[11:18] The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.
[11:19] When evening came, he went out of the city. [11:20] As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. [11:21] Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away."
[11:22] Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. [11:23] For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. [11:24] Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them. [11:25] Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions. [11:26] But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions."
[11:27] They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him, [11:28] and they began saying to him, "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?"
[11:29] Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. [11:30] The baptism of John--was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me."
[11:31] They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' [11:32] If we should say, 'From men'"--they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet. [11:33] They answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."
[12:1] He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. [12:2] When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. [12:3] They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. [12:4] Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. [12:5] Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. [12:6] Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [12:7] But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' [12:8] They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. [12:9] What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. [12:10] Haven't you even read this Scripture:
'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. [12:11] This was from the Lord, it is marvelous in our eyes'?"