16. He will come and kill those farmers. Then he will lease the land to some other farmers.” When the people heard this story, they said, “This should never happen!”
17. But Jesus looked into their eyes and said, “Then what does this verse mean: ‘The stone that the builders refused to accept became the cornerstone’? Psalm 118:22
18. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken. If that stone falls on you, it will crush you!”
19. When the teachers of the law and the leading priests heard this story, they knew it was about them. So they wanted to arrest Jesus right then, but they were afraid of what the people would do.
20. So the Jewish leaders waited for the right time to get Jesus. They sent some men to him, who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to find something wrong with what Jesus said. (If they found something wrong, then they could hand him over to the governor, who had the authority to arrest him.)
21. So the men said to Jesus, “Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. It doesn’t matter who is listening—you teach the same to all people. You always teach the truth about God’s way.
22. Tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23. But Jesus knew that these men were trying to trick him. He said to them,
24. “Show me a silver coin. Whose name and picture are on it?” They said, “Caesar’s.”
25. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
26. The men were amazed at his wise answer. They could say nothing. They were not able to trick Jesus there in front of the people. He said nothing they could use against him.
27. Some Sadducees came to Jesus. (Sadducees believe that people will not rise from death.) They asked him,
28. “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a married man dies and had no children, his brother must marry his widow. Then they will have children for the dead brother.