Jesus began to speak to the people using stories. He said,“ A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went to another place.

耶稣就用比喻对他们说：“有人栽了一个葡萄园，周围圈上篱笆，挖了一个压酒池，盖了一座楼，租给园户，就往外国去了。

耶稣就用比喻对他们说：“有人开垦了一个葡萄园，四周围上篱笆，挖了一个榨酒池，盖了一座守望楼，租给园户，就出外远行去了。

耶稣就用比喻对他们说：“有人开垦了一个葡萄园，四周围上篱笆，挖了一个榨酒池，盖了一座守望楼，租给园户，就出外远行去了。

耶稣用比喻对他们说：“有人开辟了一个葡萄园，在四周筑起篱笆，又在园中挖了一个榨酒池，建了一座瞭望台，然后把葡萄园租给佃户，就出远门了。

耶稣又用比喻对他们说：“有一个人栽种了一个葡萄园，四面围上篱笆，挖了一个压酒池，盖了一座瞭望台，然后租给佃户，就远行去了。

耶稣开始用比喻对他们说：“有一个人栽种了一个葡萄园，四面围上篱笆，挖了一个榨酒池，盖了一座守望楼，然后把葡萄园租给一些农夫，就出外旅行。

耶穌就用比喻對他們說：「有人栽了一個葡萄園，周圍圈上籬笆，挖了一個壓酒池，蓋了一座樓，租給園戶，就往外國去了。

耶穌就用比喻對他們說：「有人開墾了一個葡萄園，四周圍上籬笆，挖了一個醡酒池，蓋了一座守望樓，租給園戶，就出外遠行去了。

耶穌就用比喻對他們說：「有人開墾了一個葡萄園，四周圍上籬笆，挖了一個醡酒池，蓋了一座守望樓，租給園戶，就出外遠行去了。

耶穌用比喻對他們說：「有人開闢了一個葡萄園，在四周築起籬笆，又在園中挖了一個榨酒池，建了一座瞭望臺，然後把葡萄園租給佃戶，就出遠門了。

耶穌又用比喻對他們說：“有一個人栽種了一個葡萄園，四面圍上籬笆，挖了一個壓酒池，蓋了一座瞭望臺，然後租給佃戶，就遠行去了。

耶穌就用比喻對他們講：『有一個人栽了一個葡萄園，周圍安上籬笆，挖了一個壓酒池，造了一座守望樓，租給葡萄園工，就出外而去。

耶穌開始用比喻對他們說：「有一個人栽種了一個葡萄園，四面圍上籬笆，挖了一個榨酒池，蓋了一座守望樓，然後把葡萄園租給一些農夫，就出外旅行。

耶穌以喻語眾曰、有樹葡萄園者、環之以籬、掘酒醡、建望樓、租與農夫、遂往異地、

耶穌設譬曰、有人樹葡萄園、以籬環之、掘酒醡、建塔、租與農夫、遂往異地、

耶穌設喻告眾曰、有人樹葡萄園、以籬環之、掘壓酒處、建望樓、租與園夫、遂往他方、

耶穌設譬訓眾曰：『人有經營葡萄園者、藩之以籬、掘酒池、建高樓、乃租於園戶；而己則出遊國外。

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables:“ A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.

And he began to speak to them in parables.“ A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country.

Then Jesus began teaching them with stories:“ A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.

He began to speak to them in parables:“ A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.

And He began to speak to them in parables:“ A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and leased it to vine growers and went on a journey.

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.

And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.

Then He began to speak to them in parables:“ A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.

And he began to speak unto them by parables. A[ certain] man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about[ it], and digged[ a place for] the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

Then he began to speak to them in parables:“ A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey.

He began to speak to them in parables.“ A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.

“ Again, here is what the kingdom of heaven will be like. A man was going on a journey. He sent for his slaves and put them in charge of his money.

I will sing a song for the Lord. He is the one I love. It’s a song about his vineyard Israel. The one I love had a vineyard. It was on a hillside that had rich soil.He dug up the soil and removed its stones. He planted the very best vines in it. He built a lookout tower there. He also cut out a winepress for it. Then he kept looking for a crop of good grapes. But the vineyard produced only bad fruit.So the Lord said,“ People of Jerusalem and Judah, you be the judge between me and my vineyard.What more could I have done for my vineyard? I did everything I could. I kept looking for a crop of good grapes. So why did it produce only bad ones?

It’s like a man going away. He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge. Each one is given a task to do. He tells the one at the door to keep watch.

He taught them many things using stories. In his teaching he said,

Solomon, you had a vineyard in Baal Hamon. You rented your vineyard to others. They had to pay 25 pounds of silver for its fruit.But I can give my own vineyard to anyone I want to. So I give my 25 pounds of silver to you, Solomon. Give 5 pounds to those who take care of its fruit.”

