1 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, thepriests and the scribes came with the elders
2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are yoʋ doing these things, or who is it that gave yoʋ this authority?”
3 He answered them,
5 So they discussed it 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, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
8 Then Jesus said to them,
9 Then he began to tell the people this parable:
16 When the people heard this, they said, “Certainly not!”
17 But Jesus looked at them and said,
19 Then thechief priests and the scribes wanted to arrest him at that very hour, for they knew hehad spoken this parable against them, but they wereafraid.
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be sincere in order to catch him in something he said, so that they could deliver him up to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.
21 The spies asked him, “Teacher, we know that yoʋ speak and teach correctly, and that yoʋ do not show partiality but teach the way of God in truth.
22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23 But perceiving their craftiness, Jesus said to them,
24 Theyanswered, “Caesar's.”
25 He said to them,
26 So they were not able to catch him in what he said in the presence of the people. And being amazed at his answer, they fell silent.
27 Now some of the Sadducees, whodeny that there is a resurrection, came up and asked Jesus,
28 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us: ‘If a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’
29 Now there were seven brothers. The first married a woman and died childless.
30 The secondmarried the widow, and he also died childless.
31 Likewise, the third also married her. In the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32 Last of all, the woman also died.
33 In the resurrection, therefore, which of them will she be the wife of? For the seven all had her as a wife.”
34 Jesusanswered them,
39 Then some of the scribes responded, “Teacher, yoʋ have spoken well.”
40 And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
41 Then Jesus said to them,
45 As all the people were listening, Jesus said tohis disciples,