Matthew 21:33-46

New Matthew Bible

³³ Hear another similitude: There was a certain householder who planted a vineyard. He hedged it round about and made a winepress in it, and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. ³⁴ And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen to receive the fruits of it. ³⁵ And the husbandmen caught his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants, more than at the first, and they treated them likewise. ³⁷ Then last of all he sent to them his own son, saying, They will respect my son. ³⁸ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us take his inheritance for ourselves. ³⁹ And they caught him and thrust him out of the vineyard, and slew him. ⁴⁰ Now when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those husbandmen?

⁴¹ They said to him, He will miserably destroy those evil persons, and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen who will render to him the fruit in their seasons.

⁴² Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders refused, the same is set in the principal part of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? ⁴³ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and will be given to the Gentiles, who will bring forth the fruits of it. ⁴⁴ And whosoever falls on this stone, he shall be broken; but whomever it falls upon, it will grind him to powder.

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and Pharisees heard these similitudes, they perceived that he was speaking of them. ⁴⁶ And they went about to lay hands on him, but they feared the people because they took him as a prophet.