As they heard these things, he added thereto a similitude, because he was nigh to Ierusalem, And because also, they thought that the kingdom of God should shortly appear. He said therefore: A certain noble man, went into a far country, to receive a kingdom, and then to come again. He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds saying unto them: Buy and sell till I come: But his citizens hated him, and sent messengers after him, saying: We will not have this man to reign over us.
And it came to pass, when he was come again and had received his kingdom, he commanded his servants, to be called to him (to whom he gave his money) to wit what every man had done. Then came the first saying: lord, thy pound hath increased ten pounds. And he said unto him: Well good servant, because thou wast faithful in a very little thing, Take thou authority over ten cities. And the other came saying: lord thy pound, hath increased five pounds. And to the same he said: And be thou also ruler over five cities. And the third came, and said: lord, behold here thy pound, which I have kept in a napkin, for I feared thee, because thou art a strait man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down, And reapest that thou didst not sow. And he said unto him: Of thine own mouth judge I thee thou evil servant. Knewest thou that I am a strait man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow? Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank? And then at my coming should I have required mine own, with vantage. And he said to them that stood by: Take from him that pound, and give it him that hath ten pounds. And they said unto him: lord he hath ten pounds. I say unto you, that unto all them that have, it shall be given: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away. Moreover those mine enemies, which would not, that should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. And when he had thus spoken, he proceeded forth before them, and went up to Ierusalem.
And it fortuned, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, besides mount Olivete, he sent two of his disciples saying: Go ye in to the town which is over against you. In the which as soon as ye are come, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon, yet never man sat. Loose him and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, why that ye loose him: thus say unto him, The lord hath need of him.
They that were sent went their way, and found, even as he had said unto them. And as they were a loosing the colt, the owners said unto them: why loose ye the colt? And they said: for the lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Iesus. And they cast their raiment on the colt, and set Iesus thereon. And as he went they spread their clothes in the way.
When he was come where he should go down from the mount Olivete, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and to laud God with a loud voice, for all the miracles that they had seen, saying: Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the lord: Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the pharisees of the company, said unto him: Master rebuke thy disciples. He answered, and said unto them: I tell you, if these hold their peace, the stones will cry.
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept on it saying: If thou hadst known those things which belong unto thy peace, even at this day? But now are they hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, And thine enemies shall compass thee about with a bank. And shall besiege thee round about, and keep thee in on every side, And make thee even with the ground, with thy children which are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought saying unto them, It is written, my house is the house of prayer: But ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. The high priests and the scribes and the chief of the people, went about to destroy him: But could not find what to do. For all the people stuck by him. And gave him audience.
The .xx. Chapter.
And it fortuned in one of those days, As he taught the people in the temple, And preached the gospel. The high priests and the scribes came unto him with the seniors, And spake unto him, saying: Tell us by what authority thou doest these things? Other who is he that gave thee this authority? He answered and said unto them: I also will ask you a question, and answer me: was the baptism of Ihon, from heaven, or of men? They thought within themselves saying: If we shall say from heaven: he will say: Why then believed ye him not? But and if we shall say of men, all the people will stone us. For they surely believe that Ihon was a prophet. And they answered that they could not tell whence it was. And Iesus said unto them: Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Then began he to put forth to the people, this similitude: A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to farmers, and went himself into a strange country for a great season. And when the time came, he sent a servant to his tenants that they should give him of the fruits, of the vineyard. The tenants beat him: and sent him away empty. And he ceased not thereby but sent yet another servant. And they beat him, and foul entreated him also, and sent him away empty. Moreover, he sent the third Also, And him they wounded, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard: what shall I do? I will send my dear son, him peradventure they will reverence, when they see him.