Matthew 21:28–45
28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my dvineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, e“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For fJohn came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; gbut tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward 6relent and believe him.
33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner hwho planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and iwent into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 jAnd the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his kson to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, l‘This is the heir. mCome, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 nSo they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
41 oThey said to Him, p“He will destroy those wicked men miserably, qand lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will 7render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
r‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, sthe kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And twhoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, uit will grind him to powder.”
45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they 8perceived that He was speaking of them.