Chapter 12
1 He began to speak to them in parables . " A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it , dug a pit for the wine press , built a tower , rented it out to a farmer , and went into another country.
2 When it was time , he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 They took him , beat him , and sent him away empty .
4 Again , he sent another servant to them ; and they threw stones at him , wounded him in the head , and sent him away shamefully treated.
5 Again he sent another , and they killed him , and many others , beating some , and killing some .
6 Therefore still having one , his beloved son , he sent him last to them , saying , ‘ They will respect my son .’
7 But those farmers said among themselves , ‘ This is the heir . Come , let ’s kill him , and the inheritance will be ours .’
8 They took him , killed him , and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do ? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others .
10 Haven’ t you even read this Scripture : ‘ The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner .
11 This was from the Lord . It is marvelous in our eyes ’?"
12 They tried to seize him , but they feared the multitude ; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them . They left him and went away.
13 They sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him , that they might trap him with words .
14 When they had come , they asked him , " Teacher , we know that you are honest, and don’ t defer to anyone ; for you aren’ t partial to anyone , but truly teach the way of God . Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar , or not ?
15 Shall we give , or shall we not give ?" But he , knowing their hypocrisy , said to them , " Why do you test me ? Bring me a denarius , that I may see it ."
16 They brought it . He said to them , " Whose is this image and inscription ?" They said to him , " Caesar ’s."
17 Jesus answered them , "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar ’s, and to God the things that are God ’s." They marveled greatly at him .
18 Some Sadducees , who say that there is no resurrection, came to him . They asked him , saying ,
19 " Teacher , Moses wrote to us , ‘ If a man ’s brother dies and leaves a wife behind him , and leaves no children , that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’
20 There were seven brothers. The first took a wife , and dying left no offspring.
21 The second took her , and died , leaving no children behind him . The third likewise ;
22 and the seven took her and left no children . Last of all the woman also died .
23 In the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be of them ? For the seven had her as a wife ."
24 Jesus answered them , "Isn’ t this because you are mistaken , not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God ?
25 For when they will rise from the dead , they neither marry nor are given in marriage , but are like angels in heaven .
26 But about the dead , that they are raised , haven’ t you read in the book of Moses about the Bush, how God spoke to him , saying , ‘ I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac , and the God of Jacob ’?
27 He is not the God of the dead , but of the living . You are therefore badly mistaken ."
28 One of the scribes came and heard them questioning together , and knowing that he had answered them well , asked him , " Which commandment is the greatest of all ?"
29 Jesus answered, " The greatest is : ‘Hear, Israel , the Lord our God , the Lord is one .
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 .’ This is the first commandment.
31 The second is like this : ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself .’ There is no other commandment greater than these ."
32 The scribe said to him , " Truly , teacher , you have said well that he is one , and there is none other but he ;
33 and to love him with all the heart , with all the understanding , all the soul, and with all the strength , and to love his neighbor as himself , is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices ."
34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him , " You are not far from God ’s Kingdom." No one dared ask him any question after that .
35 Jesus responded , as he taught in the temple , " How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David ?
36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit , ‘ The Lord said to my Lord , " Sit at my right hand , until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet ."’
37 Therefore David himself calls him Lord , so how can he be his son ?" The common people heard him gladly .
38 In his teaching he said to them , "Beware of the scribes , who like to walk in long robes , and to get greetings in the marketplaces,
39 and to get the best seats in the synagogues and the best places at feasts ,
40 those who devour widows ’ houses , and for a pretense make long prayers . These will receive greater condemnation ."
41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury . Many who were rich cast in much .
42 A poor widow came and she cast in two small brass coins , which equal a quadrans coin.
43 He called his disciples to himself and said to them , " Most certainly I tell you , this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury ,
44 for they all gave out of their abundance , but she , out of her poverty , gave all that she had to live on ."