011:030 John's Baptism--was it of Heavenly or of human origin?
Answer me."
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.'
012:008 "So they took him and killed him, and flung his body
outside the vineyard.