1Und es geschah: Eines Tages lehrte er im Tempel das Volk und verkündete das Evangelium, da kamen die Hohepriester und die Schriftgelehrten mit den Ältesten hinzu (Mt 21,23; Mk 11,27)2und fragten ihn: Sag uns: In welcher Vollmacht tust du das? Wer hat dir diese Vollmacht gegeben?3Er antwortete ihnen: Auch ich will euch eine Frage stellen. Sagt mir:4Stammte die Taufe des Johannes vom Himmel oder von den Menschen?5Da überlegten sie und sagten zueinander: Wenn wir antworten: Vom Himmel!, so wird er sagen: Warum habt ihr ihm dann nicht geglaubt?6Wenn wir aber antworten: Von den Menschen!, dann wird das ganze Volk uns steinigen; denn sie sind überzeugt, dass Johannes ein Prophet ist. (Lk 1,76)7Darum antworteten sie: Wir wissen nicht, woher. (Lk 22,68)8Jesus erwiderte ihnen: Dann sage auch ich euch nicht, in welcher Vollmacht ich das tue.
Das Gleichnis von den Winzern
9Er erzählte dem Volk dieses Gleichnis: Ein Mann legte einen Weinberg an, verpachtete ihn an Winzer und reiste für längere Zeit in ein anderes Land. (Jes 5,1; Mt 21,33; Mk 12,1)10Als nun die Zeit dafür gekommen war, schickte er einen Knecht zu den Winzern, damit sie ihm seinen Anteil an der Frucht des Weinbergs geben sollten. Die Winzer aber prügelten ihn und jagten ihn mit leeren Händen fort.11Darauf schickte er einen anderen Knecht; auch ihn prügelten und entehrten sie und jagten ihn mit leeren Händen fort.12Er schickte noch einen dritten Knecht; aber auch ihn schlugen sie blutig und warfen ihn hinaus.13Da sagte der Herr des Weinbergs: Was soll ich tun? Ich will meinen geliebten Sohn schicken. Vielleicht werden sie vor ihm Achtung haben. (Lk 3,22)14Als die Winzer den Sohn sahen, überlegten sie und sagten zueinander: Das ist der Erbe; wir wollen ihn umbringen, damit das Erbe uns gehört.15Und sie warfen ihn aus dem Weinberg hinaus und brachten ihn um. Was wird nun der Herr des Weinbergs mit ihnen tun?16Er wird kommen und diese Winzer vernichten und den Weinberg anderen geben. Als sie das hörten, sagten sie: Das darf nicht geschehen!17Da sah Jesus sie an und sagte: Was bedeutet dieses Schriftwort:
Der Stein, den die Bauleute verworfen haben, / er ist zum Eckstein geworden? (Ps 118,22)18Jeder, der auf diesen Stein fällt, wird zerschellen; auf wen der Stein aber fällt, den wird er zermalmen.19Die Schriftgelehrten und die Hohepriester hätten gern noch in derselben Stunde Hand an ihn gelegt; aber sie fürchteten das Volk. Denn sie hatten gemerkt, dass er sie mit diesem Gleichnis meinte. (Lk 19,47; Lk 22,2)
Die Frage nach der kaiserlichen Steuer
20Daher lauerten sie ihm auf und schickten Spitzel, die so tun sollten, als wären sie selbst gerecht, um ihn bei einer Äußerung zu ertappen. Denn sie wollten ihn der Gerichtsbarkeit des Statthalters übergeben. (Mt 22,15; Mk 12,13; Lk 11,54)21Und sie fragten ihn: Meister, wir wissen, dass du aufrichtig redest und lehrst und nicht auf die Person siehst, sondern wahrhaftig den Weg Gottes lehrst.22Ist es uns erlaubt, dem Kaiser Steuer zu zahlen, oder nicht?23Er aber durchschaute ihre Hinterlist und sagte zu ihnen:24Zeigt mir einen Denar! Wessen Bild und Aufschrift sind darauf? Sie antworteten: Die des Kaisers.[1]25Da sagte er zu ihnen: Dann gebt dem Kaiser, was dem Kaiser gehört, und Gott, was Gott gehört!26So gelang es ihnen nicht, ihn bei einer Äußerung vor dem Volk zu ertappen. Sie waren über seine Antwort verwundert und schwiegen.
