37
Later still he sent to them his son, saying, "`They will respect my son.'
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"But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another, "`Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'
39
"So they seized him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
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When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"
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"He will put the wretches to a wretched death," was the reply, "and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season."
42
"Have you never read in the Scriptures," said Jesus, "`The Stone which the builders rejected has been made the Cornerstone: this Cornerstone came from the Lord, and is wonderful in our eyes'?
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"That, I tell you, is the reason why the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it.
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He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt; but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed."
45
After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;
46
but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him, they were afraid of the people, for by them He was regarded as a Prophet.