34
When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35
âThe tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
36
Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.
37
Last of all, he sent his son to them. âThey will respect my son,â he said.
38
âBut when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, âThis is the heir. Come, letâs kill him and take his inheritance.â
39
So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40
âTherefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?â
41
âHe will bring those wretches to a wretched end,â they replied, âand he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.â
42
Jesus said to them, âHave you never read in the Scriptures: â âThe stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyesâ[a]?
43
âTherefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.