011:031 So they debated the matter with one another.
"Suppose we say, 'Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask,
'Why then did you not believe him?'
011:032 Or should we say, 'human?'" They were afraid of the people;
for all agreed in holding John to have been really a Prophet.
011:033 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you,"
said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things."
012:001 Then He began to speak to them in figurative language. "There was once a man," He said, "who planted a vineyard, fenced it round, dug a pit for the wine-tank, and built a strong lodge. Then he let the place to vine-dressers and went abroad.
012:002 At vintage-time he sent one of his servants to receive from the vine-dressers a share of the grapes.
012:003 But they seized him, beat him cruelly and sent him away empty-handed.
012:004 Again he sent to them another servant: and as for him, they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully.
012:005 Yet a third he sent, and him they killed. And he sent
many besides, and them also they ill-treated, beating some
and killing others.
012:006 He had still one left whom he could send, a dearly-loved son:
him last of all he sent, saying, "'They will treat my
son with respect.'
012:007 "But those men—the vine-dressers—said to one another,
"'Here is the heir: come, let us kill him, and then the property
will one day be ours.'