Matthew 21:23-22:14

Authority of the King

This passage begins with a question from the religious leaders which they pose to Jesus about who gave him his authority. Jesus answers their question with a question, also about authority. Then, he tells three parables about faithful and unfaithful sons and slaves, about the kingdom of God and about the marriage feast. For him who has ears to hear, Jesus clearly shows who he is.

  1. And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
  2. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
  3. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
  4. But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
  5. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
  6. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
  7. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
  8. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
  9. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
  10. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
  11. Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
  12. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
  13. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
  14. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
  15. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
  16. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
  17. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
  18. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
  19. They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
  20. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
  21. Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
  22. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
  23. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
  24. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
  1. And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
  2. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
  3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
  4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
  5. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
  6. And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
  7. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
  8. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
  9. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
  10. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
  11. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
  12. And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
  13. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  14. For many are called, but few are chosen.