Luke 20:9-26

9Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time.

10When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed.

11So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.

12So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out.

13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.’

14But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so the inheritance will be ours!’

15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never happen!”

17But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

18Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.”

19Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

20Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

21Thus they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

22Is it right for us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar or not?”

23But Jesus perceived their deceit and said to them,

24“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They said, “Caesar’s.”

25So he said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.