Using many stories like these, Jesus spoke the word to them. He told them as much as they could understand.He did not say anything to them without using a story. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything.

You brought Israel out of Egypt. Israel was like a vine. After you drove the nations out of Canaan, you planted the vine in their land.You prepared the ground for it. It took root and spread out over the whole land.The mountains were covered with its shade. The shade of its branches covered the mighty cedar trees.Your vine sent its branches out all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. They reached as far as the Euphrates River.Why have you broken down the walls around your vine? Now all who pass by it can pick its grapes.Wild pigs from the forest destroy it. Insects from the fields feed on it.God who rules over all, return to us! Look down from heaven and see us! Watch over your vine.Guard the root you have planted with your powerful right hand. Take care of the branch you have raised up for yourself.Your vine has been cut down and burned in the fire. You have been angry with us, and we are dying.

They are the people of Israel. They have been adopted as God’s children. God’s glory belongs to them. So do the covenants. They received the law. They were taught to worship in the temple. They were given the promises.The founders of our nation belong to them. The Messiah comes from their family line. He is God over all. May he always be praised! Amen.

Is there any advantage in being a Jew? Is there any value in being circumcised?There is great value in every way! First of all, the Jews have been given the very words of God.

Moses was with the Israelites in the desert. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. Moses was with our people of long ago. He received living words to pass on to us.

Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You are a wild olive branch. But you have been joined to the tree with the other branches. Now you enjoy the life- giving sap of the olive tree root.So don’t think you are better than the other branches. Remember, you don’t give life to the root. The root gives life to you.You will say,“ Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree.”That’s true. But they were broken off because they didn’t believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don’t be proud, but tremble.God didn’t spare the natural branches. He won’t spare you either.Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don’t, you also will be cut off.If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.After all, weren’t you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren’t you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn’t that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

David was blessed by God. So David asked if he could build a house for the God of Jacob.But it was Solomon who built the temple for God.

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd using stories. He did not say anything to them without telling a story.So the words spoken by the prophet came true. He had said,“ I will open my mouth and tell stories. I will speak about things that were hidden since the world was made.”( Psalm 78:2)

Jesus began to speak to the people using stories. He said,“ A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he went to another place.At harvest time he sent a servant to the renters. He told the servant to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.But they grabbed the servant and beat him up. Then they sent him away with nothing.So the man sent another servant to the renters. They hit this one on the head and treated him badly.The man sent still another servant. The renters killed him. The man sent many others. The renters beat up some of them. They killed the others.“ The man had one person left to send. It was his son, and he loved him. He sent him last of all. He said,‘ They will respect my son.’“ But the renters said to each other,‘ This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday. Come, let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’So they took him and killed him. They threw him out of the vineyard.“ What will the owner of the vineyard do then? He will come and kill those renters. He will give the vineyard to others.Haven’t you read what this part of Scripture says,“‘ The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all.The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes’?”( Psalm 118:22, 23)Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest Jesus. They knew he had told the story against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

Then Jesus told a story.“ A man had a fig tree,” he said.“ It was growing in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn’t find any.So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said,‘ For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’“‘ Sir,’ the man replied,‘ leave it alone for one more year. I’ll dig around it and feed it.If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The person who obeys them will live by them.I also told them to observe my Sabbath days. That is the sign of the covenant I made with them. I wanted them to know that I made them holy. I am the Lord.

I spoke to their children there. I said,‘ Do not follow the rules your parents gave you. Do not obey their laws. Do not make yourselves“ unclean” by worshiping their gods.I am the Lord your God. So follow my rules. Be careful to obey my laws.Keep my Sabbath days holy. That is the sign of the covenant I made with you. You will know that I am the Lord your God.’

“ Not long after that, the younger son packed up all he had. Then he left for a country far away. There he wasted his money on wild living.

The land used to have vineyards with 1,000 vines worth 25 pounds of silver. But soon the whole land will be covered with thorns and bushes.

He has made his word known to the people of Jacob. He has made his laws and rules known to Israel.He hasn’t done that for any other nation. They don’t know his laws. Praise the Lord.

Instead, he chose to live in the tribe of Judah. He chose Mount Zion, which he loved.There he built his holy place as secure as the heavens. He built it to last forever, like the earth.

Jesus went on to tell the people a story.“ A man planted a vineyard,” he said.“ He rented it out to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time.At harvest time he sent a slave to the renters. They were supposed to give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the renters beat the slave. Then they sent him away with nothing.So the man sent another slave. They beat that one and treated him badly. They also sent him away with nothing.The man sent a third slave. The renters wounded him and threw him out.“ Then the owner of the vineyard said,‘ What should I do? I have a son, and I love him. I will send him. Maybe they will respect him.’“ But when the renters saw the son, they talked the matter over.‘ This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday,’ they said.‘ Let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’So they threw him out of the vineyard. And they killed him.“ What will the owner of the vineyard do to the renters?He will come and kill them. He will give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said,“ We hope this never happens!”Jesus looked right at them and said,“ Here is something I want you to explain the meaning of. It is written,“‘ The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all.’( Psalm 118:22)Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on.”The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest Jesus at once. They knew he had told that story against them. But they were afraid of the people.

The disciples came to him. They asked,“ Why do you use stories when you speak to the people?”He replied,“ Because you have been given the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. It has not been given to outsiders.Everyone who has this kind of knowledge will be given more knowledge. In fact, they will have very much. If anyone doesn’t have this kind of knowledge, even what little they have will be taken away from them.Here is why I use stories when I speak to the people. I say,“ They look, but they don’t really see. They listen, but they don’t really hear or understand.In them the words of the prophet Isaiah come true. He said,“‘ You will hear but never understand. You will see but never know what you are seeing.The hearts of these people have become stubborn. They can barely hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears. They might understand with their hearts. They might turn to the Lord, and then he would heal them.’( Isaiah 6:9, 10)

“ I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener.He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.“ I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me.If you don’t remain joined to me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned.If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be done for you.When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.

“ You came down on Mount Sinai. From heaven you spoke to our people. You gave them rules and laws. Those laws are right and fair. You gave them orders and commands that are good.You taught them about your holy Sabbath day. You gave them commands, orders and laws. You did it through your servant Moses.

You were like a good vine when I planted you. You were a healthy plant. Then how did you turn against me? How did you become a bad, wild vine?

“ What do you think about this? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said,‘ Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’“‘ I will not,’ the son answered. But later he changed his mind and went.“ Then the father went to the other son. He said the same thing. The son answered,‘ I will, sir.’ But he did not go.“ Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”“ The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them,“ What I’m about to tell you is true. Tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. You saw this. But even then you did not turn away from your sins and believe him.“ Listen to another story. A man who owned some land planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it. He dug a pit for a winepress in it. He also built a lookout tower. He rented the vineyard out to some farmers. Then he moved to another place.When harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the renters. He told the slaves to collect his share of the fruit.“ But the renters grabbed his slaves. They beat one of them. They killed another. They threw stones at the third to kill him.Then the man sent other slaves to the renters. He sent more than he did the first time. The renters treated them the same way.Last of all, he sent his son to them.‘ They will respect my son,’ he said.“ But the renters saw the son coming. They said to one another,‘ This is the one who will receive all the owner’s property someday. Come, let’s kill him. Then everything will be ours.’So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard. Then they killed him.“ When the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those renters?”“ He will destroy those evil people,” they replied.“ Then he will rent the vineyard out to other renters. They will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”Jesus said to them,“ Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say,“‘ The stone the builders didn’t accept has become the most important stone of all. The Lord has done it. It is wonderful in our eyes’?( Psalm 118:22, 23)“ So here is what I tell you. The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to people who will produce its fruit.Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces. But the stone will crush anyone it falls on.”The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ stories. They knew he was talking about them.So they looked for a way to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowd. The people believed that Jesus was a prophet.Jesus told them more stories. He said,“ Here is what the kingdom of heaven is like. A king prepared a wedding dinner for his son.He sent his slaves to those who had been invited to the dinner. The slaves told them to come. But they refused.“ Then he sent some more slaves. He said,‘ Tell those who were invited that I have prepared my dinner. I have killed my oxen and my fattest cattle. Everything is ready. Come to the wedding dinner.’“ But the people paid no attention. One went away to his field. Another went away to his business.The rest grabbed his slaves. They treated them badly and then killed them.The king became very angry. He sent his army to destroy them. They killed those murderers and burned their city.“ Then the king said to his slaves,‘ The wedding dinner is ready. But those I invited were not fit to come.So go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.’So the slaves went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests.“ The king came in to see the guests. He noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.‘ Friend,’ he asked,‘ how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man couldn’t think of anything to say.“ Then the king told his slaves,‘ Tie up his hands and feet. Throw him outside into the darkness. Out there people will weep and grind their teeth.’“ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Then I said,“ Lord and King, people are talking about me. They are saying,‘ Isn’t he just telling stories?’ ”

He told them,“ The secret of God’s kingdom has been given to you. But to outsiders everything is told using stories.In that way,“‘ They will see but never know what they are seeing. They will hear but never understand. Otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”( Isaiah 6:9, 10)Then Jesus said to them,“ Don’t you understand this story? Then how will you understand any stories of this kind?

Jesus said,“ A man from an important family went to a country far away. He went there to be made king and then return home.

He said,“ You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way,“‘ They see, but they will not know what they are seeing. They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.’( Isaiah 6:9)

“ Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.