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One day Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courtyard and telling them the Good News. The chief priests, scribes, and leaders came up to him.
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They asked him, "Tell us, what gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?"
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Jesus answered them, "I, too, have a question for you. Tell me,
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did John's right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?"
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They talked about this among themselves. They said, "If we say, 'from heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
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But if we say, 'from humans,' everyone will stone us to death. They're convinced that John was a prophet."
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So they answered that they didn't know who gave John the right to baptize.
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Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you why I have the right to do these things."
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Then, using this illustration, Jesus spoke to the people: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to vineyard workers, and went on a long trip.
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"At the right time he sent a servant to the workers to obtain from them a share of the grapes from the vineyard. But the workers beat the servant and sent him back with nothing.