“There was a certain householder,” Christ said, “which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.” Matthew 21:33. (PK 711.1) MC VC

Thus the Saviour referred to “the vineyard of the Lord of hosts,” which the prophet Isaiah centuries before had declared to be “the house of Israel.” Isaiah 5:7. (PK 711.2) MC VC

“And when the time of the fruit drew near,” Christ continued, the owner of the vineyard “sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 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. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.” Matthew 21:34~39. (PK 711.3) MC VC

Having portrayed before the priests their crowning act of wickedness, Christ now put to them the question, “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?” Matthew 21:40. The priests had been following the narrative with deep interest; and without considering the relation of the subject to themselves, they joined with the people in answering, “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.” Matthew 21:41. (PK 711.4) MC VC