5. They discussed this among themselves, and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6. But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ then all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7. So they answered that they did not know from where it came.
8. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
9. Then he proceeded to tell the people this parable. “[A] man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and then went on a journey for a long time.
10. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenant farmers to receive some of the produce of the vineyard. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
11. So he proceeded to send another servant, but him also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed.
12. Then he proceeded to send a third, but this one too they wounded and threw out.
13. The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I shall send my beloved son; maybe they will respect him.’
14. But when the tenant farmers saw him they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him that the inheritance may become ours.’
15. So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16. He will come and put those tenant farmers to death and turn over the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they exclaimed, “Let it not be so!”
17. But he looked at them and asked, “What then does this scripture passage mean:‘The stone which the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone’?
18. Everyone who falls on that stone will be dashed to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
19. The scribes and chief priests sought to lay their hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people, for they knew that he had addressed this parable to them.