Luke 20:9-19

Parable of the tenant farmers

9 Jesus told the people this parable: " A certain man planted a vineyard, rented it to tenant farmers, and went on a trip for a long time.
10 When it was time, he sent a servant to collect from the tenants his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants sent him away, beaten and empty-handed.
11 The man sent another servant. But they beat him, treated him disgracefully, and sent him away empty-handed as well.
12 He sent a third servant. They wounded this servant and threw him out.
13 The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I'll send my son, whom I love dearly. Perhaps they will respect him.'
14 But when they saw him, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Let's kill him so the inheritance will be ours.'
15 They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never happen!"
17 Staring at them, Jesus said, " Then what is the meaning of this text of scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be crushed. And the stone will crush the person it falls on."
19 The legal experts and chief priests wanted to arrest him right then because they knew he had told this parable against them. But they feared the people.

Footnotes 1

Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible