Thematic Bible: Enunciates


Thematic Bible



Presently Jesus began to speak to them in parables. "There was once a man," he said, "who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine-press, built a tower, rented it to tenants, and went abroad. At vintage-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers to collect some of the proceeds of the vineyard; but they seized him, and flogged him, and sent him away empty-handed. read more.
Then he sent another slave to them; and this man they knocked over the head and handled shamefully. And he sent another; and him they killed; and many others; beating some, and killing some. He had still one, a Son beloved, He sent him last to them, saying, "'They will reverence my Son.' "But those tenants said to themselves. 'Here is the heir! Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' "So they took him and killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the Vineyard do?" "He will come and put the tenants to death," they said, "and will give the vineyard to others." "Have you not read this Scripture?" (he continued) "The very stone which the builders rejected Has now become the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes." And they kept seeking to lay hold on him, but were afraid of the crowd, for they knew well that he had spoken this parable about them; so they left him and went away.

"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season." "Have you never read in the Scriptures," Jesus answered, "how The stone that the builders rejected Has been made the corner-stone; This is the Lord's doing, It is wonderful in our eyes? "I tell you that for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation that does produce the fruit of it. "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but he upon whom it falls will be scattered as dust." As they listened to his parables, the chief priests and the Pharisees recognized that he was speaking about them; but although they longed to apprehend him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Then he began to tell the people this parable. "There was a man who planted a vineyard, and let it out to vine-dressers, and went to another country for a long time. "At harvest-time he sent a slave to the vine-dressers, to ask them to give him a share of the crop; but the vine-dresser beat him and sent him away empty-handed. "Then he sent another slave; and him also they flogged and handled shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. read more.
"Then he sent yet a third, and him to they wounded and threw him out. "Then the master of the vineyard said: "'What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son; it may be that they will reverence him.' "But when the vine-dressers saw him, they reasoned together, saying. 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.' "So they turned him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the master of the vineyard do to them? "He will come and destroy those vine-dressers, and will give the vineyard to others." He looked at them and said: "Then what does this scripture mean. "The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner? "Every one who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces; but whoever it falls upon will be scattered as dust." At this the Scribes and the high priests were seeking to arrest him; only they were afraid of the people. For they perceived that he had referred to them in this parable.


Jesus answered. "A certain man was making a great feast to which he invited many guests. "At dinnertime he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' "And they all, without exception, proceeded to excuse themselves. The first told him. 'I have bought a field, and must needs go and see it. Pray have me excused.' read more.
"The second said: 'I have bought five yolk of oxen and am on my way to try them. I pray that you will have me excused.' "'I have taken a wife,' said the another, 'and for that reason I am unable to come.' "So the slave came and presented all these answers to his master. Then the master of the house was indignant, and said to his slave. 'Go out, quickly, into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the blind, the lame.' "And the slave said, 'My master, your orders have been carried out, but yet there is room.' "Said the master to his slave. 'Go out into the roads and the hedges, and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. "'For I tell you that not one of those invited guests shall taste my supper.'"

Once more Jesus answered them in parables. "The kingdom of heaven," he said, "may be compared to a king who made a wedding-feast for his son. "He sent out his slaves to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they did not want to come. read more.
"Again he sent out other slaves. 'Tell the invited guests,' he said, 'that my luncheon is now ready; my oxen and fat cattle are killed; everything is ready; come to the wedding-feast.' "They, however, paid no attention, but went off, one to his own farm, another to his business; "while the rest seized his slaves and maltreated and murdered them. "Then the king's wrath was roused, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. "Then he said to his slaves, "'The wedding-feast indeed is ready, but the invited guests were not worthy. "'So go out into the partings of the highways, and summon everybody you find there to the wedding-feast.' "So those slaves went out into the roads, and gathered together all whom they found, good or bad, and the banquet-hall was filled with the guests. "Then the king came in to inspect his guests, and he discovered there a man who had not put on a wedding-garment. He said to him, "'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding-garment?' "The man was speechless. "'Bind him hand and foot, 'said the king to his officers, 'and cast him into the outer darkness; there will be the wailing and the gnashing of teeth.' "For there are many called, but few are chosen."


"But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "'Son, go work today in my vineyard!' "'I will go, sir,' he answered; yet he did not go. "Then he went to the second, and said the same thing to him. "'I will not,' he answered; but afterward he changed his mind and went. read more.
"Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!