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On one of those days while He was teaching the people in the Temple and proclaiming the Good News, the High Priests came upon Him, and the Scribes,
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together with the Elders, and they asked Him, "Tell us, By what authority are you doing these things? And who is it that gave you this authority?"
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"I also will put a question to you, "He said;
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"was John's baptism of Heavenly or of human origin?"
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So they debated the matter with one another. "If we say `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will say, `Why did you not believe him?'
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And if we say, `human,' the people will all stone us; for they are thoroughly convinced that John was a Prophet."
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And they answered that they did not know the origin of it.
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"Nor will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."
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Then He proceeded to speak a parable to the people. "There was a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, let it out to vine-dressers, and went abroad for a considerable time.
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At vintage-time he sent a servant to the vine-dressers, for them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dressers beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.