–44)
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, 9 He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? Luk 20:41-44Mat 22:41-45Mat 26:55Jhn 18:20Jhn 7:42Luk 19:47Luk 20:1Luk 21:37 Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: Psa 110:1Heb 1:13Mat 22:43-451Co 15:25Heb 10:12-13Act 2:34-36Act 1:162Sa 23:2
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies
under Your feet.”’ 10
David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” Rom 1:3-41Ti 3:16Jas 2:5Jhn 12:9Jhn 7:46-49Luk 19:48Luk 21:38Mat 1:23
And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.
Beware of the Scribes
(Luke 20:45–47)
In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces, Luk 20:45-47Mat 23:1-7Luk 11:43Mat 6:5Luk 14:7-11Mat 10:17Mrk 4:23Jn 1:9 and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. Jas 2:2-3 They defraud widows of their houses, 11 and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.” Luk 20:47Mat 23:13Mat 23:33Ezk 22:25Mat 6:72Ti 3:6Luk 12:47-48Mic 3:1-4
The Widow’s Offering
(Luke 21:1–4)
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. Luk 21:1-42Ki 12:9Jhn 8:20Mat 27:6 Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. 12
Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. 2Co 8:22Co 9:6-8Act 11:292Co 8:12Exo 35:21-29Mat 10:42 For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” 1Jn 3:172Co 8:2-3Ezr 2:68-69Luk 21:2-4Mrk 14:8Luk 15:30Luk 8:432Ch 24:10-14