光榮進聖城

21 耶穌和門徒離耶路撒冷越來越近了,他們來到橄欖山旁的伯法其。 耶穌派兩個門徒進村,並對他們說:「你們到前面的村莊去,就會看見一頭母驢拴在那裡,旁邊還有一頭驢駒。你們把牠們解開,牽到我這裡。 要是有人問起,你們就說,『主要用牠們』,那人會立刻讓你們牽來。」 這件事是要應驗先知的話:

「要對錫安城[a]說,『看啊,你的君王來了!祂謙卑地騎著驢,騎著一頭驢駒。』」

兩個門徒照著耶穌的吩咐去了, 把母驢和驢駒帶了回來。他們把自己的衣服蓋在驢背上,讓耶穌騎上去。 許多人把衣服鋪在路上,也有些人砍下樹枝鋪在路上。 眾人前呼後擁,歡呼著說:

「和散那[b]歸於大衛的後裔!
奉主名來的當受稱頌!
和散那歸於至高之處的上帝!」

10 耶穌進耶路撒冷時,全城轟動,說:「這是誰?」

11 眾人說:「祂是先知耶穌,來自加利利的拿撒勒。」

潔淨聖殿

12 耶穌進入聖殿,趕走裡面做買賣的人,又推翻兌換錢幣之人的桌子和賣鴿子之人的凳子。

13 耶穌斥責他們說:「聖經上說,『我的殿必稱為禱告的殿。』你們竟把它變成了賊窩。」

14 殿中的瞎子和瘸子都來到耶穌面前,祂便醫好了他們。 15 祭司長和律法教師看見祂所行的奇事,又聽見小孩子在聖殿裡高聲喊著:「和散那歸於大衛的後裔!」便十分惱怒。 16 他們責問耶穌說:「你聽見這些人說的了嗎?」

耶穌說:「我聽見了。聖經上說,『你使孩童和嬰兒口中發出頌讚』,你們沒有讀過嗎?」 17 然後,祂便離開他們,出城前往伯大尼,在那裡住宿。

咒詛無花果樹

18 清早,耶穌在回城的途中餓了。 19 祂看見路旁有一棵無花果樹,便走過去,卻發現除了葉子外什麼也沒有。

祂對那棵樹說:「你將再不會結果子!」那棵樹立刻枯萎了。

20 門徒見了就驚奇地問:「這棵樹怎麼一下子枯萎了?」

21 耶穌回答說:「我實在告訴你們,如果你們有信心、不懷疑,不但能使無花果樹枯乾,就算對這座山說,『從這裡挪開,投進大海裡!』也照樣可以實現。 22 所以,你們禱告時無論求什麼,只要有信心,就必定得到。」

質問耶穌的權柄

23 耶穌進了聖殿,正在教導人的時候,祭司長和民間的長老來質問祂:「你憑什麼權柄做這些事?誰授權給你了?」

24 耶穌說:「我也要問你們一個問題,你們回答了,我就告訴你們我憑什麼權柄做這些事。 25 約翰的洗禮是從哪裡來的?從天上來的,還是從人來的?」

他們便彼此議論說:「如果我們說『是從天上來的』,祂一定會問我們,『那你們為什麼不信他?』 26 但如果我們說『是從人來的』,又怕觸怒百姓,因為他們相信約翰是個先知。」 27 於是,他們回答耶穌說:「我們不知道。」

耶穌說:「我也不告訴你們我憑什麼權柄做這些事。」

兩個兒子的比喻

28 耶穌又說:「你們怎樣看這件事?某人有兩個兒子。他對大兒子說,『孩子,你今天到葡萄園工作吧!』

29 「大兒子回答說,『我不去!』但後來他改變了主意,就去了。

30 「那父親又對小兒子說,『你今天到葡萄園工作吧!』小兒子回答說,『好的,父親。』他答應了,卻沒有去。

31 「你們認為這兩個兒子,到底哪一個服從父親呢?」

他們回答道:「大兒子。」

耶穌說:「我實在告訴你們,稅吏和娼妓要比你們先進上帝的國。 32 因為約翰來指示你們當行的正路,你們不信他,但稅吏和娼妓信了。你們親眼看見了這些事,竟然還是執迷不悟,不肯信他。

