The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(Matthew 21:33–46, Mark 12:1–12)

9 Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it {out} to [some] tenants, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect [his share] of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat [the servant] [and] sent him away empty-handed.

11 [So] he sent another servant, but they beat [him] and treated him shamefully sending [him] away empty-handed.

12 Then he sent a third, but they wounded him [and] threw [him] out.

13 ‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’

14 But when the tenants saw [the son], they discussed it among themselves [and] said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, [and] the inheritance will be ours.’

15 So they threw him out of the vineyard [and] killed [him]. What then {will} the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And [when the people] heard [this], they said, May such a thing never happen!”

17 But [Jesus] looked directly at them [and] said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘[The] stone the builders rejected has become [the] cornerstone

18 Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed