CHAPTER LV.
PHARISEES QUESTION HIS AUTHORITY—PARABLE OF THE HOUSEHOLDER AND HIS VINEYARD.
AND they come again to Jerusalem: and it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes, and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority to do these things?
And Jesus answered and said unto them,
I will also ask of you one question, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? answer me.
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men: all the people will stone us: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. And they
answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them,
Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?