Religious Leaders Question Christ’s Authority

Matt. 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33

20 Now ait happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, bby what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”

3 But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: 4 The cbaptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why 1then did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, dfor they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Parable of the Vineyard Owner

Matt. 21:33–44; Mark 12:1–11

9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: e“A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to 2vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 Now at 3vintage-time he fsent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ 14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the gheir. Come, hlet us kill him, that the inheritance may be iours.’ 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard and jkilled him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to kothers.”

And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!”

17 Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

l‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone’?

18 Whoever falls on that stone will be mbroken; but non whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Herodians Question Tribute Money

Matt. 21:45, 46; 22:15–22; Mark 12:12–17

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they 4feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

20 oSo they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

21 Then they asked Him, saying, p“Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 5“Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”

25 And He said to them, q“Render 6therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

Sadducees Question Resurrection

Matt. 22:23–32; Mark 12:18–27

27 rThen some of the Sadducees, swho deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 7took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven 8also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are tcounted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for uthey are equal to the angels and are sons of God, vbeing sons of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord w‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for xall live to Him.”

Christ Questions the Scribes

Matt. 22:41–23:14; Mark 12:35–40

39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.

41 And He said to them, y“How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

z‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; ahow is He then his Son?”

45 bThen, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, 46 c“Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, dlove greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 47 ewho devour widows’ houses, and for a fpretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Christ Teaches on the Widow’s Mites

Mark 12:41–44

21 And He looked up aand saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain bpoor widow putting in two cmites. 1 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you dthat this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings 2for God, but she out of her poverty put in eall the livelihood that she had.”

The Disciples’ Two Questions

Matt. 24:1–3; Mark 13:1–4

5 fThen, as some spoke of the temple, how it was 3adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which gnot one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.”

7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

Signs of Christ’s Coming

Matt. 24:4–13; Mark 13:5–13

8 And He said: h“Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ 4Therefore do not 5go after them. 9 But when you hear of iwars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

10 jThen He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great kearthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 lBut before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and mprisons. nYou will be brought before kings and rulers ofor My name’s sake. 13 But pit will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. 14 qTherefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will 6answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom rwhich all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or 7resist. 16 sYou will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put tsome of you to death. 17 And uyou will be hated by all for My name’s sake. 18 vBut not a hair of your head shall be lost. 19 By your patience possess your souls.

Destruction of Jerusalem

Matt. 24:15–21; Mark 13:14–19

20 w“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that xall things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 yBut woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles zuntil the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Second Coming

Matt. 24:29–31; Mark 13:24–27

25 a“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, bfor the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man ccoming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because dyour redemption draws near.”

Parable of the Fig Tree

Matt. 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31

29 eThen He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 fHeaven and earth will pass away, but My gwords will by no means pass away.

Warning to Watch for His Coming

Matt. 24:36–44; Mark 13:32–37

34 “But htake heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with 8carousing, drunkenness, and icares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For jit will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 kWatch therefore, and lpray always that you may 9be counted mworthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and nto stand before the Son of Man.”

37 oAnd in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but pat night He went out and stayed on the mountain