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Report a TypoLuke ◦ Chapter 20
1One day, while Jesus was teaching in the temple and presenting the truth about the Remedy, the senior pastors, priests, and theologians who taught a penal and legal religion, together with the elders, confronted him in a show of their authority:2"We demand that you tell us by what right and authority you are doing these things. Who gave you this authority?"3Jesus calmly replied, "I'll ask you a question first. Tell me:4John's baptism–was it ordained of heaven, or was it merely of human origin?"5The leaders stepped back to discuss their answer. They said to themselves, "If we admit that his baptism is ordained of heaven, then he will ask us, 'Why don't you believe John's testimony of me?'6But if we say 'John's baptism is human in origin,' the people will stone us, because they believe John was a representative and speaker from God."7So they evaded the answer by saying, "We don't know where it was from."8Jesus said to them, "Then neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."9He told them this parable: "A developer planted a vineyard, then leased it to some farmers and went away on a long trip.10When the harvest was due, he sent a servant to collect his portion of the fruit. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away with nothing.11The owner sent another servant, but they abused him and treated him awfully, and sent him away with nothing.12Still, he sent a third servant, and they stabbed him and left him in an alley.13"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What more can I do? I will send my son whom I love; surely they will respect him.'14But when the tenants saw the son, they greedily said to each other, 'This is the heir to this property. Let's kill him and claim the inheritance for ourselves!'15So they grabbed the son, dragged him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now, what do you think the owner will do to them?16He will come and do away with those people and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they remembered that Israel was called God's vineyard, and said, "No, this can never happen!"17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of the Scripture 'The stone rejected by the builders has become the foundation stone of life'?18"Everyone who falls on that stone will have all deviations from God's design broken into pieces and removed, but the one on whom it falls will be crushed."19The teachers of the penal theology and the senior pastors and priests searched for a way to arrest Jesus right then, because they understood that the parable was about them. But they were afraid of what the people would do if they tried.20They kept him under surveillance and had spies, pretending to be sincere, who tried to trap him into saying something they could use to get him into legal trouble with the Roman governor.21So the spies asked him, "Doctor, we know you are wise and always do what is right, constantly teaching the truth in harmony with God's methods and principles. You don't let the opinions of others influence you, because you stand for truth and not for what's popular at the moment.22So tell us: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"23But Jesus saw through their tricks and said,24 "Show me a coin used to pay taxes. Whose picture is on this coin?"25"Caesar's," they said. Jesus looked straight at them and said, "Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God."26Unable to trap him in what he said, they sat there so stunned by his answer that they didn't say another word.27Next, some of the theology professors from the school of the Sadducees — those who teach that there is no resurrection — came to question Jesus.28They said, "Wise Doctor, Moses instructed us that if a man dies without having children, then his brother is to marry the widow and have children for him.29Well, a man who had six brothers married a woman but died without having any children.30One brother married her,31then another, and eventually all seven married her, but none had children with her before they all died.32Eventually, the woman herself died.33Can you tell us: In the resurrection, when the dead awaken to life, whose wife will she be since she was married to all seven?"34Jesus answered, "Your entire question is flawed. You think that, because people marry here on this earth, it will be that way in heaven.35But those who partake of the Remedy and are restored to unity with God, and who arise in the resurrection from the dead, will neither marry nor be given in marriage.36They can no longer die, and will be in a unity of love, like the angels. They are the children of the immortal God, since they have arisen from the dead.37But even Moses at the burning bush showed that the dead arise, for he called the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'38He is not the God of the dead — those who no longer exist — but of the living, because all still exist and thus all are alive to God."39Some of the lawyers were moved and said, "Well said, bravo Doctor!"40And no one else dared to question him.41Then Jesus asked them, "How is it that it is taught that the Messiah is the Son of David?42David himself in the Psalms says: 'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit on my right hand43until I place your enemies under your feet.'44"So think about it: If David calls the Messiah 'Lord,' how can he be nothing more than his son born of natural descent?"45While all the people were listening intently, Jesus told his interns:46"Be wary of those who teach a legal theology. Having rejected the Remedy that renews the heart, they rely on external trappings and rituals. They like to go around in clerical garb, to be greeted in stores, have reserved seating in churches, and sit at the head table at banquets.47But they exploit the weak and powerless, and turn prayer into a ritual or show. Such people, having never been cured, will suffer most severely."