The parable of the tenants
1Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: ‘A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall round it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.
6‘He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, “They will respect my son.”
7‘But the tenants said to one another, “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 8So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture:
‘ “The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11the Lord has done this,
and it is marvellous in our eyes”12:11 Psalm 118:22,23?’
12Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
Paying the poll-tax to Caesar
13Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14They came to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the poll-tax12:14 A special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens to Caesar or not? 15Should we pay or shouldn’t we?’
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’ he asked. ‘Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ 16They brought the coin, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’
‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
17Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’
And they were amazed at him.
Marriage at the resurrection
18Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19‘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. 20Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23At the resurrection12:23 Some manuscripts resurrection, when people rise from the dead, whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’
24Jesus replied, ‘Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26Now about the dead rising – have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”12:26 Exodus 3:6? 27He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!’
The greatest commandment
28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’
29‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.12:29 Or the Lord our God is one Lord 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”12:30 Deut. 6:4,5 31The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”12:31 Lev. 19:18 There is no commandment greater than these.’
32‘Well said, teacher,’ the man replied. ‘You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’
34When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And from then on no-one dared ask him any more questions.
Whose son is the Messiah?
35While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
‘ “The Lord said to my Lord:
‘Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.’ ”12:36 Psalm 110:1
37David himself calls him “Lord”. How then can he be his son?’
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Warning against the teachers of the law
38As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the market-places, 39and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. 40They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’
The widow’s offering
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few pence.
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’
Bobeturo Mu Akuafo Bi
1Yesu nam mmebu so kasa kyerɛɛ nnipa no se: “Okuafo bi yɛɛ bobeturo, gyee ban faa ho, na otuu amoa a wokyi bobe mu nsu wɔ mu, sii ɔwɛn aban wɔ mu. Afei ɔde afuw no gyaw akuafo bi tuu kwan. 2Eduu bere a bobe no bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔtew no, ɔsomaa ne ho nipa bi se onkogye ne kyɛfa mmrɛ no. 3Nanso akuafo no boroo no, ma ɔde ne nsa pan san kɔe. 4Okuafo no san somaa onipa foforo kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn, na ɔno nso, wɔboroo no, pirapiraa no sen nea odi kan no. 5Onipa a ɔsomaa no bio no de, wokum no. Afoforo a akyiri no wɔkɔe no nso, wɔhwee ebinom, na wokum ebinom nso.
6“Nanso na aka ɔbaako a ɔyɛ ne ba a ɔdɔ no. Ɔsomaa ɔno nso kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn, susuw sɛ wɔbɛfɛre no de nidi ama no.
7“Nanso bere a akuafo no huu no sɛ ɔreba no, wɔkae se, ‘Ɔdedifo no na ɔreba no. Momma yenkum no, na agyapade no ayɛ yɛn de!’ 8Wɔkyeree no kum no, twee no fii bobe turo mu hɔ kɔtow no kyenee baabi.
9“Mugye di sɛ, sɛ afuw wura no ba a dɛn na ɔbɛyɛ akuafo no? Ɔbɛba abekum wɔn, na ɔde afuw no ama nnipa foforo. 10Monnkenkan eyi wɔ Kyerɛwsɛm no mu pɛn se:
“ ‘Ɔbo a adansifo apo no,
ɛno ara na abɛyɛ dan no twea so tibo;
11Awurade na wayɛ eyi,
na ɛyɛ nwonwa wɔ yɛn ani so?’ ”
12Na esiane saa bɛ a obui no nti, Yudafo mpanyin no pɛɛ sɛ wɔkyere no, efisɛ wuhuu sɛ wɔn ho asɛm na ɔreka no a ɛkyerɛ sɛ, wɔne saa akuafo atirimɔdenfo no. Nanso na wosuro dɔm no. Eyi ma wogyaa no, na wofii hɔ kɔe.
Towtua Ho Asɛmmisa
13Wɔsomaa Farisifo ne Herodefo bi baa Yesu nkyɛn sɛ wɔne no mmɛkasa, na wɔnam nʼanom asɛm so anya no akyere no. 14Wobisaa no se, “Kyerɛkyerɛfo, yenim sɛ woyɛ ɔnokwafo a wotaa ka nokware. Nea onipa ka no ntumi nnan wʼadwene. Afei wokyerɛkyerɛ nnipa Onyankopɔn akwan. Yɛpɛ sɛ yebisa wo se, eye sɛ woyi tow ma Roma Hempɔn Kaesare12.14 Na ɛyɛ asɛde sɛ ɔmanfo tua tow ma Romahene. Na towgye nsɔ ani koraa nti Yudafo no bi ampɛ sɛ wobetua, efisɛ na wogye di sɛ tow no tua no na ɛnyɛ Roma den ma wodi ɔman no so. anaa enye?”
15Yesu huu wɔn adwemmɔne no kae se, “Adɛn nti na mosɔ me hwɛ, momfa sika a wɔde yi tow no bi nkyerɛ me, na mɛma mo mmuae.” 16Wɔde maa no ma obisaa wɔn se, “Hena mfoni ne nkyerɛw na ɛwɔ so?”
Wobuae se, “Kaesare de.”
17Yesu ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Ɛno de momfa Kaesare de mma no, na momfa Onyankopɔn de mma Onyankopɔn!”
Ne mmuae no maa wɔn ho dwiriw wɔn.
