7
So they answered that they didn't know where it came from.
8
Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things."
9
Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.
10
When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
11
Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.
12
So the man sent a third servant. The farmers wounded him and threw him out.
13
The owner of the vineyard said, 'What will I do now? I will send my son whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'
14
But when the farmers saw the son, they said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.'
15
So the farmers threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the owner of this vineyard do to them?
16
He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers." When the people heard this story, they said, "Let this never happen!"
17
But Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does this verse mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected became the cornerstone'?