40. "When the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those renters?"
41. "He will destroy those evil people," they replied. "Then he will rent the vineyard out to other renters. They will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."
42. Jesus said to them, "Haven't you ever read what the Scriptures say, " 'The stone the builders didn't accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes'? (Psalm 118:22,23)
43. "So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit.
44. Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on."
45. The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' stories. They knew he was talking about them.