1
Jesus began to use stories to teach the people. He said, "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it and dug a hole for a winepress and built a tower. Then he leased the land to some farmers and left for a trip.
2
When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get his share of the grapes.
3
But the farmers grabbed the servant and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
4
Then the man sent another servant. They hit him on the head and showed no respect for him.
5
So the man sent another servant, whom they killed. The man sent many other servants; the farmers beat some of them and killed others.
6
"The man had one person left to send, his son whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
7
"But the farmers said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.'
8
So they took the son, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.