Luke 20:1-16

1And it came to pass on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and announcing the glad tidings, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up,

2and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?

3And he answering said to them, I also will ask you [one] thing, and tell me:

4The baptism of John, was it of heaven or of men?

5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him?

6but if we should say, Of men, the whole people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7And they answered, they did not know whence.

8And Jesus said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

9And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country for a long time.

10And in the season he sent to the husbandmen a bondman, that they might give to him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen, having beaten him, sent [him] away empty.

11And again he sent another bondman; but they, having beaten him also, and cast insult upon him, sent [him] away empty.

12And again he sent a third; and they, having wounded him also, cast [him] out.

13And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps when they see him they will respect [him].

14But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; [come,] let us kill him, that the inheritance may become ours.

15And having cast him forth out of the vineyard, they killed [him]. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do to them?

16He will come and destroy those husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it they said, May it never be!