020:005 So they debated the matter with one another. "If we say `Heavenly,'"
they argued, "he will say, `Why did you not believe him?'
020:006 And if we say, `human,' the people will all stone us;
for they are thoroughly convinced that John was a Prophet."
020:007 And they answered that they did not know the origin of it.
020:008 "Nor will I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I
do these things."
020:009 Then He proceeded to speak a parable to the people.
"There was a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, let it
out to vine-dressers, and went abroad for a considerable time.
020:010 At vintage-time he sent a servant to the vine-dressers,
for them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dressers
beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.
020:011 Then he sent a second servant; and him too they beat and ill
treated and sent away empty-handed.
020:012 Then again he sent a third; and this one also they wounded
and drove away.
020:013 Then the owner of the vineyard said, "`What am I to do?
I will send my son--my dearly-loved son: they will
probably respect him.'
020:014 "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they discussed
the matter with one another, and said, "`This is the heir:
let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'
020:015 "So they turned him out of the vineyard and murdered him.
What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
020:016 He will come and put these vine-dressers to death, and give
the vineyard to others." "God forbid!" exclaimed the hearers.
020:017 He looked at them and said, "What then does that mean which
is written, "`The Stone which the builders rejected has been
made the cornerstone'?
020:018 Every one who falls on that stone will be severely hurt,
but on whomsoever it falls, he will be utterly crushed."
020:019 At this the Scribes and the High Priests wanted to lay hands
on Him, then and there; only they were afraid of the people.
For they saw that in this parable He had referred to them.
020:020 So, after impatiently watching their opportunity, they sent
spies who were to act the part of good and honest men,
that they might fasten on some expression of His, so as to hand
Him over to the ruling power and the Governor's authority.
020:021 So they put a question to Him. "Rabbi," they said,
"we know that you say and teach what is right and that you
make no distinctions between one man and another, but teach
God's way truly.