1. AND [Jesus] started to speak to them in parables [with comparisons and illustrations]. A man planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower and let it out [for rent] to vinedressers and went into another country.
2. When the season came, he sent a bond servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.
3. But they took him and beat him and sent him away without anything.
4. Again he sent to them another bond servant, and they stoned him and wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully [sending him away with insults].
5. And he sent another, and that one they killed; then many others–some they beat, and some they put to death.
6. He had still one left [to send], a beloved son; last of all he sent him to them, saying, They will respect my son.
7. But those tenants said to one another, Here is the heir; come on, let us put him to death, and [then] the inheritance will be ours.
8. And they took him and killed him, and threw [his body] outside the vineyard.
9. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others.
10. Have you not even read this [passage of] Scripture: The very Stone which [after putting It to the test] the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner [Cornerstone];
11. This is from the Lord and is His doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? [Ps. 118:22, 23.]
12. And they were trying to get hold of Him, but they were afraid of the people, for they knew that He spoke this parable with reference to and against them. So they left Him and departed. [Isa. 5:1-7.]
13. But they sent some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians to Him for the purpose of entrapping Him in His speech.
14. And they came up and said to Him, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be, that You cannot lie, and that You have no personal bias for anyone; for You are not influenced by partiality and have no regard for anyone's external condition or position, but in [and on the basis of] truth You teach the way of God. Is it lawful (permissible and right) to give tribute (poll taxes) to Caesar or not?
15. Should we pay [them] or should we not pay [them]? But knowing their hypocrisy, He asked them, Why do you put Me to the test? Bring Me a coin (a denarius), so I may see it.