Matthew 21:25-46 ▼

25 From where was the baptism of John? From heaven or from men?” And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you? not believe him?’

26 But if we should say, ‘From men,’ we fear the crowd, for all hold John as a prophet.”

27 And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither do I tell you? by what authority I do these things.

28 But what do you? think? A man had two sons, and having come to the first he said, ‘Son, go today, work in the vineyard.’

29 And answering, he said, ‘I will not.’ But afterward, having repented, he went.

30 And having come to the second, he said likewise. And answering, he said, ‘I will sir,’ and he did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of the father?” They say, “The first.” Jesus says to them, “Truly I say to you? that the tax collectors and the prostitutes go before you? into the kingdom of God.

32 For John came to you? in the way of righteousness, and you? did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And you?, having seen, did not even repent afterward to believe him.

33 Hear another parable: There was a man, a master of a house, who planted a vineyard, and placed around it a fence, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. And he rented it out to farmers and traveled abroad.

34 And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers to receive his fruits.

35 And the farmers, having taken his servants, one they beat, and one they killed, and one they stoned.

36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.

37 And afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

38 But the farmers, having seen the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and gain possession of his inheritance.’

39 And having taken him, they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 Therefore, when the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those farmers?”

41 They say to Him, “He will destroy those evil ones grievously, and he will give out the vineyard to other farmers who will give back to him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus says to them, “Did you? never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that those building rejected, this became the head of the corner. This was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Because of this I say to you? that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you?, and it will be given to a people producing its fruits.

44 And the one having fallen on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it might fall, it will grind him to powder.”

45 And the chief priests and the Pharisees, having heard His parables, knew that He speaks about them.

46 And seeking to lay hold of Him, they feared the crowds, because they were holding Him as a prophet.