4. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”
5. They debated with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
6. But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7. So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8. Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
9. He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to vinedressers, and went to a distant country for a long time.
10. At harvest time he sent a servant to the vinedressers so they might give him some fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11. Again, he sent another servant. But they beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12. Once again, he sent a third. And they wounded him also and drove himout.
13. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him when they see him.’
14. “But when the vinedressers saw him, they debated among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’