Jesus’ Authority Challenged
(Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33)

1One day, as he was instructing the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests, and the Scribes, with the rulers came up to him, 2and thus accosted him, tell us by what authority do you act thus? and whence do you derive that authority? 3Jesus answer'd, I will ask you one question; 4tell me, the baptism of John, was it a divine or a human institution? 5but they reason'd thus with themselves, if we should say, it was divine, he will reply, why then did not you believe him? 6if we should assert, it was a human contrivance, the populace would stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 7they answer'd then, they did not know which it was. 8Jesus replied, neither will I tell you by what authority I act thus.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
(Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12)

9Then he propos'd this parable to the people, a man planted a vineyard, let it out to husbandmen, and then went a travelling for some time. 10at vintage, he sent a servant to the husbandmen, to demand the profits of the vineyard, but they beat him and sent him away empty. 11again he sent another servant, him they likewise beat, insulted, and sent away empty. 12he still sent a third, whom they wounded and drove away. 13upon which the master of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps his presence will engage their respect. 14but when the husbandmen saw him, they said to one another, this is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our own. 15so they kill'd him, and threw him out of the vineyard, what punishment now will the master inflict upon them? 16he will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give his vineyard to others, but they, taking the hint, cried out, God forbid.

17then Jesus looking upon them, said, what is the meaning then of that expression, "the stone, which the builders rejected, is become the chief stone of the angle."

18whoever falls upon that stone shall be bruised, but on whom it falls, it will crush him to pieces.

Paying Taxes to Caesar
(Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17)

19The chief priests, and the Scribes perceiving that he had applied this parable to them, were eager to seize upon him at that very time; but they were afraid of the people. 20they watch'd then, and suborn'd spies, who under pretence of their tender consciences, might ensnare him in his discourse, and so betray him to the civil power and jurisdiction of the governor. 21they address'd him therefore in this manner; master, we know that what you say and teach is all right, you are not influenc'd by the quality of men, but explain the divine law with sincerity: 22should we pay tribute to Cesar, or no? 23but Jesus perceiving their malicious design, said to them, why do you practise upon me?

24show me a penny: whose image and inscription is this? they answer'd, Cesar's. 25render then, said he, to Cesar, what belongs to Cesar, and to God, what belongs to God. 26so not being able to take any advantage from his words, before the people, they said no more, being surpriz'd at his answer.

The Sadducees and the Resurrection
(Matthew 22:23–33; Mark 12:18–27)

27Afterwards some of the Pharisees, who deny there is any resurrection, accosted him with this question, 28master, said they, Moses left it in writing, if any man has a brother, who dies in marriage without leaving children, he is obliged to take the widow, to perpetuate his brother's line. 29now there were seven brothers, the first of which marry'd, and died without children. 30the second after marrying the widow, died likewise without children. 31then the third took her, and so she was married to all seven, who all died without leaving any children. 32at last the woman died too. 33at the resurrection therefore, to which of them will she be wife? for she had been married to all the seven.

34Jesus answered, in this life men and women marry. 35but they, who shall be accounted worthy to obtain the resurrection to an eternal life, shall have no concern in marriage, as being immortal: 36for by the resurrection they will inherit a nature truely angelical and divine. 37now that the dead are raised, may be inferr'd from Moses's relation concerning the bush, where he stiles the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38for he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, they are all then alive with respect to him. 39which some of the Scribes approving, said to him, master, what you maintain is very just: 40and after that they did not venture to ask him another question.

Whose Son Is the Christ?
(Matthew 22:41–46; Mark 12:35–37)

41But Jesus said to them, you affirm the Messiah must be descended from David, how can that be?

42for in the book of Psalms David himself says, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand,

43till I make thine enemies thy footstool." 44if then David stiles the Messiah his Lord, how can he be descended from David?

Beware of the Scribes
(Mark 12:38–40)

45then in the audience of all the people, he said to his disciples,

46beware of the Scribes, who are fond of appearing in their long robes, affect to be saluted in publick, to have the upper hand in the synagogues, and at all entertainments. 47who under the pretext of their long prayers devour the fortunes of widows, wherefore they shall be punish'd with greater severity.