Healing of a Man on the Sabbath

14 One Sabbath, (A)when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were (B)watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to (C)the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, (D)“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, (E)“Which of you, having a son[a] or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (F)And they could not reply to these things.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed (G)how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, (H)so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For (I)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Parable of the Great Banquet

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give (J)a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b] or your relatives or rich neighbors, (K)lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, (L)invite (M)the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid (N)at (O)the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, (P)“Blessed is everyone who will (Q)eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, (R)“A man once (S)gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he (T)sent his servant[c] to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, (U)‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in (V)the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you,[d] (W)none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

The Cost of Discipleship

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 (X)“If anyone comes to me and (Y)does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, (Z)yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 (AA)Whoever does not (AB)bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not (AC)first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not (AD)sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 (AE)So therefore, any one of you who (AF)does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Salt Without Taste Is Worthless

34 (AG)“Salt is good, (AH)but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. (AI)He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now (AJ)the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes (AK)grumbled, saying, (AL)“This man receives sinners and (AM)eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: (AN)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, (AO)if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine (AP)in the open country, and (AQ)go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, (AR)he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for (AS)I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who (AT)repents than over ninety-nine (AU)righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[e] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before (AV)the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me (AW)the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided (AX)his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in (AY)reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[f] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he (AZ)was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But (BA)when he (BB)came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, (BC)I have sinned against (BD)heaven and before you. 19 (BE)I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and (BF)ran and (BG)embraced him and (BH)kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. (BI)I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[g] 22 But the father said to his servants,[h] ‘Bring quickly (BJ)the best robe, and put it on him, and put (BK)a ring on his hand, and (BL)shoes on his feet. 23 And bring (BM)the fattened calf and kill it, and (BN)let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son (BO)was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might (BP)celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, (BQ)who has devoured (BR)your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, (BS)you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting (BT)to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother (BU)was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager

16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had (BV)a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your (BW)management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[i] of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[j] of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his (BX)shrewdness. For (BY)the sons of this world[k] are (BZ)more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than (CA)the sons of light. And I tell you, (CB)make friends for yourselves by means of (CC)unrighteous wealth,[l] so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 (CD)“One who is (CE)faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in (CF)that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 (CG)No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

The Law and the Kingdom of God

14 (CH)The Pharisees, who were (CI)lovers of money, heard all these things, and they (CJ)ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who (CK)justify yourselves before men, but (CL)God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men (CM)is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 (CN)“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then (CO)the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and (CP)everyone forces his way into it.[m] 17 But (CQ)it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Divorce and Remarriage

18 (CR)“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in (CS)purple and fine linen and (CT)who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate (CU)was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with (CV)what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by (CW)the angels (CX)to Abraham's side.[n] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in (CY)Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and (CZ)saw Abraham far off and Lazarus (DA)at his side. 24 And he called out, (DB)‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and (DC)cool my tongue, for (DD)I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that (DE)you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have (DF)Moses and the Prophets; (DG)let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, (DH)father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear (DI)Moses and the Prophets, (DJ)neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Temptations to Sin

17 And he said to his disciples, (DK)“Temptations to sin[o] are (DL)sure to come, but (DM)woe to the one through whom they come! (DN)It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.[p] Pay attention to yourselves! (DO)If your brother sins, (DP)rebuke him, and if he repents, (DQ)forgive him, and if he sins against you (DR)seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Increase Our Faith

(DS)The apostles said to the Lord, (DT)“Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, (DU)“If you had faith like (DV)a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this (DW)mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Unworthy Servants

“Will any one of you who has a servant[q] plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and (DX)dress properly,[r] and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are (DY)unworthy servants;[s] we have only done what was our duty.’”

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

11 (DZ)On the way to Jerusalem (EA)he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[t] (EB)who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and (EC)show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, (ED)praising God with a loud voice; 16 and (EE)he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was (EF)a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not (EG)ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and (EH)give praise to God except this (EI)foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; (EJ)your faith has (EK)made you well.”[u]

The Coming of the Kingdom

20 Being asked by the Pharisees (EL)when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God (EM)is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor (EN)will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”[v]

22 And he said to the disciples, (EO)“The days are coming when you will desire (EP)to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 (EQ)And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 (ER)For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (ES)in his day.[w] 25 But first (ET)he must suffer many things and (EU)be rejected by this generation. 26 (EV)Just as it was in the days of (EW)Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 (EX)They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of (EY)Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 (EZ)but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be (FA)on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, (FB)let the one who is on (FC)the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 (FD)Remember Lot's wife. 33 (FE)Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will (FF)keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 (FG)There will be two women (FH)grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”[x] 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, (FI)“Where the corpse[y] is, there the vultures[z] will gather.”

