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:

(L)‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:41 give
  2. Matthew 21:45 knew

33 Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country. 34 And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his [a]servants to the husbandmen, to receive [b]his fruits. 35 And the husbandmen took his [c]servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other [d]servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner. 37 But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance. 39 And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures,

[e]The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner;
This was from the Lord,
And it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 [f]And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust. 45 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:34 Greek bondservants.
  2. Matthew 21:34 Or, the fruits of it
  3. Matthew 21:35 Greek bondservants.
  4. Matthew 21:36 Greek bondservants.
  5. Matthew 21:42 Ps. 118:22f.
  6. Matthew 21:44 Some ancient authorities omit verse 44.