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One day Jesus was in the Temple, teaching the people and telling them the Good News. The leading priests, teachers of the law, and older Jewish leaders came up to talk with him,
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saying, "Tell us what authority you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
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Jesus answered, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me:
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When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?"
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They argued about this, saying, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
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But if we say, 'It was from other people,' all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet."
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So they answered that they didn't know where it came from.
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Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things."
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Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
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When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
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Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.