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought (FJ)always to pray and not (FK)lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who (FL)neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, (FM)‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And (FN)will not God give justice to (FO)his elect, (FP)who cry to him day and night? (FQ)(FR)Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them (FS)speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, (FT)will he find faith on earth?”

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

He also told this parable to some (FU)who trusted (FV)in themselves that they were righteous, (FW)and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men (FX)went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, (FY)standing by himself, prayed[aa] (FZ)thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 (GA)I fast twice a week; (GB)I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, (GC)standing far off, (GD)would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but (GE)beat his breast, saying, ‘God, (GF)be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For (GG)everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Let the Children Come to Me

15 (GH)Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they (GI)rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, (GJ)“Let the children come to me, and (GK)do not hinder them, (GL)for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 (GM)Truly, I say to you, whoever does not (GN)receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

The Rich Ruler

18 (GO)And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to (GP)inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: (GQ)‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, (GR)“All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. (GS)Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have (GT)treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 (GU)But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, (GV)“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter (GW)the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter (GX)the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, (GY)“What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, (GZ)we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (HA)there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers[ab] or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive (HB)many times more (HC)in this time, and in (HD)the age to come eternal life.”

Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time

31 (HE)And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, (HF)we are going up to Jerusalem, and (HG)everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. 32 For he will be (HH)delivered over to the Gentiles and will be (HI)mocked and shamefully treated and (HJ)spit upon. 33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on (HK)the third day he will rise.” 34 (HL)But they understood none of these things. (HM)This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

35 (HN)As he drew near to Jericho, (HO)a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, (HP)“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, (HQ)Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front (HR)rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 41 (HS)“What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; (HT)your faith has (HU)made you well.” 43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, (HV)glorifying God. And (HW)all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

19 (HX)He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And (HY)he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into (HZ)a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for (IA)I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and (IB)received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all (IC)grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods (ID)I give to the poor. And if I have (IE)defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it (IF)fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since (IG)he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For (IH)the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The Parable of the Ten Minas

11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because (II)they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, (IJ)“A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling (IK)ten of his servants,[ac] he gave them ten minas,[ad] and said to them, ‘Engage in business (IL)until I come.’ 14 But (IM)his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. 16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant![ae] Because you have been (IN)faithful in a very little, (IO)you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ 20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in (IP)a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are (IQ)a severe man. You take (IR)what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, (IS)‘I will condemn you with your own words, (IT)you wicked servant! You knew that I was (IU)a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that (IV)to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But (IW)as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and (IX)slaughter them before me.’”

The Triumphal Entry

28 And when he had said these things, (IY)he went on ahead, (IZ)going up to Jerusalem. 29 (JA)When he drew near to Bethphage and (JB)Bethany, at (JC)the mount that is called Olivet, he sent (JD)two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, (JE)on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it (JF)just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they (JG)spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—(JH)the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice (JI)for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, (JJ)“Blessed is (JK)the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and (JL)glory in the highest!” 39 (JM)And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, (JN)the very stones would cry out.”

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 (JO)And when he drew near and saw the city, (JP)he wept over it, 42 saying, (JQ)“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now (JR)they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For (JS)the days will come upon you, when your enemies (JT)will set up a barricade around you and (JU)surround you and hem you in on every side 44 (JV)and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And (JW)they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know (JX)the time of your (JY)visitation.”

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

45 (JZ)And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, (KA)‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but (KB)you have made it a den of robbers.”

47 (KC)And he was teaching daily in the temple. (KD)The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

20 (KE)One day, (KF)as Jesus[af] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, (KG)the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us (KH)by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John (KI)from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, (KJ)‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was (KK)a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(KL)And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted (KM)a vineyard and (KN)let it out to tenants and (KO)went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant[ag] to the tenants, so that (KP)they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. (KQ)But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 (KR)And (KS)he sent another servant. But they also beat and (KT)treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 (KU)And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my (KV)beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, (KW)‘This is the heir. (KX)Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they (KY)threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 (KZ)He will (LA)come and destroy those tenants and (LB)give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he (LC)looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

(LD)“‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone’?[ah]

18 (LE)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls (LF)on anyone, it will crush him.”

