The Wicked Tenants

Jesus told the people a parable about a landowner who planted a vineyard, prepared it carefully, and rented it to farmers before going away. When the season came for fruit, the owner sent servants to collect what belonged to him.

But the farmers did not welcome the servants. They beat some, treated some shamefully, and killed some. Again and again the owner sent more servants, and again and again the farmers refused them and sent them away empty.

At last the owner sent his son. The farmers saw him and said he was the heir. Wanting the inheritance for themselves, they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him instead of giving the owner his fruit.

Jesus asked what the owner would do. The answer was severe. Those farmers would be judged, and the vineyard would be given to others who would give its fruit in season. In Luke's account, some listeners cried out against such an ending.

Then Jesus spoke about a stone rejected by builders that became the cornerstone. He said God's kingdom would be taken away and given to people producing its fruit. The chief priests and Pharisees understood he was speaking about them, and they wanted to seize him, but they feared the crowd.