Matthew 21:23-46

Matthew 21:23-46

[23] And  when he  was come  into  the temple,  the chief priests  and  the elders  of the people  came  unto him  as he was teaching,  and said,  By  what  authority  doest thou  and  who  gave  authority?  [24] And  Jesus  answered  and said  unto them,  I also  will ask  one  thing,  which  if  ye tell  I in like wise  will tell  by  what  authority  I do  [25] The baptism  of John,  whence  from  heaven,  or  of  men?  And  they reasoned  themselves,  saying,  If  we shall say,  From  heaven;  he will say  not  then  believe  him?  [26] But  if  we shall say,  Of  men;  we fear  the people;  for  all  hold  John  as  a prophet.  [27] And  they answered  Jesus,  and said,  We cannot  tell.  And  he  said  unto them,  Neither  tell  by  what  authority  I do  [28] But  what  think  A certain man  had  two  sons;  and  he came  to the first,  and said,  Son,  go  work  to day  in  vineyard.  [29] He answered  and said,  I will  not:  but  afterward  he repented,  and went.  [30] And  he came  to the second,  and said  likewise.  And  he answered  and said,  go, sir:  and  went  not.  [31] Whether  of  them twain  did  the will  of his father?  They say  unto him,  The first.  Jesus  saith  unto them,  Verily  I say  That  the publicans  and  the harlots  into  the kingdom  of God  before  [32] For  John  came  unto  in  the way  of righteousness,  and  ye believed  him  not:  but  the publicans  and  the harlots  believed  him:  and  it, repented  not  afterward,  that ye might believe  him.  [33] Hear  another  parable:  a certain  householder,  which  planted  a vineyard,  and  hedged  it  round about,  and  digged  a winepress  in  it,  and  built  a tower,  and  it  out  to husbandmen,  and  went into a far country:  [34] And  when  the time  of the fruit  drew near,  he sent  his  servants  to  the husbandmen,  that they might receive  the fruits  of it.  [35] And  the husbandmen  took  his  servants,  and beat  one,  and  killed  another,  and  stoned  another.  [36] Again,  he sent  other  servants  more  than the first:  and  they did  unto them  likewise.  [37] But  last of all  he sent  unto  them  son,  saying,  They will reverence  son.  [38] But  when the husbandmen  the son,  they said  among  themselves,  This  the heir;  come,  let us kill  him,  and  on his  inheritance.  [39] And  they caught  him,  and cast  him out of  the vineyard,  and  slew  [40] When  the lord  therefore  of the vineyard  cometh,  what  will he do  unto those  husbandmen?  [41] They say  unto him,  He will miserably  destroy  those  wicked men,  and  will let out  his vineyard  unto other  husbandmen,  which  shall render  him  the fruits  in  their  seasons.  [42] Jesus  saith  unto them,  never  read  in  the scriptures,  The stone  which  the builders  rejected,  the same  is become  the head  of the corner:  this  is  the Lord's  doing,  and  marvellous  in  eyes?  [43] Therefore  say I  The kingdom  of God  shall be taken  from  and  given  to a nation  bringing forth  the fruits  thereof.  [44] And  whosoever shall fall  on  stone  shall be broken:  but  on  whomsoever  it shall fall,  him  to powder.  [45] And  when the chief priests  and  Pharisees  had heard  his  parables,  they perceived  that  he spake  of  them.  [46] But  when they sought  to lay hands  on him,  they feared  the multitude,  they took  him  a prophet.