3-5. “They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed. So he sent another servant. That one they tarred and feathered. He sent another and that one they killed. And on and on, many others. Some they beat up, some they killed.
32-33. The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So lucid and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!”
34. When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”After that, no one else dared ask a question.
35-37. While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,God said to my Master,“Sit here at my right handuntil I put your enemies under your feet.”“David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?”The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.
38-40. He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”