The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

(Matthew 21:33–46, Mark 12:1–12)

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

12 

Then vvv 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 when they see [him].[fn]’

14 

But when the tenants saw [the son], they discussed it among themselves [and] said,‘This is the heir. Come,[fn] 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,“vvv 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 vvv he on whom it falls will be crushed

19