Parable of the Landowner

Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner hwho planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and iwent into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 jAnd the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his kson to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, l‘This is the heir. mCome, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 nSo they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

41 oThey said to Him, p“He will destroy those wicked men miserably, qand lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will 7render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

r‘The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the Lord’s doing,

And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 “Therefore I say to you, sthe kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And twhoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, uit will grind him to powder.”

45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they 8perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they vfeared the multitudes, because wthey took Him for a prophet.

Parable of the Marriage Feast

22 And Jesus answered aand spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; bmy oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them 1spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out chis armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not dworthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and egathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there fwho did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was gspeechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, 2take him away, and cast him hinto outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 i“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Conflict with Pharisees and Herodians

Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

15 jThen the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the kHerodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not 3regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

18 But Jesus 4perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.”

So they brought Him a denarius.

20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”

And He said to them, l“Render 5therefore to Caesar the things that are mCaesar’s, and to God the things that are nGod’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way.