Luke 20:9–26

THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD OWNER

9 Nowc he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,d leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out.

13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my belovede son. PerhapsC they will respect him.’

14 “But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.’f 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and killg those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

But when they heard this they said, “That must never happen!”h

17 But he looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:A,i

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone?B,j

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him.”k

19 Then the scribes and the chief priestsl looked for a way to get their hands on himm that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.n

GOD AND CAESAR

20 Theyo watched closelyp and sent spiesq who pretended to be righteous,C so that they could catch him in what he said,r to hand hims over to the governor’st rule and authority. 21 They questioned him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly,u and you don’t show partialityD,v but teach truthfully the way of God.w 22 Is it lawfulx for us to pay taxesy to Caesarz or not?”

23 But detecting their craftiness, he said to them,E 24 “Show me a denarius.F Whose image and inscription does it have?”

“Caesar’s,” they said.

25 “Well then,” he told them, “give to Caesaraa the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 They were not able to catch him in what he said in public, and being amazed at his answer, they became silent.ab