The Story of the Renters
1Jesus began to speak to the people using stories. He said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went to another place. 2At harvest time he sent a servant to the renters. He told the servant to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3But they grabbed the servant and beat him up. Then they sent him away with nothing. 4So the man sent another servant to the renters. They hit this one on the head and treated him badly. 5The man sent still another servant. The renters killed him. The man sent many others. The renters beat up some of them. They killed the others.
6“The man had one person left to send. It was his son, and he loved him. He sent him last of all. He said, ‘They will respect my son.’
7“But the renters said to each other, ‘This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday. Come, let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’ 8So they took him and killed him. They threw him out of the vineyard.
9“What will the owner of the vineyard do then? He will come and kill those renters. He will give the vineyard to others. 10Haven’t you read what this part of Scripture says,
“ ‘The stone the builders didn’t accept
has become the most important stone of all.
11The Lord has done it.
It is wonderful in our eyes’?” (Psalm 118:22,23)
12Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew he had told the story against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.
Is It Right to Pay the Royal Tax to Caesar?
13Later the religious leaders sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to trap him with his own words. 14They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of honor. You don’t let other people tell you what to do or say. You don’t care how important they are. But you teach the way of God truthfully. Is it right to pay the royal tax to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew what they were trying to do. So he asked, “Why are you trying to trap me? Bring me a silver coin. Let me look at it.” 16They brought the coin. He asked them, “Whose picture is this? And whose words?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. And give back to God what belongs to God.”
They were amazed at him.
Marriage When the Dead Rise
18The Sadducees came to Jesus with a question. They do not believe that people rise from the dead. 19“Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us about a man who died and didn’t have any children. But he did leave a wife behind. That man’s brother must get married to the widow. He must provide children to carry on his dead brother’s name. 20There were seven brothers. The first one got married. He died without leaving any children. 21The second one got married to the widow. He also died and left no child. It was the same with the third one. 22In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23When the dead rise, whose wife will she be? All seven of them were married to her.”
24Jesus replied, “You are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures. And you do not know the power of God. 25When the dead rise, they won’t get married. And their parents won’t give them to be married. They will be like the angels in heaven. 26What about the dead rising? Haven’t you read in the Book of Moses the story of the burning bush? God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham. I am the God of Isaac. And I am the God of Jacob.’ (Exodus 3:6) 27He is not the God of the dead. He is the God of the living. You have made a big mistake!”
The Most Important Commandment
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard the Sadducees arguing. He noticed that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer. So he asked him, “Which is the most important of all the commandments?”
29Jesus answered, “Here is the most important one. Moses said, ‘Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Deuteronomy 6:4,5) 31And here is the second one. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ (Leviticus 19:18) There is no commandment more important than these.”
32“You have spoken well, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one. There is no other God but him. 33To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34Jesus saw that the man had answered wisely. He said to him, “You are not far from God’s kingdom.” From then on, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
35Jesus was teaching in the temple courtyard. He asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36The Holy Spirit spoke through David himself. David said,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your control.” ’ (Psalm 110:1)
37David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ So how can he be David’s son?”
The large crowd listened to Jesus with delight.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
38As he taught, he said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in long robes. They like to be greeted with respect in the market. 39They love to have the most important seats in the synagogues. They also love to have the places of honor at dinners. 40They take over the houses of widows. They say long prayers to show off. God will punish these men very much.”
The Widow’s Offering
41Jesus sat down across from the place where people put their temple offerings. He watched the crowd putting their money into the offering boxes. Many rich people threw large amounts into them. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins. They were worth only a few pennies.
43Jesus asked his disciples to come to him. He said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. That poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others. 44They all gave a lot because they are rich. But she gave even though she is poor. She put in everything she had. That was all she had to live on.”
Bobeturo Mu Akuafoɔ Bi
1Yesu nam mmɛbuo so kyerɛɛ nnipa no sɛ: “Ɛda bi, okuafoɔ bi yɛɛ bobefuo, gyee ban faa ho, na ɔtuu amena bi a wɔkyi bobe mu nsuo wɔ mu, na ɔsii ɔwɛn aban wɔ mu. Afei, ɔde afuo no gyaa akuafoɔ bi, na ɔtuu ɛkwan. 2Ɛduruu ɛberɛ a bobe no bereeɛ a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔte no, ɔsomaa ne ho onipa bi sɛ ɔnkɔgye ne kyɛfa mmrɛ no. 3Nanso, akuafoɔ no boroo no, ma ɔde ne nsapan sane kɔeɛ. 4Okuafoɔ no sane somaa onipa foforɔ kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn, na ɔno nso, wɔboroo no, pirapiraa no sene deɛ ɔdi ɛkan no. 5Onipa a ɔsomaa no bio no deɛ, wɔkumm no. Afoforɔ a akyire no wɔkɔeɛ no nso, wɔhwee ebinom, na wɔkumm ebinom nso.
6“Nanso, na aka ɔbaako a ɔyɛ ne ba a ɔdɔ no. Ɔsomaa ɔno nso kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn, susuu sɛ wɔbɛfɛre no de anidie ama no.
