THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD AND THE TENANTS

1 AND he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

JESUS AND TAXES
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?
15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

LIFE AFTER THE RESURRECTION
18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,
19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.

THE GREAT COMMANDMENT
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

DAVID'S LORD
35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

JESUS DENOUNCES THE SCRIBES
38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39 And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

THE WIDOW'S OFFERING
41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

1And hee began to speake vnto them by parables. A certaine man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the wine fat, and built a towre, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a farre countrey.

2And at the season, he sent to the husbandmen a seruant, that he might receiue from the husbandmen of the fruite of the vineyard.

3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away emptie.

4And againe, hee sent vnto them another seruant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

5And againe, he sent another, and him they killed: and many others, beating some, and killing some.

6Hauing yet therefore one sonne his welbeloued, he sent him also last vnto them, saying, They will reuerence my sonne.

7But those husbandmen said amongst themselues, This is the heire, come, let vs kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.

8And they tooke him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard doe? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will giue the vineyard vnto others.

10And haue ye not read this Scripture? The stone which the builders reiected, is become the head of the corner:

11This was the Lords doing, and it is maruellous in our eies.

12And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people, for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

13 And they send vnto him certaine of the Pharises, and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

14And when they were come, they say vnto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawfull to giue tribute to Cesar, or not?

15Shall we giue, or shall we not giue? But he knowing their hypocrisie, said vnto them, Why tempt yee mee? Bring me a penny that I may see it.

16And they brought it: and he saith vnto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said vnto him, Cesars.

17And Iesus answering, said vnto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesars: and to God the things that are Gods. And they maruailed at him.

18 Then come vnto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, and they asked him, saying,

19Master, Moses wrote vnto vs, If a mans brother die, and leaue his wife behind him, and leaue no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise vp seed vnto his brother.

20Now there were seuen brethren: and the first tooke a wife, and dying left no seede.

21And the second tooke her, and died, neither left he any seed, and the third likewise.

22And the seuen had her, and left no seede: last of all the woman died also.

23In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seuen had her to wife.

24And Iesus answering, said vnto them, Doe ye not therefore erre, because yee know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

25For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are giuen in marriage: but are as the Angels which are in heauen.

26And as touching the dead, that they rise: haue ye not read in the booke of Moses, how in the bush God spake vnto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isahac, and the God of Iacob?

27Hee is not the God of the dead, but the God of the liuing: yee therefore doe greatly erre.

28 And one of the Scribes came, and hauing heard them reasoning together, and perceiuing that he had answered them well, asked him which is the first commandement of all.

29And Iesus answered him, The first of al the commandements is, Heare, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord:

30And thou shalt loue the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soule, and with all thy minde, and with all thy strength: This is the first commandement.

31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe: there is none other commandement greater then these.

32And the Scribe said vnto him, Well master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God, and there is none other but he.

33And to loue him with all the heart, and with all the vnderstanding, and with all the soule, and with all the strength, and to loue his neighbour as himselfe, is more then all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34And when Iesus saw that he answered discreetly, hee saide vnto him, Thou art not far from the kingdome of God. And no man after that durst aske him any question.

35 And Iesus answered, and said, while hee taught in the Temple, How say the Scribes that Christ is the sonne of Dauid?

36For Dauid himselfe said by the holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, til I make thine enemies thy footstoole.

37Dauid therefore himselfe calleth him Lord, and whence is hee then his sonne? And the common people heard him gladly.

38 And he said vnto them in his doctrine, Beware of the Scribes, which loue to goe in long clothing, and loue salutations in the market places,

39And the chiefe seates in the Synagogues, and the vppermost roomes at feasts:

40Which deuoure widowes houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: These shall receiue greater damnation.

41 And Iesus sate ouer against the treasurie, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasurie: and many that were rich, cast in much.

42And there came a certaine poore widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43And he called vnto him his disciples, and saith vnto them, Uerily I say vnto you, that this poore widow hath cast more in, then all they which haue cast into the treasurie.

44For all they did cast in of their aboundance: but she of her want, did cast in all that she had, euen all her liuing.

I == Matt 21:33 ; Luke 20:9

X == Ps 118:22

XII == Matt 21:45-46 ; Mark 11:18 ; John 7:25 , 30 , 44

XIII == Matt 22:15 ; Luke 20:20

XVIII == Matt 22:23 ; Luke 20:27 ; Acts 23:8

XIX == Deut 25:5

XXV == 1st Cor 15:42 , 49 , 52

XXVI == Ex 3:6

XXVIII == Matt 22:35

XXIX == Deut 6:4 ; Luke 10:27

XXXI == Lev 19:18 ; Matt 22:39 ; Rom 13:9 ; Gal 5:14 ; James 2:8

XXXII == Deut 4:39 ; Isa 45:6 , 14 ; 46:9

XXXIII == 1st Sam 15:22 ; Hos 6:6 ; Mic 6:6-8

XXXIV == Matt 22:46

XXXV == Matt 22:41 ; Luke 20:41

XXXVI == 2nd Sam 23:2 ; Ps 110:1

XXXVIII == Matt 23:1-12 ; Mark 4:2 ; Luke 11:43 ; 20:46

XL == Matt 23:14

XLI == 2nd Kings 12:9 ; Luke 21:1

XLIII == 2nd Cor 8:12

XLIV == Deut 24:6 ; 1st John 3:17

 

