They say unto him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus saith unto them, “Did ye never read in the scriptures,

    ’The stone which the builders rejected,
    The same was made the head of the corner;
    This was from the Lord,
    And it is marvellous in our eyes’?

“Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.  And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.”

And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.  And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

THE MARRIAGE OF THE KING’S SON.

And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast:  and they would not come.  Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, ’Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come to the marriage feast.’  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.  But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.  Then saith he to his servants, ’The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.  Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.’  And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:  and he saith unto him, ’Friend, how earnest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment?’ And he was speechless.  Then the king said to the servants, ’Bind him hand and foot and cast him out into the outer darkness’; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.  For many are called, but few chosen.”

THREE HOSTILE QUESTIONS ASKED OF JESUS.

TRIBUTE TO CAESAR.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.  And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one:  for thou regardest not the person of men.  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou?  Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”