The Authority of Jesus Questioned
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’20:17 Psalm 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 second 31and 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.’20:37 Exodus 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 hand
43until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ’20:43 Psalm 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 marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Swali Kuhusu Mamlaka Ya Yesu
(Mathayo 21:23-27; Marko 11:27-33)
120:1 Mt 26:55; Lk 8:120:1 Mt 21:23-27; Mk 11:27-33Siku moja, Yesu alipokuwa akifundisha watu Hekaluni na kuhubiri habari njema, viongozi wa makuhani, walimu wa sheria, pamoja na wazee wa watu wakamjia. 220:2 Yn 2:18; Mdo 4:7Wakamuuliza, “Tuambie, unafanya mambo haya kwa mamlaka gani? Ni nani aliyekupa mamlaka haya?”
3Akawajibu, “Nami nitawauliza swali. 420:4 Mk 1:4Je, ubatizo wa Yohana ulitoka mbinguni au kwa wanadamu?”
5Wakahojiana wao kwa wao wakisema, “Kama tukisema, ‘Ulitoka mbinguni,’ atatuuliza, ‘Mbona hamkumwamini?’ 620:6 Lk 7:29; Mt 11:9Lakini tukisema, ‘Ulitoka kwa wanadamu,’ watu wote watatupiga mawe, kwa sababu wanaamini kwamba Yohana alikuwa nabii.”
7Basi wakajibu, “Hatujui ulikotoka.”
8Yesu akawaambia, “Wala mimi sitawaambia ni kwa mamlaka gani ninatenda mambo haya.”
Mfano Wa Wapangaji Waovu
(Mathayo 21:33-46; Marko 12:1-12)
920:9 Isa 5:17; Mt 25:14Akaendelea kuwaambia watu mfano huu: “Mtu mmoja alipanda shamba la mizabibu, akalikodisha kwa wakulima fulani, kisha akasafiri kwa muda mrefu. 1020:10 2Nya 36:15, 16Wakati wa mavuno ulipofika, akamtuma mtumishi wake kwa hao wapangaji ili wampe sehemu ya mavuno ya shamba la mizabibu. Lakini wale wakulima wakampiga, wakamfukuza mikono mitupu. 11Akamtuma mtumishi mwingine, huyo naye wakampiga, wakamfanyia mambo ya aibu na kumfukuza. 12Bado akamtuma na mwingine wa tatu, huyu pia wakamjeruhi na kumtupa nje ya shamba.
1320:13 Mt 3:17“Basi yule mwenye shamba la mizabibu akasema, ‘Nifanye nini? Nitamtuma mwanangu mpendwa, huenda yeye watamheshimu.’
14“Lakini wale wapangaji walipomwona, wakasemezana wao kwa wao. Wakasema, ‘Huyu ndiye mrithi. Basi na tumuue ili urithi uwe wetu.’ 15Kwa hiyo wakamtupa nje ya shamba la mizabibu, wakamuua.”
“Sasa basi yule mwenye shamba la mizabibu atawafanyia nini wapangaji hawa? 1620:16 Lk 19:27Atakuja na kuwaua hao wapangaji, na kuwapa wapangaji wengine hilo shamba la mizabibu.”
Watu waliposikia hayo wakasema, “Mungu apishie mbali jambo hili lisitokee!”
1720:17 Za 118:22; Mdo 4:11Lakini Yesu akawakazia macho, akasema, “Basi ni nini maana ya yale yaliyoandikwa:
“ ‘Jiwe walilolikataa waashi,
limekuwa jiwe kuu la pembeni’?
1820:18 Isa 8:14-15Kila mtu aangukaye juu ya jiwe hilo atavunjika vipande vipande, lakini yule litakayemwangukia atasagwa kabisa.”
1920:19 Lk 19:47; Mk 11:18Walimu wa sheria na viongozi wa makuhani wakatafuta njia ya kumkamata mara moja, kwa sababu walifahamu kwamba amesema mfano huo kwa ajili yao. Lakini waliwaogopa watu.
Kumlipa Kaisari Kodi
(Mathayo 22:15-22; Marko 12:13-17)
2020:20 Mt 12:10; 27:2Kwa hiyo wakawa wanamchunguza na kutuma wapelelezi waliojifanya kuwa wenye haki ili wapate kumtega kwa maneno asemayo, ili wamtie katika uwezo na mamlaka ya mtawala. 2120:21 Yn 3:2Hivyo wale wapelelezi wakamuuliza, “Mwalimu, tunajua unasema na kufundisha yaliyo kweli wala humpendelei mtu, bali wafundisha njia ya Mungu katika kweli. 22Je, ni halali sisi kulipa kodi kwa Kaisari, au la?”
