Matthew 21 Jesus gave a second parable to the Sanhedrin after they questioned His authority at the temple in Jerusalem. “There was a householder who planted a vineyard. He grew a hedge around it, built a winepress and a tower. Then he gave the care of the vineyard over to his husbandmen as the master went off into a far country. “As the time of the harvest got closer, the master of the vineyard sent servants to collect the fruit of the vineyard from the husbandmen. The husbandmen took the servants and beat up one, stoned another, and killed the third. “The master again sent servants for the fruit. Again, the husbandmen did the same to the servants. “Finally, the master sent his son. ‘Surely,’ said the master, ‘they will respect and reverence my son.’ “But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said to each other ‘This is the heir of the vineyard. Let’s kill him, and claim his inheritance.’ “They caught him, and threw the son out of the vineyard, and then they killed him.” Then Jesus asked the Sanhedrin, “What will the Lord of the vineyard do to the husbandmen when he comes himself?” “He will destroy those terrible husbandmen,” they answered. “And then he will give other husbandmen charge of the vineyard, those who will give the fruit to the master.”
