Luke 20:1-16 ▼

1 One day, as he was instructing the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the chief priests, and the Scribes, with the rulers came up to him,

2 and thus accosted him, tell us by what authority do you act thus? and whence do you derive that authority?

3 Jesus answer'd, I will ask you one question;

4 tell me, the baptism of John, was it a divine or a human institution?

5 but they reason'd thus with themselves, if we should say, it was divine, he will reply, why then did not you believe him?

6 if we should assert, it was a human contrivance, the populace would stone us; for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 they answer'd then, they did not know which it was.

8 Jesus replied, neither will I tell you by what authority I act thus.

9 Then he propos'd this parable to the people, a man planted a vineyard, let it out to husbandmen, and then went a travelling for some time.

10 at vintage, he sent a servant to the husbandmen, to demand the profits of the vineyard, but they beat him and sent him away empty.

11 again he sent another servant, him they likewise beat, insulted, and sent away empty.

12 he still sent a third, whom they wounded and drove away.

13 upon which the master of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps his presence will engage their respect.

14 but when the husbandmen saw him, they said to one another, this is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be our own.

15 so they kill'd him, and threw him out of the vineyard, what punishment now will the master inflict upon them?

16 he will come and destroy these husbandmen, and give his vineyard to others, but they, taking the hint, cried out, God forbid.