Die Frage nach der Auferstehung der Toten
27Von den Sadduzäern, die bestreiten, dass es eine Auferstehung gibt, kamen einige zu Jesus und fragten ihn: (Mt 22,23; Mk 12,18; Apg 23,8)28Meister, Mose hat uns vorgeschrieben: Wenn ein Mann, der einen Bruder hat, stirbt und eine Frau hinterlässt, ohne Kinder zu haben, dann soll sein Bruder die Frau nehmen und seinem Bruder Nachkommen verschaffen. (1Mo 38,8; 5Mo 25,5)29Nun lebten einmal sieben Brüder. Der erste nahm sich eine Frau, starb aber kinderlos.30Da nahm sie der zweite,31danach der dritte und ebenso die anderen bis zum siebten; sie alle hinterließen keine Kinder, als sie starben.32Schließlich starb auch die Frau.33Wessen Frau wird sie nun bei der Auferstehung sein? Alle sieben haben sie doch zur Frau gehabt.34Da sagte Jesus zu ihnen: Die Kinder dieser Welt heiraten und lassen sich heiraten.35Die aber, die gewürdigt werden, an jener Welt und an der Auferstehung von den Toten teilzuhaben, heiraten nicht, noch lassen sie sich heiraten.36Denn sie können auch nicht mehr sterben, weil sie den Engeln gleich und als Kinder der Auferstehung zu Kindern Gottes geworden sind.37Dass aber die Toten auferstehen, hat schon Mose in der Geschichte vom Dornbusch angedeutet, in der er den Herrn den Gott Abrahams, den Gott Isaaks und den Gott Jakobs nennt. (2Mo 3,6)38Er ist doch kein Gott von Toten, sondern von Lebenden; denn für ihn leben sie alle.39Da sagten einige Schriftgelehrte: Meister, du hast gut geantwortet. (Mk 12,32)40Und man wagte nicht mehr, ihn etwas zu fragen. (Mt 22,46; Mk 12,34)
Die Frage nach dem Davidssohn
41Da fragte er sie: Wie kann man behaupten, der Christus sei der Sohn Davids? (Mt 22,41; Mk 12,35)42Denn David selbst sagt im Buch der Psalmen: Der Herr sprach zu meinem Herrn: Setze dich mir zur Rechten, (Ps 110,1)43bis ich dir deine Feinde als Schemel unter die Füße lege!44David nennt ihn also Herr. Wie kann er dann sein Sohn sein?
Warnung vor den Schriftgelehrten
45Jesus sagte vor dem ganzen Volk zu seinen Jüngern: (Mt 23,1; Mk 12,37)46Hütet euch vor den Schriftgelehrten! Sie gehen gern in langen Gewändern umher und lieben es, wenn man sie auf den Marktplätzen grüßt und wenn sie die Ehrensitze in den Synagogen und die Ehrenplätze bei den Festmählern einnehmen. (Lk 11,43; Lk 14,7)47Sie fressen die Häuser der Witwen auf und verrichten in ihrer Scheinheiligkeit lange Gebete. Umso härter wird das Urteil sein, das sie erwartet.
