Luke 20:1-18 ▼

1 And it came to pass, on one of those days, He teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, the priests, and scribes, along with the elders stood up against Him;

2 and they spoke to Him, saying, Tell us by what authority you are doing these things? Who is the one having given you this authority?

3 And responding He said to them, I will ask you one word; and you tell me:

4 Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men?

5 And they reason among themselves saying, If we may say it is from heaven; He will say, Why did you not believe on him?

6 And if we may say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they responded, We do not know whence it is.

8 And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

9 And He began to speak to the people this parable, A man planted a vineyard and gave it out to husbandmen, and went away a long time.

10 And in season he sent a servant to the husbandmen that they might give to him of the fruit of the vineyard, and the husbandmen beating him, sent him away empty.

11 And he proceeded to send to them another servant, and they beating and dishonoring him sent him away empty.

12 And he proceeded to send a third: and wounding him, they cast him out also.

13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my own beloved son: perchance seeing, they will reverence him.

14 And the husbandmen, seeing him, reasoned among themselves saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, in order that the inheritance may be ours.

15 And casting him out from the vineyard they slew him; what then will the lord of the vineyard do?

16 He will come and destroy those husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And hearing, they said, Let it not be so.

17 And looking upon them, He said, What is that which has been written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same has come to be the head of the corner.

18 Every one having fallen on that stone will be dashed to pieces; and on whomsoever it may fall, it will grind him to powder.