The LORD, the God of their ancestors, had continued to send prophets to warn his people, because he wanted to spare them and the Temple.

But they made fun of God's messengers, ignoring his words and laughing at his prophets, until at last the LORD's anger against his people was so great that there was no escape.

The LORD had sent his messengers and prophets to warn Israel and Judah: "Abandon your evil ways and obey my commands, which are contained in the Law I gave to your ancestors and which I handed on to you through my servants the prophets."

They refused to obey his instructions, they did not keep the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves, and they followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying the LORD's command not to imitate them.

"But your people rebelled and disobeyed you; they turned their backs on your Law. They killed the prophets who warned them, who told them to turn back to you. They insulted you time after time,

From the day that your ancestors came out of Egypt until this very day I have kept on sending to you my servants, the prophets.

Yet no one listened or paid any attention. Instead, you became more stubborn and rebellious than your ancestors.

You would not listen or pay attention, even though the LORD has continued to send you his servants the prophets.

They told you to turn from your wicked way of life and from the evil things you are doing, so that you could go on living in the land that the LORD gave you and your ancestors as a permanent possession.

and by paying attention to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I have kept on sending to you. You have never obeyed what they said.

I kept sending you my servants the prophets, who told you not to do this terrible thing that I hate.

But you would not listen or pay any attention. You would not give up your evil practice of sacrificing to other gods.

How terrible for you! You make fine tombs for the prophets---the very prophets your ancestors murdered.

For this reason the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and messengers; they will kill some of them and persecute others.'

from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the Holy Place. Yes, I tell you, the people of this time will be punished for them all!

But Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone were to rise from death.' "

Then Jesus told the people this parable: "There was once a man who planted a vineyard, rented it out to tenants, and then left home for a long time.

So he sent another slave; but the tenants beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him back without a thing.

Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my own dear son; surely they will respect him!'

So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to the tenants?" Jesus asked.

He is our God; we are the people he cares for, the flock for which he provides. Listen today to what he says:

"Don't be stubborn, as your ancestors were at Meribah, as they were that day in the desert at Massah.

Listen to what I am saying; pay attention to what I am telling you.

Will any of you listen to this? From now on will you listen with care?

"Listen to me, my people, listen to what I say: I give my teaching to the nations; my laws will bring them light.

"Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life! I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised to David.

And Jesus concluded, "Listen, then, if you have ears!"

because their minds are dull, and they have stopped up their ears and have closed their eyes. Otherwise, their eyes would see, their ears would hear, their minds would understand, and they would turn to me, says God, and I would heal them.'

"As for you, how fortunate you are! Your eyes see and your ears hear.