1One day, as Jesus[1] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up (Mt 21,23; Mk 11,27; Lk 19,47; Apg 4,1; Apg 6,12)2and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” (2Mo 2,14; Joh 1,25; Apg 4,7)3He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,4was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” (Lk 15,18; Lk 15,21; Joh 3,27)5And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ (Mt 21,32; Lk 7,30)6But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” (Mt 11,9; Joh 5,35)7So they answered that they did not know where it came from.8And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
9And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. (Ps 80,8; Hl 8,11; Jes 5,1; Mt 21,28; Mt 21,33; Mt 25,14; Mk 12,1; Mk 13,34)10When the time came, he sent a servant[2] to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. (2Chr 24,19; 2Chr 36,15; Neh 9,26; Jer 37,15; Jer 38,6; Mt 5,12; Mt 22,6; Mt 23,34; Mt 23,37; Lk 20,9; Apg 7,52; 2Kor 11,24; 1Thess 2,15; Hebr 11,36)11And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. (Mt 22,4; Lk 20,10; Apg 5,41)12And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. (Lk 20,10)13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ (Mt 3,17)14But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ (1Kön 21,19; Joh 1,11; Röm 8,17; Hebr 1,2)15And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? (Hebr 13,12)16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” (Mt 8,11; Mt 21,43; Mt 24,50; Mt 25,19; Lk 19,27; Apg 13,46; Apg 18,6; Apg 28,28)17But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?[3] (Ps 118,22; Mk 10,21; Apg 4,11; 1Petr 2,7)18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Jes 8,14; Dan 2,34; Dan 2,44; Röm 9,32; 1Petr 2,8)
Paying Taxes to Caesar
19The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. (Lk 19,47)20So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. (1Kön 14,6; Mt 22,15; Mt 27,2; Mt 27,11; Mt 28,14; Mk 3,2; Mk 12,13; Lk 11,54; Lk 14,1; Lk 20,26; Apg 23,24)21So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality,[4] but truly teach the way of God. (Apg 10,34; Apg 13,10; Apg 18,25)22Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” (Mt 17,25; Lk 2,1; Lk 3,1)23But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, (1Kor 3,19; 2Kor 4,2; 2Kor 11,3; 2Kor 12,16; Eph 4,14)24“Show me a denarius.[5] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” (Mt 18,28)25He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Röm 13,7)26And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent. (Lk 20,20)
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
27There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, (Mt 3,7; Mt 16,1; Mt 22,34; Apg 4,1; Apg 4,2; Apg 5,17; Apg 23,6; Apg 23,8)28and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[6] must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. (5Mo 25,5)29Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children.30And the second31and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.32Afterward the woman also died.33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”34And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, (Mt 24,38; Lk 10,6; Lk 16,8; Lk 17,27; Lk 20,35)35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, (Mt 22,8; Mk 10,30; Lk 18,30; Lk 20,34; Apg 5,41; 2Thess 1,5; 2Thess 1,11)36for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons[7] of the resurrection. (1Mo 1,26; Ps 82,6; Lk 10,6; Röm 8,19; Röm 8,23; 1Kor 15,52; 1Kor 15,54; Hebr 2,7; Hebr 2,9; Offb 21,4)37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. (2Mo 3,1; 2Mo 3,6; 2Mo 3,15; Lk 20,28; Apg 7,32)38Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Röm 6,11; Röm 14,7; 2Kor 5,15; Gal 2,19; 1Thess 5,10; Hebr 9,14; 1Petr 4,2)39Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” (Mt 22,34; Mk 12,28)40For they no longer dared to ask him any question. (Mt 22,46; Mk 12,34)
Whose Son Is the Christ?
41But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? (Mt 1,1; Mt 1,17; Mt 22,41; Mk 12,35)42For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, (Ps 110,1; Apg 2,34; 1Kor 15,25; Hebr 1,13; Hebr 10,13)43until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ (Apg 7,49)44David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?” (Röm 1,3)
Beware of the Scribes
45And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, (Mt 23,1; Mt 23,5; Mk 12,38; Lk 11,43)46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, (Lk 14,7)47who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Mt 6,5; Mt 6,7; Lk 11,39; Lk 16,14)
1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.2‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’3He replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me:4John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or of human origin?’5They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?”6But if we say, “Of human origin,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’7So they answered, ‘We don’t know where it was from.’8Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
The parable of the tenants
9He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.13‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.”14‘But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. “This is the heir,” they said. “Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.”15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?16He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’ When the people heard this, they said, ‘God forbid!’17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘ “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”? (Ps 118,22)18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying taxes to Caesar
20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.21So the spies questioned him: ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’23He saw through their duplicity and said to them,24‘Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.25He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The resurrection and marriage
27Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.28‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.30The second31and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.32Finally, the woman died too.33Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’34Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.35But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,36and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.37But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. (2Mo 3,6)38He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.’39Some of the teachers of the law responded, ‘Well said, teacher!’40And no-one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose son is the Messiah?
41Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?42David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘ “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand43until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ” (Ps 110,1)44David calls him “Lord.” How then can he be his son?’
Warning against the teachers of the law
45While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,46‘Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets.47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’
1One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard. He was announcing the good news to them. The chief priests and the teachers of the law came up to him. The elders came with them.2‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they all said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’3Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me,4was John’s baptism from heaven? Or did it come from people?’5They talked to one another about it. They said, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will ask, “Why didn’t you believe him?”6But if we say, “From people”, all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet.’7So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know where John’s baptism came from.’8Jesus said, ‘Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things either.’
The story of the tenants
9Jesus went on to tell the people a story. ‘A man planted a vineyard,’ he said. ‘He rented it out to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.10At harvest time he sent a slave to the tenants. They were supposed to give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the slave. Then they sent him away with nothing.11So the man sent another slave. They beat that one and treated him badly. They also sent him away with nothing.12The man sent a third slave. The tenants wounded him and threw him out.13‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What should I do? I have a son, and I love him. I will send him. Maybe they will respect him.”14‘But when the tenants saw the son, they talked the matter over. “This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday,” they said. “Let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.”15So they threw him out of the vineyard. And they killed him. ‘What will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants?16He will come and kill them. He will give the vineyard to others.’ When the people heard this, they said, ‘We hope this never happens!’17Jesus looked right at them and said, ‘Here is something I want you to explain the meaning of. It is written, ‘ “The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all.” (Ps 118,22)18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on.’19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest Jesus at once. They knew he had told that story against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar?
20The religious leaders sent spies to keep a close watch on Jesus. The spies pretended to be sincere. They hoped they could trap Jesus with something he would say. Then they could hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.21So the spies questioned Jesus. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘we know that you speak and teach what is right. We know you don’t favour one person over another. You teach the way of God truthfully.22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’23Jesus saw they were trying to trick him. So he said to them,24‘Show me a silver coin. Whose picture and words are on it?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.25He said to them, ‘Then give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.’26They were not able to trap him with what he had said there in front of all the people. Amazed by his answer, they became silent.
Marriage when the dead rise
27The Sadducees do not believe that people rise from the dead. Some of them came to Jesus with a question.28‘Teacher’, they said, ‘Moses wrote for us about a man’s brother who dies. Suppose the brother leaves a wife but has no children. Then the man must marry the widow. He must provide children to carry on his dead brother’s name.29There were seven brothers. The first one married a woman. He died without leaving any children.30The second one married her.31And then the third one married her. One after another, the seven brothers married her. They all died. None left any children.32Finally, the woman died too.33Now then, when the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven brothers were married to her.’34Jesus replied, ‘People in this world get married. And their parents give them to be married.35But it will not be like that when the dead rise. Those who are considered worthy to take part in the world to come won’t get married. And their parents won’t give them to be married.36They can’t die anymore. They are like the angels. They are God’s children. They will be given a new form of life when the dead rise.37Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush. Even Moses showed that the dead rise. The Lord said to him, “I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.” (2Mo 3,6)38He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living. In his eyes, everyone is alive.’39Some of the teachers of the law replied, ‘You have spoken well, teacher!’40And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose son is the Messiah?
41Jesus said to them, ‘Why do people say that the Messiah is the son of David?42David himself says in the Book of Psalms, ‘ “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand43until I put your enemies under your control.’ ” (Ps 110,1)44David calls him “Lord”. So how can he be David’s son?’
Warning against the teachers of the law
45All the people were listening. Jesus said to his disciples,46‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in long robes. They love to be greeted with respect in the market. They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues. They also love to have the places of honour at banquets.47They take over the houses of widows. They say long prayers to show off. God will punish these men very much.’