Parable of the Leased Vineyard

Matthew 21:33-44

“Hear another parable. There was a certain landowner, who planted a vineyard. He put a hedge around it, built a winepress in it, and built a watchtower to guard it. He then leased it to a vintner and left for a distant country.

“When the time of harvest approached, he sent his servants to the vintner, expecting to share in its abundance. But the vintner captured his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

“Again, he sent a greater number of servants than before but those of the vineyard treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them, reasoning, ‘They will revere my son.’

“But when the tennets saw the son, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him seize his inheritance.’ And they caught him, cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

“When the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vintners?”

They said to him, “He will angerly destroy those wicked men and lease his vineyard to other vintners, who will honor him with fruit in its season.”

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected—that same stone has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’

“Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a people who will bring in the vineyard’s fruit. And whomever falls on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Mark 12:1-11

And he began to speak to them in parables.

“There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a hedge around it, built a winepress in it, and built a watchtower to guard it. He then leased it to a vintner and left for a distant country.

“And at the harvest time, he sent a servant to the lessee, seeking fruit from the vintner. And they caught him, beat him, and sent him away empty. And again, he sent another servant to them. And they threw stones at him, hit him in the head, and shamefully ran him away. Again, he sent another which they killed. He sent many others and they beat some and killed some.

“The landowner had one son, his beloved son, and he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will revere my son.’

“But those vintners agreed among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him and the inheritance will be ours.’ So, they took him and killed him, throwing him out of the vineyard.

“What then shall the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those vintners and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture; ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes?’”

Luke 20:9-18

Then began he to speak to the people this parable.

“A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to a vintner, left for a far country and was gone for a long time. And at the harvest season, he sent a servant to the vintner, so he could receive fruit from the vineyard. But the vintner beat him and sent him away empty. Again, he sent another servant and they beat him too, abusing him and sending him away, emptyhanded. Again, he sent a third servant, and they wounded him as well and threw him out.

“Then the lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will revere him when they see him.’

“But when the vintners saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Let’s kill him. Then we can keep the inheritance as ours.’ So, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

“So, how will the lord of the vineyard treat them? He will come and destroy these vintners, and give the vineyard to others.”

And when they heard it, they said, “God forbid!”

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?’ Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”