Luke 20:1-18 ▼

1 And it came to pass on one of the days, in His teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes came up with the elders,

2 and they spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us by what authority You do these things, or who is the one having given You this authority?”

3 And answering, He said to them, “I also will ask you? a word, and you? tell Me:

4 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?”

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you? not believe him?’

6 But if we should say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John is a prophet.”

7 And they answered that they did not know from where.

8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither do I tell you? by what authority I do these things.”

9 And He began to speak to the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, and he rented it out to farmers and traveled abroad a long time.

10 And in the season, he sent a servant to the farmers, so that they will give to him from the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers sent him away empty-handed, having beaten him.

11 And he proceeded to send another servant, but having beaten and having dishonored that one also, they sent him away empty-handed.

12 And he proceeded to send a third, and having wounded this one also, they cast him out.

13 Then the lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’

14 But having seen him, the farmers were reasoning with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him, so that the inheritance might become ours.’

15 And having cast him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What, therefore, will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and will destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” And having heard, they said, “Never may it be!”

17 But having looked at them, He said, “What then is this that has been written: ‘The stone that those building rejected, this became the head of the corner’?

18 Everyone having fallen on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it might fall, it will grind him into powder.”