惡毒的佃戶

33 「你們再聽一個比喻。有個園主栽種了一個葡萄園,在園子的四周建造圍牆,又在園中挖了一個榨酒池,建了一座瞭望臺,然後把葡萄園租給佃戶,就出遠門了。 34 到了收穫的季節,園主派奴僕到佃戶那裡收果子。 35 但那些佃戶卻抓住他的奴僕,打傷一個,殺死一個,又用石頭打死了一個。 36 於是,園主又派更多的奴僕去,結果也遭到同樣的對待。 37 最後,園主派了自己的兒子去,心想,『他們肯定會尊重我的兒子。』 38 然而,那些佃戶看見園主的兒子來了,就商量說,『這是園主的繼承人。來吧!我們殺掉他,佔了他的產業!』 39 於是,他們抓住他,把他推出園外殺了。 40 那麼,當園主回來的時候,他會怎樣處置那些佃戶呢?」

41 他們說:「他會毫不留情地除掉那些惡人,然後把葡萄園租給其他按時交果子的佃戶。」

42 耶穌說:

「『工匠丟棄的石頭已成了房角石。
這是主的作為,在我們看來奇妙莫測。』

你們難道沒有讀過這段經文嗎? 43 所以,我告訴你們,將把上帝的國從你們那裡奪去,賜給結果子的人。 44 凡跌在這石頭上的人,一定粉身碎骨;這石頭落在誰身上,就會把誰砸爛。」

45 祭司長和法利賽人聽了耶穌的比喻,明白是針對他們講的。 46 他們試圖逮捕耶穌,但又害怕百姓,因為百姓都認為耶穌是先知。

Footnotes

  1. 21·5 」希伯來文是「女子」,可能是對錫安的暱稱。
  2. 21·9 和散那」原意是「拯救我們」,此處有「讚美」的意思。

A entrada de Jesus em Jerusalém

(Mc 11.1-10; Lc 19.28-38; Jo 12.12-15)

21 Quando se aproximavam de Jerusalém e chegavam perto de Betfagé, ao monte das Oliveiras, Jesus então enviou dois dos discípulos à frente. Disse-lhes: “Vão até àquela aldeia além e logo à entrada encontrarão uma jumenta amarrada com a sua cria. Soltem-nas e tragam-mas. Se alguém vos perguntar alguma coisa, respondam-lhe: ‘O Senhor precisa delas e em breve as devolverá.’ ” Assim ia cumprir-se a antiga profecia:

“Digam à filha de Sião: ‘Vê, o teu Rei aproxima-se de ti!
Manso, montado numa cria de jumento,
num pequeno jumentinho.’ ”[a]

Os dois discípulos fizeram como Jesus lhes ordenou. Trouxeram-lhe a jumenta e a cria. Puseram os mantos sobre o lombo dos animais e ele sentou-se em cima.

Muita gente estendeu os seus mantos no caminho, enquanto outros cortaram ramos das árvores e os espalharam no caminho. As multidões iam tanto à frente como atrás, exclamando:

“Hossana ao Filho de David!
Bendito aquele que vem em nome do Senhor!
Hossana nas alturas!”

