The Parable of the Tenants

Matthew 21

33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner h who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and i went into a far country. 34 "Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 j "And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 "Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 "Then last of all he sent his k son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 "But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, l 'This is the heir. m Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39 n "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" 41 o They said to Him, p "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, q and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will 1 render to him the fruits in their seasons."

42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
r 'The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD's doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes' ? 2

43 "Therefore I say to you, s the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 "And t whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, u it will grind him to powder."

45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they 3 perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they v feared the multitudes, because w they took Him for a prophet.

  1. Cross References
    Psalms 80:9
    You prepared room for it, And caused it to take deep root, And it filled the land.
    Mark 12:1 - 12
    Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
    Luke 20:9 - 19
    Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 25:14
    For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
  3. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 24:21
    So they conspired against him, and at the comma...
    2 Chronicles 36:16
    But they mocked the messengers of God, despised...
    Matthew 23:34
    Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise me...
    Matthew 23:37
    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the p...
    Acts 7:52
    Which of the prophets did your fathers not pers...
    1 Thessalonians 2:15
    Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own pr...
    Hebrews 11:36
    Still others had trial of mockings and scourgin...
    Hebrews 11:37
    They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were t...
  4. Cross References
    John 3:16
    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 2:8
    Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
    Hebrews 1:2
    Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
  6. Cross References
    Psalms 2:2
    The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying.
    John 11:53
    Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
    Acts 4:27
    For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
  7. Cross References
    Matthew 26:50
    But Jesus said to him, "Friend, why have you come?" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.
    Mark 14:46
    Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.
    Luke 22:54
    Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance.
    John 18:12
    Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.
    Acts 2:23
    Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.
  8. Cross References
    Luke 20:16
    "He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!"
  9. Cross References
    Luke 21:24
    And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
  10. Cross References
    Matthew 8:11
    And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
    Acts 13:46
    Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
    Romans 9:1
    I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit.
    Romans 10:1
    Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 118:22
    The stone which the builders rejected Has becom...
    Psalms 118:23
    This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in o...
    Isaiah 28:16
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I la...
    Mark 12:10
    Have you not even read this Scripture: 'The sto...
    Luke 20:17
    Then He looked at them and said, "What then is ...
    Acts 4:11
    "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you b...
    Romans 9:33
    As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stum...
    Ephesians 2:20
    Having been built on the foundation of the apos...
    1 Peter 2:6
    Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture...
    1 Peter 2:7
    Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; ...
  12. Cross References
    Matthew 8:12
    "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
    Acts 13:46
    Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
  13. Cross References
    Isaiah 8:14
    He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumb...
    Isaiah 8:15
    And many among them shall stumble; They shall f...
    Zechariah 12:3
    And it shall happen in that day that I will mak...
    Luke 20:18
    "Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; bu...
    Romans 9:33
    As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stum...
    1 Peter 2:8
    And "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense...
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:12
    For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, And those nations shall be utterly ruined.
    Daniel 2:44
    And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
  15. Cross References
    Matthew 21:26
    "But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet."
    Mark 11:18
    And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.
    Mark 11:32
    But if we say, 'From men' " - they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 21:11
    So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.
    Luke 7:16
    Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people.
    John 7:40
    Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, "Truly this is the Prophet.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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