English Standard Version

Luke 20:3-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

3. He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,

4. was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”

5. And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

6. But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

7. So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

8. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

9. And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.

10. When the time came, he sent a servantto the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

11. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.

12. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.

13. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’

14. But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’