10 Entrou em Jerusalém e toda a cidade ficou em alvoroço. E perguntavam: “Quem é este?”

11 E o povo respondia: “É Jesus, o profeta de Nazaré da Galileia!”

Jesus no templo

(Mc 11.15-19; Lc 19.45-47; Jo 2.13-16)

12 Jesus entrou no templo e expulsou todos os negociantes e compradores que ali havia; derrubou as mesas dos cambistas e as bancas dos vendedores de pombos. 13 E disse-lhes: “As Escrituras afirmam: ‘O meu templo será chamado casa de oração’, mas vocês transformaram-no num covil de ladrões!”[b]

14 Entretanto, os cegos e os aleijados vinham ter com ele e curava-os ali no templo. 15 Mas quando os principais sacerdotes e especialistas na Lei viram aqueles milagres espantosos, e ouviram as próprias crianças a gritar no templo, “Hossana ao Filho do rei David!”, ficaram inquietos e indignados. 16 E perguntaram-lhe: “Ouves o que dizem estas crianças?”[c]

“Ouço, sim. Nunca leram as Escrituras que dizem: ‘Da boca dos pequenos e das criancinhas de peito tirarei o louvor?’ ” 17 Depois disto, voltou para Betânia, onde passou a noite.

A figueira mirra

(Mc 11.12-14, 20-24)

18 De manhã, quando ia de novo para Jerusalém, sentiu fome. 19 Vendo uma figueira à beira da estrada, aproximou-se dela e nada achou nela, senão folhas. E disse à figueira: “Nunca mais nasça fruto de ti, para sempre!” E logo secou.

20 Os discípulos ficaram pasmados: “Como foi que a figueira secou tão depressa?”

21 Respondeu-lhes Jesus: “É realmente como vos digo: se tiverem fé e não duvidarem, farão não só o que se fez a esta figueira, como dirão a este monte: ‘Levanta-te e atira-te ao mar!’, e assim sucederá. 22 Podem pedir seja o que for em oração que, se crerem, recebê-lo-ão.”

A autoridade de Jesus contestada

(Mc 11.27-33; Lc 20.1-8)

23 Tendo ele entrado no templo, os principais sacerdotes e outros anciãos do povo foram ter com ele, enquanto estava a ensinar, e perguntaram-lhe: “Com que autoridade fazes essas coisas? Quem te deu tal autoridade?”

24 Em resposta, retorquiu-lhes: “Di-lo-ei, se me responderem a uma pergunta: 25 O batismo de João é de inspiração celeste ou humana?”

Eles puseram-se a falar entre si: “Se dissermos que é de inspiração celeste, ele perguntará: ‘Então, porque não acreditaram nele?’ 26 Mas se dissermos que é de inspiração humana, temos receio da multidão, pois todos têm João na conta de um profeta.” 27 Por fim, responderam: “Não sabemos!”

E Jesus respondeu: “Então também não respondo à vossa pergunta!

A parábola dos dois filhos

28 Que acham disto? Um homem que tinha dois filhos disse ao mais velho: ‘Filho, vai trabalhar hoje na herdade.’ 29 ‘Não vou’, respondeu. Mas pensando melhor, acabou por ir. 30 Depois, disse ao mais novo: ‘Vai tu também!’ E ele respondeu: ‘Sim senhor, vou já’, acabando por não ir. 31 Qual dos dois obedeceu ao pai?” Responderam: “O primeiro, sem dúvida.”

Jesus disse-lhes: “É realmente como vos digo: os cobradores de impostos e as mulheres de má vida entrarão antes de vocês no reino de Deus. 32 Porque João Batista disse-vos para se arrependerem e se voltarem para Deus, e não quiseram; no entanto, muitos cobradores de impostos e mulheres mal afamadas arrependeram-se. Apesar de terem visto estas coisas, não se arrependeram e nunca chegaram a crer.

A parábola dos lavradores desonestos

(Mc 12.1-12; Lc 20.9-19)

33 Agora ouçam outra parábola: Certo proprietário plantou uma vinha, erigiu um muro em volta e construiu um lagar. Construiu também uma torre, arrendou a vinha a uns lavradores e partiu em viagem. 34 Quando chegou a época das vindimas, enviou os seus servos ir ter com os lavradores e receber a sua parte da colheita. 35 Mas os lavradores assaltaram-nos; espancaram um, mataram outro e apedrejaram um terceiro. 36 Então o dono enviou um grupo ainda maior do que o primeiro, mas trataram-nos do mesmo modo.

