Study Desk

^(C1)But He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to ^(F1)vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.

"At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

"And he proceeded to send another slave; but they beat him also and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

"And he proceeded to send a third; but this one too they wounded and threw out.

"Now the ^(F1)owner of the vineyard said, 'What am I to do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will ^(C1)respect him.'

"But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.'

"And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the ^(F1)owner of the vineyard do to them?

"He will come and ^(C1)put these vine-growers to death, and will give the vineyard to others." However, when they heard this, they said, "^(C2)May it never happen!"

But ^(F1)Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what is this statement that has been written: '^(C1)A STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS HAS BECOME ^(C2)THE ^(F2)CHIEF CORNERSTONE'?

"^(C1)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him."

The scribes and the chief priests ^(C1)tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them.