Paying Taxes to Caesar

19 (LG)The 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. 20 (LH)So they (LI)watched him and sent spies, who (LJ)pretended to be sincere, that they might (LK)catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of (LL)the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and (LM)show no partiality,[ai] but truly teach (LN)the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give (LO)tribute to (LP)Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their (LQ)craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me (LR)a denarius.[aj] Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar's.” 25 He said to them, “Then (LS)render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:5 Some manuscripts a donkey
  2. Luke 14:12 Or your brothers and sisters
  3. Luke 14:17 Or bondservant; also verses 21 (twice), 22, 23
  4. Luke 14:24 The Greek word for you here is plural
  5. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas; a drachma was a Greek coin approximately equal in value to a Roman denarius, worth about a day's wage for a laborer
  6. Luke 15:15 Greek joined himself to
  7. Luke 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants
  8. Luke 15:22 Or bondservants
  9. Luke 16:6 About 875 gallons or 3,200 liters
  10. Luke 16:7 Between 1,000 and 1,200 bushels or 37,000 to 45,000 liters
  11. Luke 16:8 Greek age
  12. Luke 16:9 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions; also verse 11; rendered money in verse 13
  13. Luke 16:16 Or everyone is forcefully urged into it
  14. Luke 16:22 Greek bosom; also verse 23
  15. Luke 17:1 Greek Stumbling blocks
  16. Luke 17:2 Greek stumble
  17. Luke 17:7 Or bondservant; also verse 9
  18. Luke 17:8 Greek gird yourself
  19. Luke 17:10 Or bondservants
  20. Luke 17:12 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
  21. Luke 17:19 Or has saved you
  22. Luke 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp
  23. Luke 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day
  24. Luke 17:35 Some manuscripts add verse 36: Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left
  25. Luke 17:37 Greek body
  26. Luke 17:37 Or eagles
  27. Luke 18:11 Or standing, prayed to himself
  28. Luke 18:29 Or wife or brothers and sisters
  29. Luke 19:13 Or bondservants; also verse 15
  30. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months' wages for a laborer
  31. Luke 19:17 Or bondservant; also verse 22
  32. Luke 20:1 Greek he
  33. Luke 20:10 Or bondservant; also verse 11
  34. Luke 20:17 Greek the head of the corner
  35. Luke 20:21 Greek and do not receive a face
  36. Luke 20:24 A denarius was a day's wage for a laborer

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House(A)

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee,(B) he was being carefully watched.(C) There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law,(D) “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”(E) But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child[a] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?”(F) And they had nothing to say.

When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table,(G) he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(H)

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,(I) 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”(J)

The Parable of the Great Banquet(K)

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast(L) in the kingdom of God.”(M)

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’(N)

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”(O)

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.(P) 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.(Q)

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.(R)

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?(S) 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.(T)

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(U)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(V)

15 Now the tax collectors(W) and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”(X)

Then Jesus told them this parable:(Y) “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?(Z) And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’(AA) I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.(AB)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[b] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’(AC) 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(AD)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.(AE) 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’(AF) So he divided his property(AG) between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth(AH) in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.(AI) 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned(AJ) against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.(AK)

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.(AL) I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe(AM) and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger(AN) and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;(AO) he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.(AP)

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry(AQ) and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property(AR) with prostitutes(AS) comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”(AT)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.(AU) So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“‘Nine hundred gallons[c] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[d] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world(AV) are more shrewd(AW) in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.(AX) I tell you, use worldly wealth(AY) to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.(AZ)

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much,(BA) and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,(BB) who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”(BC)

14 The Pharisees, who loved money,(BD) heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.(BE) 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves(BF) in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts.(BG) What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Additional Teachings

16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John.(BH) Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached,(BI) and everyone is forcing their way into it. 17 It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.(BJ)

18 “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(BK)

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.(BL) 20 At his gate was laid a beggar(BM) named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.(BN) Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham,(BO) have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’(BP)

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things,(BQ) but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.(BR) 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them,(BS) so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses(BT) and the Prophets;(BU) let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’(BV) he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Sin, Faith, Duty

17 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble(BW) are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.(BX) It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones(BY) to stumble.(BZ) So watch yourselves.

“If your brother or sister[e] sins against you, rebuke them;(CA) and if they repent, forgive them.(CB) Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”(CC)

The apostles(CD) said to the Lord,(CE) “Increase our faith!”

