Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The vineyard is let out. Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. Of the Sadducees and of the doctor of law. Hypocrites must be eschewed. The offering of the poor widow.

12 And he began to speak to them in similitudes: A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it about with a hedge, and made a winepress, and built a tower in it. And he let it out on hire to husbandmen, and went into a far country. ² And when the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, in order to receive from the tenants some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ And they caught him and beat him, and sent him back empty-handed. ⁴ And moreover he sent to them another servant, and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him back utterly reviled. ⁵ And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.

⁶ He had yet one son, whom he loved tenderly. Him also he sent to them at the last, saying, They will respect my son. ⁷ But the tenants said amongst themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours. ⁸ And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.

⁹ What then will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this scripture: The stone which the builders refused is made the chief stone in the corner; ¹¹ this was done by the Lord, and is marvellous in our eyes?

¹² And they went about to apprehend him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he had spoken that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.