4
was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?"
5
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
6
But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."
7
So they answered that they did not know its origin.
8
And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
The Parable of the Vineyard Owner
9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time.
10
At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11
He sent yet another slave, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12
And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.
13
"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.'
14
"But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, so the inheritance will be ours!'