God’s Disappointing Vineyard

Pressing Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(A)attained,^[a] or am already ^(B)perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have ^[b]apprehended; but one thing I do, ^(C)forgetting those things which are behind and ^(D)reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ^14 (E)I press toward the goal for the prize of ^(F)the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are ^(G)mature, ^(H)have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, ^(I)God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already ^[c]attained, ^(J)let us walk ^(K)by the same ^[d]rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

¹⁷ Brethren, ^(L)join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as ^(M)you have us for a pattern. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are ^(N)the enemies of the cross of Christ: ^19 (O)whose end is destruction, ^(P)whose god is their belly, and ^(Q)whose glory is in their shame—^(R)who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For ^(S)our citizenship is in heaven, ^(T)from which we also ^(U)eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ^21 (V)who will transform our lowly body that it may be ^(W)conformed to His glorious body, ^(X)according to the working by which He is able even to ^(Y)subdue all things to Himself.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers^(A)

³³ “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner ^(B)who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and ^(C)went into a far country. ³⁴ Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. ^35 (D)And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. ³⁷ Then last of all he sent his ^(E)son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ^(F)‘This is the heir. ^(G)Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ ^39 (H)So they took him and cast 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 (I)They said to Him, ^(J)“He will destroy those wicked men miserably, ^(K)and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will ^[a]render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

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

⁴³ “Therefore I say to you, ^(M)the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ And ^(N)whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, ^(O)it will grind him to powder.”

⁴⁵ Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they ^[b]perceived that He was speaking of them. ⁴⁶ But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they ^(P)feared the multitudes, because ^(Q)they took Him for a prophet.