Harmony of The Gospels: Topic 158

The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative
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(158) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19

      [A]Then He began to speak to the people in parables, and He said: “Listen to another parable: There was a certain man who planted a vineyard on his land. He put a wall around it, dug in it a place for the wine-press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to vinedressers and went into a distant country for a long time.

      [B]“And when the season came, when the time to harvest the fruit was drawing near, he sent his servants to the tenants, so that they might receive the fruits of the vineyard. But the tenants seized his servants. They took one and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. They killed another and stoned still another.

      [C]“Then he sent other servants, more than the first time, and the tenants did the same thing to them. They again sent one away empty-handed. They treated him in a shameful way, and threw stones at him, wounding him in the head.

      [D]“Then again, for the third time, he sent his servant, and many others. They wounded and killed him and threw him out. They beat the others, killing some.

      [E]“Then the lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do?’

      “Now he had one more to send, his dearly-beloved. So, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, saying, ‘I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him when they see him.’

      [F]“But when the tenants saw the son, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance. And it shall be ours.’

      [G]“So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard; they killed him.”

      [H]“Therefore,” Jesus said to them, “when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

      [I]“He will destroy those wicked men in a horrible way,” they said, “and lease his vineyard to other tenants, who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

      [J]Yes,” Jesus replied, “he will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation which will bring in the fruits of it.”

      When they heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

      [K]Then Jesus, looking straight at them, said, “Then what is the meaning of this? Haven’t you ever read it in the Scriptures:


            The stone which the builders

      rejected has become the chief

      cornerstone.

             The Lord has done this,

      and it is marvelous in our eyes?[1]


      [L]“And whoever stumbles over this stone will be broken;[2] but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”[3]

      [M]When the chief priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees heard His parables, especially this one, they knew that He was speaking against them. So they left Him and went their way, plotting that very hour how they might arrest Him. But they feared the multitude of people, because they took Him for a prophet.


(158) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Matthew 21:33-46, KJV

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.


(158) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Mark 12:1-12, KJV

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. 8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. 9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. 10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: 11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.


(158) The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Luke 20:9-19, KJV

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17 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? 18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.


(1) Ps. 118:22-23 (2) Isa. 8:14-15 (3) Dan. 2:34-35


[A] Mt 21:33, Mk 12:1, Lk 20:9 [B] Mt 21:34-35, Mk 12:2-3, Lk 20:10 [C] Mt 21:36, Mk 12:4, Lk 20:11 [D] Mk 12:5, Lk 20:12 [E] Mt 21:37, Mk 12:6, Lk 20:13 [F] Mt 21:38, Mk 12:7, Lk 20:14 [G] Mt 21:39, Mk 12:8, Lk 20:15a [H] Mt 21:40, Mk 12:9a, Lk 20:15b [I] Mt 21:41 [J] Mt 21:43, Mk 12:9b, Lk 20:16 [K] Mt 21:42, Mk 12:10-11, Lk 20:17 [L] Mt 21:44, Lk 20:18 [M] Mt 21:45-46, Mk 12:12, Lk 20:19


Harmony of The Gospels: The Four Gospels arranged into a single narrative

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