Owusɔre Mu Aware Ho Asɛmmisa
18Sadukifo a wɔka se owusɔre nni hɔ no baa ne nkyɛn bebisaa no se, 19“Kyerɛkyerɛfo, Mose yɛɛ mmara maa yɛn se, sɛ ɔbarima bi anwo na owu a, ne nuabarima mfa ne yere no kunabea na ɔne no nwo mma mma owufo no. 20Anuanom baason bi tenaa ase. Nea odi kan no waree yere a, ɔne no anwo na owui. 21Nea ɔto so abien no nso waree okunafo no, na ɔno nso ankyɛ na owui a ɔne no anwo. Na nea ɔto so abiɛsa no nso waree no a, ɔne no anwo na owui. 22Eyi kɔɔ so kosii sɛ anuanom yi nyinaa waree ɔbea no, na ɔbea no nso wui. 23Nea yɛpɛ sɛ yehu ne sɛ, owusɔre mu, sɛ wonya sɔre a, wɔn mu hena na ɔbea no bɛyɛ ne yere?”
24Yesu buaa wɔn se, “Mo mfomso a moyɛ no fi nim a munnim Kyerɛwsɛm no, ne Onyankopɔn tumi a ɔwɔ. 25Sɛ anuanom baason yi ne ɔbea no sɔre fi awufo mu a, wɔrenware; wɔbɛyɛ sɛ abɔfo a wɔwɔ ɔsoro no. 26Afei nea ɛfa awufo nyan no ho nso, monkenkan Mose nhoma no mu asɛm a ɛfa Mose ne nwura a na ɛhyew no ho da? Onyankopɔn ka kyerɛɛ Mose sɛ, ‘Mene Abraham Nyankopɔn, Isak Nyankopɔn ne Yakob Nyankopɔn.’ 27Na Onyankopɔn reka akyerɛ Mose se, ɛwɔ mu sɛ saa nnipa yi awuwu mfe pii a atwam no de, nanso wɔte ase. Ɛnte saa a anka ɔrenka se ɔyɛ ateasefo Nyankopɔn, na ɔnyɛ awufo Nyankopɔn. Moayɛ mfomso kɛse.”
28Kyerɛwsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfo no mu baako a ogyina hɔ retie no huu sɛ, wabua wɔn sɛnea ɛfata no, obisaa no se, “Mose mmaransɛm no mu nea ɛwɔ he na ɛkyɛn ne nyinaa?”
29Yesu buaa no se, “Nea ɛkyɛn ne nyinaa ne nea ɛka se, ‘Israel, tie! Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn yɛ Awurade koro; 30na dɔ Awurade wo Nyankopɔn fi wo koma ne wo kra ne wʼadwene ne wʼahoɔden nyinaa mu,’ no. 31Na nea ɛto so abien no ne: ‘Dɔ wo yɔnko sɛ wo ho.’ Mmaransɛm bi nni hɔ a ɛkyɛn eyinom.”
32Kyerɛwsɛm no kyerɛkyerɛfo no buaa no se, “Owura, woaka nokware sɛ, Onyankopɔn baako pɛ na ɔwɔ hɔ, na obi foforo nka ne ho, 33na minim nso sɛ, sɛ mɛdɔ no afi me koma ne mʼadwene ne mʼahoɔden nyinaa mu, na mɛdɔ me yɔnko sɛ me ho no, sen afɔre biara a wɔbɔ.”
34Yesu huu sɛ wabua asɛm no nyansa mu no, ɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Wo ne Onyankopɔn ahenni ntam kwan nware.” Na saa asɛm yi akyi no, obi antumi ammisa no asɛm biara bio.
Onipa Ba No Ho Asɛmmisa
35Bere bi a Yesu rekyerɛkyerɛ wɔ asɔredan mu no, obisaa nnipa no se, “Adɛn na Kyerɛwsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfo no ka se, ɛsɛ sɛ Agyenkwa no yɛ Ɔhene Dawid ba? 36Efisɛ Dawid ankasa nam Honhom Kronkron mu kae se,
“ ‘Awurade ka kyerɛɛ me wura se:
“Tena me nifa so
kosi sɛ mede wʼatamfo
bɛyɛ wo nan ntiaso.” ’
37Sɛ Dawid frɛ no ‘Awurade’ a, ɛyɛɛ dɛn na Kristo no yɛ ne ba?”
Ɔkwan a ɔfaa so kasaa no maa nnipa no de anigye tiee no.
Mmara Akyerɛkyerɛfo No Kɔkɔbɔ
38Bere bi a nnipakuw bi de anigye retie Yesu no, ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monhwɛ mo ho yiye wɔ Kyerɛwsɛm no akyerɛkyerɛfo ho! Wɔhyɛ ntade akɛse sɛ asikafo na sɛ wɔnam bagua mu a, wɔpɛ sɛ obiara a ohyia wɔn no de obu kyia wɔn. 39Sɛ wɔkɔ hyiadan mu a wɔtenatena mpanyin agua so, na sɛ wɔkɔ adidi ase a, wɔtena mpanyin tenabea. 40Wɔbɔ mpae atenten ma nnipa hu sɛ wɔresom Onyankopɔn, nanso wosisi akunafo. Eyi nti wobenya asotwe a emu yɛ duru.”
Ɔbea Kunafo Bi Afɔrebɔ
41Da bi a Yesu kɔɔ asɔredan mu no, ɔkɔtenaa afɔrebɔ adaka a esi hɔ no anim hwɛɛ sɛnea nkurɔfo no de sika regu adaka no mu. Asikafo no de sika a ɛdɔɔso guu mu. 42Ɔbea kunafo hiani bi nso bae, na ɔde sika nketewa abien beguu mu.
43Ɔfrɛɛ nʼasuafo no baa ne nkyɛn ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Saa ɔbea kunafo hiani yi afɔre a ɔbɔe no dɔɔso sen asikafo no nyinaa afɔrebɔde. 44Na wɔn nyinaa fi nea wɔanya ama abu wɔn so no mu na woyiyii bi de bae, na ɔbea yi de, ofi ne hia mu de nea ɔwɔ nyinaa na abegu mu no.”
