[:en]The Parable of the Tenant:
The religious leaders refused to accept Jesus’ authority, so Jesus told this parable that spoke against them:
Landowner – God; Vineyard – Kingdom of God; Tenants – Religious leaders; Servants – God’s prophets; Son – Jesus Christ.
The landowner planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmer tenants and went away. At harvest time, he sent his servants 3 times to collect his share. The tenants beat them and drove them away. Finally, the owner sent his only beloved son, but then tenants saw the heir coming, so they killed him. Then Jesus said: “The owner of the vineyard will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. God will vindicate His son who is the “stone” and those who oppose him will meet destruction” (vs. 16-17)
God will take the vineyard from those who are not worthy and give it to the new believers who will be accountable to produce fruit of the Kingdom of God.
Paying Taxes to Caesar:
The teachers of the law and the chief priest asked Jesus a trick question to accuse him: “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar?” (v. 22) Jesus answered: Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (vs. 24-25)
The Resurrection and Marriage:
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. So they asked a question concerning marriage after resurrection. But Jesus replied: “Those who are considered worthy of taking part in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die, for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection” (v. 34-36)
Jesus cautioned his disciples to beware of the teachers of the law: (vs. 46-47)
- They like to walk around in flowing robes
- They love to be greeted in the market places
- They want to have the most important seats in the synagogues and the place of honor at banquets
- They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.
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