1 He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. 2 At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. 5 He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. 6 He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' 7 But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What (then) will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this scripture passage: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes'?" 12 They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away. 13 They sent some Pharisees and Herodians to him to ensnare him in his speech. 14 They came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone's opinion. You do not regard a person's status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?" 15 Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, "Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at." 16 They brought one to him and he said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They replied to him, "Caesar's." 17 So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.' They were utterly amazed at him. 18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and put this question to him, 19 saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If someone's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.' 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died, leaving no descendants. 21 So the second married her and died, leaving no descendants, and the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no descendants. Last of all the woman also died. 23 At the resurrection (when they arise) whose wife will she be? For all seven had been married to her." 24 Jesus said to them, "Are you not misled because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God? 25 When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like the angels in heaven. 26 As for the dead being raised, have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God told him, 'I am the God of Abraham, (the) God of Isaac, and (the) God of Jacob'? 27 He is not God of the dead but of the living. You are greatly misled." 28 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" 29 Jesus replied, "The first is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." 32 The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' 33 And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." 34 And when Jesus saw that (he) answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions. 35 As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said, "How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said: 'The Lord said to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet."' 37 David himself calls him 'lord'; so how is he his son?" (The) great crowd heard this with delight. 38 In the course of his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, 39 seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." 41 He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. 44 For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

v 1-12 Jesus gave another parable of a landowner who made a vineyard at great expense and leased it to tenants, but when he sent servants to collect the income, the tenants beat and killed the servants. Last he sent his son, thinking they would revere him, but they killed the son so they could get the inheritance. They answered that those tenants should be killed and the vineyard leased to worthy tenants. Predication of the Savior concerning setting and them wanted more to kill Him, but they dared not for the people believed Him a prophet. Lk. 20:18 adds that those who fell on that stone, often pyramid shaped, stumbled over and rejected in building, would be broken, but the one it fell on would be crushed to powder. Israel Mt 21: 43, 44 This illustrated how Israel had beaten and killed prophets and were now about to kill the Son, so the kingdom would be taken from them at that time, but will be given back to future generations when they truly repent and turn to God. These leaders had rejected Christ, the Stone, but, quoting from Ps. 118:22, He would become head of the corner (more correctly the capstone).

v 13-17 The Pharisees hated Rome while the Herodians supported it, but they were called upon for support in trapping Jesus. They used flattering hypocrisy before asking him if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar. However He knew their hypocrisy, and however He answered, one of the two groups would condemn Him. 22:16 THEIR DISCIPLES: Jewish nationalists opposed to Rome occupation and rule over Palestine. Jesus asked for a coin which would have Caesar’s image on it. 22:19 A COIN: A "denarius" was a coin used to pay tax that had a profile portrait of Tiberius Caesar, The Roman Emperor (AD 14-37) To the Jews this was especially offensive because they knew that God forbade graves images in the likeness of any created thing (EX 20:4)Showing that they were under Rome, they were obligated to pay, but they also had spiritual responsibility to God. The answer amazed and silenced both groups.

v 18-27The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, angels or spirit, and thought they had the perfect question to make Jesus and resurrection look ridiculous. Jewish law required the next son in line to raise up an heir for the one who died childless, so which of the seven brothers would she be wife to in heaven? Jesus bluntly told them they erred. Mk. 12:25 adds that in heaven they will neither marry or be given in marriage, but are like the angels (whom Sadducees deny, Acts 23:8). He did not say they were sexless, but being immortal they have no need to perpetuate their race. Then he showed from Scripture that God was still God of Abraham and others. Even though they had died they yet lived. The Sadducees were silenced, but the crowds enjoyed it.

v 28-37 The Pharisees returned to the attack with one who had the most skill in the Law, and he asked what was the greatest commandment. Jesus summed up the law with the command to give total love to God, Deut. 6:5, and to love man, who was created in God’s image, as himself, Lev. 19:18. All else hinges on or amplifies them. Mk. 12:31-34 adds that the lawyer, or scribe, acknowledged Jesus had given a correct answer, and Jesus replied that in knowledge, he was close to the kingdom of God. Fearful that some might be persuaded by Jesus, they stopped asking questions. Jesus used this to take the initiative and asked the Pharisees a doctrinal question, “Whose son is Christ?” They quickly replied Messiah would be Son of David. Jesus then asked how Messiah could be just an earthy son of David, because David called Him Lord. They were stumped, and unwilling to acknowledge the deity of Jesus by admitting He was David’s Lord. So they would not ask Him any more questions.

v 38-40 Jesus described the actions of the scribes and Pharisees and gave the multitude gathered warning about them. They taught the law of Moses hypocritically, not following it correctly themselves. They made the rules a burden and made their phylacteries larger than normal and put long tassels on their prayer shawls to attract attention (See comments on borders, v 5 in Mal. 4:2., where they are expressed as wings.). They sought prominent seats in the synagogues, titles and positions. Jesus warned against calling religious leaders Father and Rabbi, because only Christ was their master. One who humiliates himself to serve is the greatest. Mk. 12:38-40 and Lk. 20:45-47 add that they exploit generous, but poor, widows and make long prayers.

v 41-44 Coming from Jericho in the east, (Jesus Probably spent the Sabbath at the home of Mary Martha and Lazarus.) Jesus arrived at Bethphage approaching Jerusalem Sunday, and sent two disciples to procure a donkey and her colt. (Mark and Luke only mention the colt.) This was not per-arranged, but He knew the owner would allow it for the Messiah. Several versions on Mk. 11:3 indicate that Jesus will soon send the colt back. Messiah would not come on a war horse, but a donkey as a sign of peace, as some other kings had done. This fulfilled the prophecy of Zech. 9.9, but the disciples did not remember about this until after Jesus was glorified, Jn 12:16.