15
"So they turned him out of the vineyard and murdered him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16
He will come and put these vine-dressers to death, and give the vineyard to others." "God forbid!" exclaimed the hearers.
17
He looked at them and said, "What then does that mean which is written, "`The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the cornerstone'?
18
Every one who falls on that stone will be severely hurt, but on whomsoever it falls, he will be utterly crushed."
19
At this the Scribes and the High Priests wanted to lay hands on Him, then and there; only they were afraid of the people. For they saw that in this parable He had referred to them.
20
So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent spies who were to act the part of good and honest men, that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority.
21
So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said, "we know that you say and teach what is right and that you make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach God's way truly.
22
Is it allowable to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?"
23
But He saw through their knavery and replied,
24
"Show me a shilling; whose likeness and inscription does it bear?" "Caesar's," they said.
25
"Pay therefore," He replied, "what is Caesar's to Caesar--and what is God's to God."