This was the real light---the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

God gave the Law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

"I am telling you the truth," Jesus said. "What Moses gave you was not the bread from heaven; it is my Father who gives you the real bread from heaven.

For my flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink.

However, the command I now write you is new, because its truth is seen in Christ and also in you. For the darkness is passing away, and the real light is already shining.

Judah will hold the royal scepter, And his descendants will always rule. Nations will bring him tribute And bow in obedience before him.

He ties his young donkey to a grapevine, To the very best of the vines. He washes his clothes in blood-red wine.

You brought a grapevine out of Egypt; you drove out other nations and planted it in their land.

It covered the hills with its shade; its branches overshadowed the giant cedars.

Why did you break down the fences around it? Now anyone passing by can steal its grapes;

Turn to us, Almighty God! Look down from heaven at us; come and save your people!

Our enemies have set it on fire and cut it down; look at them in anger and destroy them!

We will never turn away from you again; keep us alive, and we will praise you.

The time is coming when the LORD will make every plant and tree in the land grow large and beautiful. All the people of Israel who survive will take delight and pride in the crops that the land produces.

Listen while I sing you this song, a song of my friend and his vineyard: My friend had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

So now my friend says, "You people who live in Jerusalem and Judah, judge between my vineyard and me.

"Here is what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge around it, break down the wall that protects it, and let wild animals eat it and trample it down.

Israel is the vineyard of the LORD Almighty; the people of Judah are the vines he planted. He expected them to do what was good, but instead they committed murder. He expected them to do what was right, but their victims cried out for justice.

I planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. But look what you have become! You are like a rotten, worthless vine.

Many foreign rulers have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my fields; they have turned my lovely land into a desert.

"Mortal man," he said, "how does a vine compare with a tree? What good is a branch of a grapevine compared with the trees of the forest?

It is only good for building a fire. And when the ends are burned up and the middle is charred, can you make anything out of it?

Now this is what the Sovereign LORD is saying: "Just as a vine is taken from the forest and burned, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem

The people of Israel were like a grapevine that was full of grapes. The more prosperous they were, the more altars they built. The more productive their land was, the more beautiful they made the sacred stone pillars they worship.

Listen then, Joshua, you who are the High Priest; and listen, you fellow priests of his, you that are the sign of a good future: I will reveal my servant, who is called The Branch!

"Listen to another parable," Jesus said. "There was once a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip.

Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.

We will get up early and look at the vines to see whether they've started to grow, whether the blossoms are opening and the pomegranate trees are in bloom. There I will give you my love.

Solomon has a vineyard in a place called Baal Hamon. There are farmers who rent it from him; each one pays a thousand silver coins.

Solomon is welcome to his thousand coins, and the farmers to two hundred as their share; I have a vineyard of my own!

On that day the LORD will say of his pleasant vineyard,

"I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so that no one will harm it.

Your people will all do what is right, And will possess the land forever. I planted them, I made them, To reveal my greatness to all.

To give to those who mourn in Zion Joy and gladness instead of grief, A song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees That the LORD himself has planted. They will all do what is right, And God will be praised for what he has done.

"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a man who went out early in the morning to hire some men to work in his vineyard.

Then Jesus spoke to them in parables: "Once there was a man who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press, and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to tenants and left home on a trip.

For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field. You are also God's building.