The Skeptics Annotated Bible (830 page)

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable;
A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country
for a long time.

(20.9)
“A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”

10 And at the season
he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and

(20.10) “He sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.”

sent him away empty
.

11 And
again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

(20.11) “Again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.”

12 And again
he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

(20.12) “He sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.”

13
Then said the lord of the vineyard
, What shall I do?
I will send my beloved son
: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

(20.13) “Then said the lord of the vineyard … I will send my beloved son.” (Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.)

14
But
when
the husbandmen
saw him, they
reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

(20.14) “But … the husbandmen … reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.”

15
So they
cast him out of the vineyard, and
killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

(20.15) “So they … killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?”

16
He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.
And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

(20.16) “He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.”

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

(20.22-25) Pay your taxes. Keep state and church separate.

22
Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar,
or no?

(20.22) “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar?”

23 But
he
perceived their craftiness, and
said
unto them, Why tempt ye me?

24
Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.

(20.23-24) “He .. said … Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.”

25 And he said unto them,
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

(20.25) “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.”

26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

(20.27-35) Jesus says that everyone in heaven is single. Does that mean that married people can’t go there, that they must get a divorce once they arrive, or what?

27
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

(20.27) “Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,”

28
Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

(20.28) “Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.”

29
There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

(20.29) “There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.”

30 And
the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

(20.30) “The second took her to wife, and he died childless.”

31 And
the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

(20.31) “The third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.”

32
Last of all the woman died also.

(20.32) “Last of all the woman died also.”

33 Therefore
in the resurrection whose wife of them is she?
for seven had her to wife.

(20.33) “In the resurrection whose wife of them is she?”

34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

(20.34) “Jesus … said … The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage.”

35 But
they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage
:

(20.35) “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.”

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

37
Now that the dead are raised
, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

(20.37) “Now that the dead are raised”
167 Is death final?

38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

41 And he said unto them,
How say they that Christ is David’s son?

(20.41) “How say they that Christ is David’s son?”

42 And
David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43
Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

(20.42-43) “David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

44
David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

(20.44) “David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?”
329 Was Joseph the father of Jesus?

45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

47 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

(21.1-3) From his comments on the widow’s mites, it appears that Jesus favored progressive taxation.