² At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

God’s Final Word: His Son

1 In the past God spoke^(A) to our ancestors through the prophets^(B) at many times and in various ways,^(C)

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine,^(B) and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,^(C) while every branch that does bear fruit^(D) he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.^{(E) 4} Remain in me, as I also remain in you.^(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;^(G) apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.^{(H) 7} If you remain in me^(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} This is to my Father’s glory,^(K) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.^(L)

¹⁰ At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.^(A) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

³⁴ When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants^(A) to the tenants to collect his fruit.

⁷ Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets^(A) when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest^(B) and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills^(C) were settled?’”^(D)

³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return^(A) to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’^(B) says the Lord Almighty. ⁴ Do not be like your ancestors,^(C) to whom the earlier prophets^(D) proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways^(E) and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me,^(F) declares the Lord.^{(G) 5} Where are your ancestors now? And the prophets, do they live forever? ⁶ But did not my words^(H) and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors?^(I)

“Then they repented and said, ‘The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve,^(J) just as he determined to do.’”^(K)

Israel’s Misery