23Lakini Yesu akatambua hila yao, kwa hiyo akawaambia, 24“Nionyesheni dinari. Je, sura hii na maandishi haya yaliyoko juu yake ni vya nani?”
2520:25 Lk 23:2; Rum 13:7Wakamjibu, “Ni vya Kaisari.”
Akawaambia, “Basi mpeni Kaisari kilicho cha Kaisari, naye Mungu mpeni kilicho cha Mungu.”
26Wakashindwa kumkamata kwa yale aliyokuwa amesema hadharani. Nao wakashangazwa mno na majibu yake, wakanyamaza kimya.
Ufufuo Na Ndoa
(Mathayo 22:23-33; Marko 12:18-27)
2720:27 Mdo 23:8; 1Kor 15:12; Mdo 4:1Baadhi ya Masadukayo, wale wasemao kwamba hakuna ufufuo wa wafu, wakamjia Yesu na kumuuliza, 2820:28 Kum 25:5; Mwa 38:8“Mwalimu, Mose alituandikia kwamba kama ndugu wa mtu akifa na kumwacha mkewe bila mtoto, basi huyo mtu inampasa amwoe huyo mjane ili amzalie ndugu yake watoto. 29Basi palikuwepo ndugu saba. Yule wa kwanza akaoa, akafa bila kuzaa mtoto. 30Kisha yule wa pili akamwoa huyo mjane, naye akafa bila mtoto, 31naye wa tatu pia akamwoa. Vivyo hivyo ndugu wote saba wakawa wamemwoa huyo mwanamke, na wote wakafa pasipo yeyote kupata mtoto. 32Mwishowe, yule mwanamke naye akafa. 33Sasa basi, siku ya ufufuo huyo mwanamke atakuwa mke wa nani, maana aliolewa na ndugu wote saba?”
34Yesu akawajibu, “Katika maisha haya watu huoa na kuolewa. 3520:35 Mt 12:32Lakini wale ambao wamehesabiwa kwamba wanastahili kupata nafasi katika ulimwengu ule na katika ufufuo wa wafu, hawaoi wala hawaolewi. 3620:36 Yn 1:12; 1Yn 3:1-2Hawa hawawezi kufa tena, kwa maana wao ni kama malaika. Wao ni watoto wa Mungu, kwa sababu ni watoto wa ufufuo. 3720:37 Kut 3:6Hata Mose alidhihirisha kuwa wafu wanafufuka, kwa habari ya kile kichaka kilichokuwa kikiwaka moto bila kuteketea, alipomwita Bwana, ‘Mungu wa Abrahamu, Mungu wa Isaki, na Mungu wa Yakobo.’ 3820:38 Rum 6:10-11Yeye si Mungu wa wafu, bali wa walio hai, kwa kuwa kwake wote ni hai.”
39Baadhi ya walimu wa sheria wakasema, “Mwalimu, umesema sawasawa kabisa!”
4020:40 Mt 22:46; Mk 12:34Baada ya hayo hakuna mtu aliyethubutu kumuuliza maswali tena.
Kristo Ni Mwana Wa Nani?
(Mathayo 22:41-46; Marko 12:35-37)
4120:41 Mt 22:42; Mk 12:3520:41 Mt 22:41-45; Mk 12:35-37Kisha Yesu akawaambia, “Imekuwaje basi wao husema Kristo20:41 Kristo maana yake ni Masiya, yaani Aliyetiwa mafuta. ni Mwana wa Daudi? 4220:42 Za 110:1; Mdo 2:34Daudi mwenyewe anasema katika Kitabu cha Zaburi:
“ ‘Bwana alimwambia Bwana wangu:
“Keti mkono wangu wa kuume,
4320:43 Za 110:1; Mt 22:44hadi nitakapowaweka adui zako
chini ya miguu yako.” ’
44Ikiwa Daudi anamwita yeye ‘Bwana,’ basi atakuwaje mwanawe?”
Yesu Awashutumu Walimu Wa Sheria
(Mathayo 23:1-36; Marko 12:38-40)
4520:45 Lk 11:43Wakati watu wote walikuwa wanamsikiliza, Yesu akawaambia wanafunzi wake, 4620:46 Lk 11:43“Jihadharini na walimu wa sheria. Wao hupenda kutembea wakiwa wamevaa mavazi marefu, na kusalimiwa kwa heshima masokoni. Hupenda kukaa kwenye viti vya mbele katika masinagogi, na kukaa kwenye nafasi za heshima katika karamu. 4720:47 Mt 23:14Wao hula nyumba za wajane, na ili waonekane kuwa wema, wanasali sala ndefu. Watu kama hawa watapata hukumu iliyo kuu sana.”