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed,(CF) you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.(CG)

“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me(CH) while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”(CI)

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem,(CJ) Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.(CK) 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[f](CL) met him. They stood at a distance(CM) 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master,(CN) have pity on us!”

14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”(CO) And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God(CP) in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.(CQ)

17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”(CR)

The Coming of the Kingdom of God(CS)

20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,(CT) Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’(CU) because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[g]

22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man,(CV) but you will not see it.(CW) 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.(CX) 24 For the Son of Man in his day[h] will be like the lightning,(CY) which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things(CZ) and be rejected(DA) by this generation.(DB)

26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah,(DC) so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 “It was the same in the days of Lot.(DD) People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.(DE) 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.(DF) 32 Remember Lot’s wife!(DG) 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.(DH) 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”(DI) [36] [i]

37 “Where, Lord?” they asked.

He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”(DJ)

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.(DK) He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice(DL) against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”(DM)

And the Lord(DN) said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out(DO) to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man(DP) comes,(DQ) will he find faith on the earth?”

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

To some who were confident of their own righteousness(DR) and looked down on everyone else,(DS) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray,(DT) one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself(DU) and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast(DV) twice a week and give a tenth(DW) of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast(DX) and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’(DY)

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”(DZ)

The Little Children and Jesus(EA)

15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child(EB) will never enter it.”

The Rich and the Kingdom of God(EC)

18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”(ED)

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’[j](EE)

21 “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor,(EF) and you will have treasure in heaven.(EG) Then come, follow me.”

23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!(EH) 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”(EI)

28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”(EJ)

29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come(EK) eternal life.”(EL)

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time(EM)

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem,(EN) and everything that is written by the prophets(EO) about the Son of Man(EP) will be fulfilled. 32 He will be delivered over to the Gentiles.(EQ) They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33 they will flog him(ER) and kill him.(ES) On the third day(ET) he will rise again.”(EU)

34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.(EV)

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight(EW)

35 As Jesus approached Jericho,(EX) a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”(EY)

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David,(EZ) have mercy(FA) on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”(FB)

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”(FC) 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.(FD)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

19 Jesus entered Jericho(FE) and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig(FF) tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.(FG)

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”(FH)

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,(FI) “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,(FJ) I will pay back four times the amount.”(FK)

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.(FL) 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”(FM)

The Parable of the Ten Minas(FN)

11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God(FO) was going to appear at once.(FP) 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants(FQ) and gave them ten minas.[k] ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17 “‘Well done, my good servant!’(FR) his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’(FS)

18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’(FT)

22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words,(FU) you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?(FV) 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25 “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.(FW) 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(FX)(FY)

28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.(FZ) 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany(GA) at the hill called the Mount of Olives,(GB) he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.(GC) 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks(GD) on the road.

37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives,(GE) the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[l](GF)

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”(GG)

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”(GH)

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”(GI)

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it(GJ) 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.(GK) 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.(GL) They will not leave one stone on another,(GM) because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming(GN) to you.”

Jesus at the Temple(GO)

45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’[m];(GP) but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[n](GQ)

47 Every day he was teaching at the temple.(GR) But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.(GS) 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(GT)

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts(GU) and proclaiming the good news,(GV) the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”(GW)

He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism(GX)—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people(GY) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”(GZ)

So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Parable of the Tenants(HA)

He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(HB) rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.(HC) 10 At 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. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He 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;(HD) 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.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants(HE) and give the vineyard to others.”

When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

17 Jesus 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’[o]?(HF)

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”(HG)

19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him(HH) immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.(HI)

Paying Taxes to Caesar(HJ)

20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said,(HK) so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.(HL) 21 So 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.(HM) 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 14:5 Some manuscripts donkey
  2. Luke 15:8 Greek ten drachmas, each worth about a day’s wages
  3. Luke 16:6 Or about 3,000 liters
  4. Luke 16:7 Or about 30 tons
  5. Luke 17:3 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman.
  6. Luke 17:12 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  7. Luke 17:21 Or is within you
  8. Luke 17:24 Some manuscripts do not have in his day.
  9. Luke 17:36 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Matt. 24:40.
  10. Luke 18:20 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20
  11. Luke 19:13 A mina was about three months’ wages.
  12. Luke 19:38 Psalm 118:26
  13. Luke 19:46 Isaiah 56:7
  14. Luke 19:46 Jer. 7:11
  15. Luke 20:17 Psalm 118:22