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They cameagaintoJerusalem.
WhileJesuswaswalkinginthe temple courts,
the chief priests,
the experts in the law,
andthe elderscame uptohimandsaid,
“Bywhatauthorityare you doingthese things? Orwhogaveyouthisauthoritytodothese things?”
Jesussaidto them,
“I will askyouonequestion.
AnswermeandI will tellyoubywhatauthorityI dothese things:
John’sbaptism– wasit fromheavenorfrompeople?Answerme.”
They discussedwithone another,
saying,
“Ifwe say,
‘Fromheaven,’
he will say,
‘Thenwhydid younotbelievehim?’
Butif we say,
‘Frompeople – ’” (theyfearedthecrowd,
fortheyallconsideredJohntobe truly
aprophet).
Sothey answeredJesus, “Wedon’tknow.”
ThenJesussaidto them,
“NeitherwillItellyoubywhatauthorityI am doingthese things.”
Thenhe beganto speakto theminparables: “A manplanteda vineyard.
Heputa fencearoundit, dug a pitfor its winepress,
andbuilta watchtower.
Thenheleaseditto tenant farmersandwent on a journey.
At harvest timehe senta slavetothe tenantsto collectfromthemhis portionof the crop.
Butthose tenantsseizedhis slave,
beathim,andsenthim awayempty-handed.
Sohe sentanotherslavetothemagain.
This onethey struck on the headandtreated outrageously.
He sentanother,
and that onethey killed.
This happened to manyothers,
someof whomwere beaten,
otherskilled.
He hadoneleft, his one dearson.
Finallyhe senthimtothem,
saying,
‘They will respectmyson.’
Butthosetenantssaidtoone another,
‘Thisisthe heir.
Come,
let’s killhimandthe inheritancewill beours!’
Sothey seizedhim,killedhim,
andthrewhis bodyout ofthe vineyard.
Whatthen willthe ownerof the vineyarddo? He will comeanddestroythose tenantsandgivethe vineyardto others.
Have younotreadthisscripture:
‘The stonethe buildersrejectedhas becomethe cornerstone.Thisisfromthe Lord,
andit ismarvelousinoureyes’?”
Nowtheywantedto arresthim(butthey fearedthe crowd), becausethey realizedthathe toldthis parableagainstthem.
Sothey lefthimand went away.
Paying Taxes
to Caesar