Mark 12:1-9

1Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.

2At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop.

3But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

4The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head.

5The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed,

6until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

7“But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’

8So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.

9“What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.