Mark 12:1-9 ▼

1 He began to speak to them in parables. |A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went on a journey.

2 When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard.

3 They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty.

4 Again, he sent another servant to them; and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully.

5 And he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some.

6 He had one left, a beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

7 But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

8 They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

9 What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.