The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

33 “Listen(A) to another parable:(B) There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower.(C) He leased it to tenant farmers and went away.(D) 34 When the grape harvest[a] drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to collect his fruit. 35 But the farmers took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.(E) 36 Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

38 “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance!’(F) 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”

41 “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told Him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest.”[b](G)

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.[c]
This came from the Lord
and is wonderful in our eyes?(H)[d]

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its[e] fruit. [44 Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces;(I) but on whoever it falls, it will grind him to powder!]”[f]

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables,(J) they knew He was speaking about them. 46 Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they[g] regarded Him as a prophet.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:34 Lit the season of fruits
  2. Matthew 21:41 Lit him the fruits in their seasons
  3. Matthew 21:42 Lit the head of the corner
  4. Matthew 21:42 Ps 118:22-23
  5. Matthew 21:43 = the kingdom’s
  6. Matthew 21:44 Other mss omit bracketed text
  7. Matthew 21:46 = the crowds

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner

Then(A) He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard,(B) leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a slave 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 slave, 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 beloved(C) son. Perhaps[a] 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 the inheritance will be ours!’(D) 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy(E) those farmers and give the vineyard to others.”

But when they heard this they said, “No—never!”(F)

17 But He looked at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of this Scripture:[b](G)

The stone that the builders rejected—
this has become the cornerstone?[c](H)[d]

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and if it falls on anyone, it will grind him to powder!”(I)

19 Then the scribes and the chief priests(J) looked for a way to get their hands on Him(K) that very hour, because they knew He had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:13 Other mss add when they see him
  2. Luke 20:17 Lit What then is this that is written
  3. Luke 20:17 Lit the head of the corner
  4. Luke 20:17 Ps 118:22

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