The Rejected Stone

9Then he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to farmers, and went away for a considerable time.”

10And at the proper time he sent a servant to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vine-growers sent him away empty after beating him.

11And he proceeded to send another servant; but they also beat and dishonored that one, and sent him away empty-handed.

12And he sent a third; but they wounded this one also and threw him out.

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

14But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may become ours.’

15And after throwing him out of the vineyard, they killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16He will come and destroy these tenant farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” But when they heard this, they said, “May it never be!”

17But he looked at them and said, “What then is this that has been written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become the head of the corner’?”

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but the one on whom it falls, it will crush him.

19And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour, but they feared the people, for they knew that he had told this parable against them.