5
They reasonedamongthemselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why* did you not believe him?'
6
"But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a 1prophet."
7
So they answered that they did not knowwhere it came from.
8
And Jesussaid to them, "Nor will I tell you by whatauthority I dothesethings."
Parable of the Vine-growers
92And He began to tell the peoplethisparable: "A manplanted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a longtime.
10
"At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growersbeat him and sent him awayempty-handed.
11
"And he proceeded to sendanotherslave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him awayempty-handed.
12
"And he proceeded to send a third; and thisonealso they wounded and cast out.
13
"The owner of the vineyardsaid, 'What shall I do? I will send my belovedson; perhaps they will 3respect him.'
14
"But when the vine-growerssaw him, they reasoned with oneanother, saying, 'This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'
15
"So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyarddo to them?