1
Then Jesus started telling them stories. "A man planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, erected a watchtower, turned it over to the farmhands, and went off on a trip.
2
At the time for harvest, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect his profits.
3
"They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed.
4
So he sent another servant. That one they tarred and feathered.
5
He sent another and that one they killed. And on and on, many others. Some they beat up, some they killed.
6
"Finally there was only one left: a beloved son. In a last-ditch effort, he sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.