Luke 20:1-16 ▼

1 And it came to passe, that on one of those dayes, as he taught the people in the Temple, and preached the Gospel, the hie Priests and the Scribes came vpon him with the Elders,

2 And spake vnto him, saying, Tell vs by what authoritie thou doest these things, or who is hee that hath giuen thee this authoritie?

3 And he answered, and sayde vnto them, I also will aske you one thing: tell me therefore:

4 The baptisme of Iohn, was it from heauen, or of men?

5 And they reasoned within themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then beleeued ye him not?

6 But if we shall say, Of men, all the people will stone vs: for they be perswaded that Iohn was a Prophet.

7 Therefore they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

8 Then Iesus sayd vnto them, Neither tell I you, by what authoritie I doe these things.

9 Then began he to speake to ye people this parable, A certaine man planted a vineyarde, and let it forth to husbandmen: and went into a strange countrey, for a great time.

10 And at the time conuenient he sent a seruant to the husbandmen, that they should giue him of the fruite of the vineyard: but the husbandmen did beate him, & sent him away emptie.

11 Againe he sent yet another seruant: and they did beate him, and foule entreated him, and sent him away emptie.

12 Moreouer he sent the third, and him they wounded, and cast out.

13 Then sayd the Lord of the vineyard, What shall I doe? I will send my beloued sonne: it may be that they will doe reuerence, when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen sawe him, they reasoned with themselues, saying, This is the heire: come, let vs kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyarde, and killed him. What shall the Lord of the vineyarde therefore doe vnto them?

16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and wil giue out his vineyard to others. But when they heard it, they sayd, God forbid.