Parable of the Landowner

33 “Listen to another parable. (A)There was a [a]landowner who (B)planted a (C)vineyard and put a [b]fence around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and he leased it to [c]vine-growers and (D)went on a journey. 34 And when the [d]harvest time approached, he (E)sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his fruit. 35 And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he (F)sent other slaves, more than the first; and they did the same things to them. 37 But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let’s kill him and take possession of his inheritance!’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the [e]owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” 41 They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and (G)lease the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the fruit in the proper seasons.”

42 Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,

(H)A stone which the builders rejected,
This has become the [f]chief cornerstone;
This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a [g]people producing its fruit.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:33 Lit a man, head of a household
  2. Matthew 21:33 Or hedge
  3. Matthew 21:33 Or tenant farmers, also vv 34, 35, 38, 40
  4. Matthew 21:34 Lit the fruit season
  5. Matthew 21:40 Lit lord
  6. Matthew 21:42 Lit head of the corner
  7. Matthew 21:43 Lit nation

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