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Jesus replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,
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was John's baptism from heaven? Or did it come from men?"
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They talked to each other about it. They said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
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But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will throw stones at us and kill us. They believe that John was a prophet."
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So they answered Jesus, "We don't know where John's baptism came from."
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Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things either."
The Story of the Renters
9 Jesus went on to tell the people a story. "A man planted a vineyard," he said. "He rented it out to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
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"At harvest time he sent a servant to the renters. They were supposed to give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the renters beat the servant. Then they sent him away with nothing.
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So the man sent another servant. They beat that one and treated him badly. They also sent him away with nothing.
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The man sent a third servant. The renters wounded him and threw him out.
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"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I have a son, and I love him. I will send him. Maybe they will respect him.'