Luke 20:9-18

The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen

⁹ Jesus told another story to the people: "A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone a long time. ¹⁰ In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. ¹¹ He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black and blue, and sent him off empty-handed. ¹² He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street. ¹³ "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.' ¹⁴ "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. 'This is our chance - this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' ¹⁵ They killed him and threw him over the fence. "What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? ¹⁶ Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others." Those who were listening said, "Oh, no! He'd never do that!" ¹⁷ But Jesus didn't back down. "Why, then, do you think this was written: That stone the masons threw out - It's now the cornerstone!? ¹⁸ "Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup."