Parable of the Vineyard and the Evil Tenants

Mark 12:1-12

Jesus told the people a parable of the vineyard and the evil tenants.

Jesus said, “There was once a man who planted a vineyard. The man rents his vineyard to the vinedressers because he has to get out of the country and travel to a foreign country for some time.

During the ripe grape season, the man sent his servant to the vinedressers to get some grapes from the vineyard.

The vinedressers don’t want to give the servant any grapes to be brought back to his master.

So they beat up the servant and he was sent back to his master with nothing.

This time, the man sent another servant to the vinedressers to get some grapes from the vineyard.

The servant did as his master commanded him. But when the servant arrived at the vineyard, the vinedressers shamefully treated him and sent him away with nothing.

Finally, the owner of the vineyard sent his son whom he loved to collect grapes from the vinedressers.

But when the son of the owner of the vineyard arrived at the vineyard, the vinedressers said to one another,’ This person is the heir of the vineyard. Let us kill him so that this vineyard will belong to us forever.’

The vinedressers throw his son out and murder him.

So the owner of the vineyard will kill all the vinedressers in his vineyard and gives it to someone else who deserves it.”

When the chief priests heard the parable of the vineyard and the evil tenants, they were very angry with Jesus and plot to kill him.