7“Nanso, ɛberɛ a akuafoɔ no hunuu no sɛ ɔreba no, wɔkaa sɛ, ‘Ɔdedifoɔ no na ɔreba no. Momma yɛnkum no, na agyapadeɛ no ayɛ yɛn dea!’ 8Wɔkyeree no, kumm no, twee no firii bobe turom hɔ kɔtoo no twenee baabi.
9“Mogye di sɛ, sɛ afu wura no ba a ɛdeɛn na ɔbɛyɛ akuafoɔ no? Ɔbɛba abɛkum wɔn, na ɔde afuo no ama nnipa foforɔ. 10Monnkanee yei wɔ Atwerɛsɛm no mu pɛn sɛ:
“ ‘Ɛboɔ a adansifoɔ apo no,
ɛno ara na abɛyɛ ɛdan no ntweaso tiboɔ;
11Awurade na wayɛ yei,
na ɛyɛ nwanwa wɔ yɛn ani so?’ ”
12Na ɛsiane saa bɛ a ɔbuiɛ no enti, Yudafoɔ mpanin no pɛɛ sɛ wɔkyere no, ɛfiri sɛ, wohunuu sɛ wɔn ho asɛm na ɔreka no a ɛkyerɛ sɛ, wɔne saa akuafoɔ atirimuɔdenfoɔ no. Nanso na wɔsuro dɔm no. Yei ma wɔgyaee no, na wɔfirii hɔ kɔeɛ.
Ɛtoɔ Gyeɛ Ho Asɛmmisa
13Wɔsomaa Farisifoɔ ne Herodefoɔ bi baa Yesu nkyɛn sɛ wɔne no mmɛkasa, na wɔnam nʼanom asɛm so anya no akyere no. 14Wɔbisaa no sɛ, “Ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ, yɛnim sɛ woyɛ ɔnokwafoɔ a, wotaa ka nokorɛ. Deɛ onipa ka no ntumi nnane wʼadwene. Afei, wokyerɛkyerɛ nnipa Onyankopɔn akwan. Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛbisa wo sɛ, ɛyɛ sɛ wɔyi toɔ ma Roma Hempɔn Kaesare12.14 Na ɛyɛ asɛdeɛ sɛ ɔmanfoɔ tua toɔ ma Romahene. Na togyeɛ nsɔ ani koraa enti Yudafoɔ no bi ampɛ sɛ wɔbɛtua, ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔgye di sɛ ɛtoɔ no tua no na ɛnyɛ Roma den ma wɔdi ɔman no so. anaa ɛnyɛ?”
15Yesu hunuu wɔn adwemmɔne no kaa sɛ, “Adɛn enti na mosɔ me hwɛ, momfa sika a wɔde yi toɔ no bi nkyerɛ me, na mɛma mo mmuaeɛ.” 16Wɔde maa no, ɔbisaa wɔn sɛ, “Hwan mfoni ne atwerɛ na ɛwɔ so?”
Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Kaesare deɛ.”
17Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Ɛnneɛ momfa Kaesare deɛ mma no, na momfa Onyankopɔn deɛ mma Onyankopɔn!”
Ne mmuaeɛ no maa wɔn ho dwirii wɔn.
Owusɔreɛ Ho Asɛmmisa
18Afei, Sadukifoɔ a wɔka sɛ owusɔreɛ nni hɔ no, baa ne nkyɛn bɛbisaa no sɛ, 19“Ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ, Mose yɛɛ mmara maa yɛn sɛ, sɛ ɔbarima bi anwo na ɔwu a, ne nuabarima mfa ne yere no kunabaa na ɔne no nwo mma mma owufoɔ no. 20Anuanom baason bi tenaa ase. Deɛ ɔdi ɛkan no waree yere, na ɔne no anwo na ɔwuiɛ. 21Na deɛ ɔtɔ so mmienu no nso waree okunafoɔ no, na ɔno nso, ankyɛre na ɔwuiɛ a ɔne no anwo. Na deɛ ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa no nso waree no a, ɔne no anwo na ɔwuiɛ. 22Yei kɔɔ so kɔsii sɛ, anuanom yi nyinaa waree ɔbaa no, na ɔbaa no nso wuiɛ. 23Deɛ yɛpɛ sɛ yɛhunu ne sɛ, owusɔreɛ no mu, sɛ wɔnya sɔre a, wɔn mu hwan na ɔbaa no bɛyɛ ne yere?”
