Matthew 21:33-46

Modern English Version

The Parable of the Vineyard and the Vinedressers^(A)

³³ “Listen to another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and built a wall around it. He dug a winepress in it and built a tower. Then he rented it to vinedressers and went into a distant country. ³⁴ When the season of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers to receive his fruit.

³⁵ “The vinedressers took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again, he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did likewise to them. ³⁷ Last of all, he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

³⁸ “But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ ³⁹ So they caught him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

⁴⁰ “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

⁴¹ They said, “He will severely destroy those wicked men and rent his vineyard to other vinedressers who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing its fruits. ⁴⁴ Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. ⁴⁶ But as they tried to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they held Him as a prophet.