37 Por fim, mandou o filho. Dizia ele: ‘Hão de respeitar o meu filho.’ 38 Os lavradores, porém, ao verem o filho aproximar-se, disseram entre si: ‘Este é o herdeiro. Vamos matá-lo e a herança será nossa!’ 39 Agarraram-no, mataram-no e arrastaram-no para fora da vinha.

40 Quando o dono voltar, que acham vocês que fará àqueles lavradores?”

41 Os anciãos responderam: “Dará uma morte severa a esses malvados e arrendará a vinha a outros lavradores que lhe paguem pontualmente a parte que lhe cabe dos frutos.”

42 Jesus perguntou-lhes: “Não se lembram de ler esta frase nas Escrituras?

‘A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram
veio a tornar-se a pedra fundamental do edifício!
Isto foi outra obra que o Senhor fez,
e é espantosa aos nossos olhos![d]

43 Por isso, garanto que o reino de Deus vos será tirado e entregue a um povo que dê a sua parte da colheita. 44 Quem tropeçar nesta pedra será feito em pedaços e aqueles sobre quem ela cair serão esmagados.”

45 Quando os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus perceberam que a parábola que Jesus contara se referia a eles 46 procuraram prendê-lo, mas tiveram medo das multidões que tinham Jesus como profeta.

21 And when they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead,

Saying to them, Go into the village that is opposite you, and at once you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie [them] and bring [them] to Me.

If anyone says anything to you, you shall reply, The Lord needs them, and he will let them go without delay.

This happened that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled, saying,

Say to the Daughter of Zion [inhabitants of Jerusalem], Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey [a beast of burden].(A)

Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.

They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their coats upon them, and He seated Himself on them [the clothing].

And most of the crowd kept spreading their garments on the road, and others kept cutting branches from the trees and scattering them on the road.

And the crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed Him kept shouting, Hosanna ([a]O be propitious, graciously inclined) to the Son of David, [[b]the Messiah]! Blessed (praised, glorified) is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna (O be favorably disposed) in the highest [heaven]!(B)

10 And when He entered Jerusalem, all the city became agitated and [c][trembling with excitement] said, Who is [d]This?

11 And the crowds replied, This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee.

12 And Jesus went into the temple ([e]whole temple enclosure) and drove out all who bought and sold in the [f]sacred place, and He turned over the [g]four-footed tables of the money changers and the chairs of those who sold doves.

13 He said to them, The Scripture says, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.(C)

14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the [h]porches and courts of the temple, and He cured them.

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did and the boys and the girls and the [i]youths and the maidens crying out in the [j]porches and courts of the temple, Hosanna (O be propitious, graciously inclined) to the Son of David! they were indignant.

16 And they said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus replied to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise?(D)

17 And leaving them, He departed from the city and went out to Bethany and lodged there.

18 In the early dawn the next morning, as He was coming back to the city, He was hungry.

19 And as He saw [k]one single leafy fig tree [l]above the roadside, He went to it but He found nothing but leaves on it [[m]seeing that in the fig tree the fruit appears at the same time as the leaves]. And He said to it, Never again shall fruit grow on you! And the fig tree withered up at once.

20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled greatly and asked, How is it that the fig tree has withered away all at once?

21 And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a [n]firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done.

22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.

23 And when He entered the sacred [o]enclosure of the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, By what [p]power of authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this power of authority?

24 Jesus answered them, I also will ask you a question, and if you give Me the answer, then I also will tell you by what [q]power of authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John—from where was it? From heaven or from men? And they reasoned and argued with one another, If we say, From heaven, [r]He will ask us, Why then did you not believe him?

26 But if we say, From men—we are afraid of and must reckon with the multitude, for they all regard John as a prophet.

27 So they answered Jesus, We do not know. And He said to them, Neither will I tell you by what [s]power of authority I do these things.

