7
"But those farmhands saw their chance. They rubbed their hands together in greed and said, 'This is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.'
8
They grabbed him, killed him, and threw him over the fence.
9
"What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others.
10
Read it for yourselves in Scripture: That stone the masons threw out is now the cornerstone!
11
This is God's work; we rub our eyes - we can hardly believe it!"
12
They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public opinion, held back. They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could. Paying Taxes to Caesar
13
They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating.
14
They came up and said, "Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don't pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
15
He knew it was a trick question, and said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it."
16
They handed him one. "This engraving - who does it look like? And whose name is on it?" "Caesar," they said.
17
Jesus said, "Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." Their mouths hung open, speechless.