25
“Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.
26
But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”
27
So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.
28
“But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
29
The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
30
Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
31
“Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.
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For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
33
“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.
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At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.
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But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.