28 What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He came to the first and said, Son, go and work today in the vineyard.

29 And he answered, I will not; but afterward he changed his mind and went.

30 Then the man came to the second and said the same [thing]. And he replied, I will [go], sir; but he did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of the father? They replied, The first one. Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the harlots will get into the kingdom of heaven before you.

32 For John came to you walking in the way of an upright man in right standing with God, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots did believe him; and you, even when you saw that, did not afterward change your minds and believe him [adhere to, trust in, and rely on what he told you].

33 Listen to another parable: There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a wine vat in it and built a watchtower. Then he let it out [for rent] to tenants and went into another country.

34 When the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his [share of the] fruit.

35 But the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first time, and they treated them the same way.

37 Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, They will respect and give heed to my son.

38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, This is the heir; come on, let us kill him and have his inheritance.

39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants?

41 They said to Him, He will put those wretches to a miserable death and rent the vineyard to other tenants [t]of such a character that they will give him the fruits promptly in their season.(E)

42 Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?(F)

43 I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it.

44 [u]And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom It falls will be crushed to powder [and It will [v]winnow him, [w]scattering him like dust].(G)

45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), they perceived that He was talking about them.

46 And although they were trying to arrest Him, they feared the throngs because they regarded Him as a prophet.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:9 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Matthew 21:9 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  3. Matthew 21:10 Literal meaning.
  4. Matthew 21:10 Capitalized because of what He is, the spotless Son of God, not what the speakers may have thought He was.
  5. Matthew 21:12 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
  6. Matthew 21:12 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  7. Matthew 21:12 James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary.
  8. Matthew 21:14 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
  9. Matthew 21:15 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
  10. Matthew 21:15 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
  11. Matthew 21:19 Literal meaning.
  12. Matthew 21:19 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  13. Matthew 21:19 James Orr et al., eds., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
  14. Matthew 21:21 Hermann Cremer, Biblico-Theological Lexicon.
  15. Matthew 21:23 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
  16. Matthew 21:23 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  17. Matthew 21:24 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  18. Matthew 21:25 Capitalized because of what He is, the spotless Son of God, not what the speakers may have thought He was.
  19. Matthew 21:27 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  20. Matthew 21:41 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  21. Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not contain verse 44.
  22. Matthew 21:44 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  23. Matthew 21:44 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King(A)(B)

21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,(C) Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

This took place to fulfill(D) what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a](E)

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks(F) on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”(G)

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c](H)

“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”(I)

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet(J) from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Jesus at the Temple(K)

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying(L) and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers(M) and the benches of those selling doves.(N) 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e](O) but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f](P)

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.(Q) 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,”(R) they were indignant.(S)

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”(T)

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,(U) where he spent the night.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree(V)

18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(W)

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt,(X) not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for(Y) in prayer.”

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(Z)

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority(AA) are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”(AB)

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’(AC)

29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(AD) and the prostitutes(AE) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(AF) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(AG) and the prostitutes(AH) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(AI) and believe him.

The Parable of the Tenants(AJ)

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted(AK) a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.(AL) Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.(AM) 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants(AN) to the tenants to collect his fruit.

35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.(AO) 36 Then he sent other servants(AP) to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.(AQ) Come, let’s kill him(AR) and take his inheritance.’(AS) 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

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

41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,”(AT) they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants,(AU) who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

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

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’[h]?(AV)

43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you(AW) and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”[i](AX)

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.(AY)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:5 Zech. 9:9
  2. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
  3. Matthew 21:9 Psalm 118:25,26
  4. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15
  5. Matthew 21:13 Isaiah 56:7
  6. Matthew 21:13 Jer. 7:11
  7. Matthew 21:16 Psalm 8:2 (see Septuagint)
  8. Matthew 21:42 Psalm 118:22,23
  9. Matthew 21:44 Some manuscripts do not have verse 44.