1
Then He began to speak to them in figurative language. "There was once a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, fenced it round, dug a pit for the wine-tank, and built a strong lodge. Then he let the place to vine-dressers and went abroad.
2
At vintage-time he sent one of his servants to receive from the vine-dressers a share of the grapes.
3
But they seized him, beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.
4
Again he sent to them another servant: and as for him, they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully.
5
Yet a third he sent, and him they killed. And he sent many besides, and them also they ill-treated, beating some and killing others.
6
He had still one left whom he could send, a dearly-loved son: him last of all he sent, saying, "`They will treat my son with respect.'
7
"But those men--the vine-dressers--said to one another, "`Here is the heir: come, let us kill him, and then the property will one day be ours.'
8
"So they took him and killed him, and flung his body outside the vineyard.