20 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

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20 4 From whence John’s Baptism was. 9 The wickedness of the Priests is noted by the parable of the vineyard and the husbandmen. 21 To give tribute to Caesar. 27 He convinceth the Sadducees denying the resurrection. 41 How Christ is the son of David.

And (A)[a]it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the Temple, and preached the Gospel, the high Priests and the Scribes came upon him, with the Elders,

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is he that hath given thee this authority?

And he answered, and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing: tell me therefore:

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

And they reasoned within themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

But if we shall say, Of men, all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a Prophet.

Therefore they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

Then Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.

(B)[b]Then began he to speak to the people this parable, A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen: and went into a strange country, for a great time.

10 And at the time convenient he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen did beat him, and sent him away empty.

11 Again he sent yet another servant: and they did beat him, and foul entreated him, and sent him away empty.

12 Moreover he sent the third, and him they wounded, and cast out.

13 Then said the Lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be that they will do reverence when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned with themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What shall the Lord of the vineyard therefore do unto them?

16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give out his vineyard to others. But when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

17 ¶ And he beheld them, and said, What meaneth this then that is written, (C)The stone that the builders refused, that is made the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, shall be broken: and on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 20:1 The Pharisees being overcome with the truth of Christ’s doctrine, move a question about his outward calling, and are overcome by the witness of their own conscience.
  2. Luke 20:9 It is no new thing to have them the chiefest enemies of Christ and his servants, which are conversant in the very Sanctuary of God’s holy place: but at length they shall not escape unpunished.