24Yesu buaa wɔn sɛ, “Mo mfomsoɔ a moyɛ no firi nim a monnim Atwerɛsɛm no, ne Onyankopɔn tumi a ɔwɔ. 25Sɛ anuanom baason yi ne ɔbaa no sɔre firi awufoɔ mu a, wɔrenware; wɔbɛyɛ sɛ abɔfoɔ a wɔwɔ ɔsoro no. 26Afei, ɛfa awufoɔ owusɔreɛ no ho no nso, monnkanee Mose nwoma no mu asɛm a ɛfa Mose ne wira a na ɛrehyeɛ no ho da? Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, ‘Mene Abraham Onyankopɔn, Isak Onyankopɔn ne Yakob Onyankopɔn.’ 27Na Onyankopɔn reka akyerɛ Mose sɛ, ɛwom sɛ, saa nnipa yi awuwu mfeɛ pii a atwam no deɛ, nanso wɔte ase. Anyɛ saa a anka ɔrenka sɛ ɔyɛ ateasefoɔ Onyankopɔn, na ɔnyɛ awufoɔ Onyankopɔn. Moayɛ mfomsoɔ kɛseɛ.”
28Atwerɛsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ no mu baako a ɔgyina hɔ retie no no hunuu sɛ, wabua wɔn sɛdeɛ ɛfata no, ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Mose mmaransɛm no mu deɛ ɛwɔ he na ɛkyɛn ne nyinaa?”
29Yesu buaa no sɛ, “Deɛ ɛkyɛn ne nyinaa ne deɛ ɛka sɛ, ‘Israel, tie! Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn, yɛ Awurade korɔ; 30na dɔ Awurade wo Onyankopɔn firi wʼakoma ne wo kra ne wʼadwene ne wʼahoɔden nyinaa mu,’ no. 31Na deɛ ɛtɔ so mmienu no ne: ‘Dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho.’ Mmaransɛm bi nni hɔ a ɛkyɛn eyinom.”
32Atwerɛsɛm no ɔkyerɛkyerɛfoɔ no buaa no sɛ, “Owura, woaka nokorɛ sɛ, Onyankopɔn baako pɛ na ɔwɔ hɔ, na obi foforɔ nka ne ho, 33na menim nso sɛ, sɛ mɛdɔ no afiri mʼakoma ne mʼadwene ne mʼahoɔden nyinaa mu, na mɛdɔ me yɔnko sɛ me ho no, sene afɔdeɛ biara a wɔbɔ.”
34Yesu hunuu sɛ wabua asɛm no nyansa mu no, ɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wo ne Onyankopɔn Ahennie ntam ɛkwan nware.” Na saa asɛm yi akyi, obi antumi ammisa no asɛm biara bio.
Onipa Ba No Ho Asɛmmisa
35Ɛberɛ bi a Yesu rekyerɛkyerɛ wɔ asɔredan mu no, ɔbisaa nnipa no sɛ, “Adɛn na Atwerɛsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ no ka sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ Agyenkwa no yɛ Ɔhene Dawid ba? 36Ɛfiri sɛ Dawid ankasa nam Honhom Kronkron mu kaa sɛ,
“ ‘Awurade ka kyerɛɛ me wura sɛ:
“Tena me nifa so
kɔsi sɛ mede wʼatamfoɔ
bɛyɛ wo nan ntiasoɔ.” ’
37Sɛ Dawid frɛ no ‘Awurade’ a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na watumi ayɛ ne ba?”
Ɛkwan a ɔfaa so kasaeɛ no maa nnipa no de anigyeɛ tiee no.
Atwerɛfoɔ No Kɔkɔbɔ
38Ɛberɛ bi a nnipakuo bi de anigyeɛ retie Yesu no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Monhwɛ mo ho yie wɔ Atwerɛsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ ho! Wɔhyɛ ntadeɛ akɛseɛ sɛ asikafoɔ na sɛ wɔnam badwa mu a, wɔpɛ sɛ obiara a ɔhyia wɔn no de obuo kyea wɔn. 39Sɛ wɔkɔ hyiadan mu a, wɔtenatena mpanin adwa so, na sɛ wɔkɔ adidie ase a, wɔtena mpanin tenabea. 40Wɔbɔ mpaeɛ hunu atentene kyerɛ nnipa sɛ wɔresom Onyankopɔn, nanso wɔsisi akunafoɔ. Yei enti wɔbɛnya asotwe a emu yɛ duru.”
Ɔbaa Kunafoɔ Hiani Bi
41Ɛda bi a Yesu kɔɔ asɔredan mu no, ɔkɔtenaa afɔrebɔ adaka a ɛsi hɔ no anim hwɛɛ sɛdeɛ nkurɔfoɔ no de sika regu adaka no mu. Asikafoɔ no de sika a ɛdɔɔso guu mu. 42Ɔbaa kunafoɔ hiani bi nso baeɛ na ɔde sika nketewa mmienu bɛguu mu.
43Ɔfrɛɛ nʼasuafoɔ no baa ne nkyɛn ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Saa ɔbaa kunafoɔ hiani yi afɔdeɛ a ɔbɔeɛ no som bo sene afɔdeɛ akɛseakɛseɛ a asikafoɔ no bɛbɔeɛ no nyinaa. 44Na wɔn nyinaa firi deɛ wɔanya ama abu wɔn so no mu na wɔyiyii bi de baeɛ, na ɔbaa yi deɛ, ɔfiri ne hia mu de deɛ ɔwɔ nyinaa na abɛgu mu no.”
