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the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?"
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They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'
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But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
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They answered that they didn't know where it was from.
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Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
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He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.
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At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him, and sent him away empty.
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He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
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He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him, and threw him out.
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The lord of the vineyard said, 'What will I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.'
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"But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'