so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them.'"

He answered and said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes have closed, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn back, that I should heal them.'

"But he answered and said, 'I will not,' but later he regretted it and went.

Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

"Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to farmers and went on a journey.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a wedding for his son,

Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Say to those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things [are] ready. Come to the wedding."'

And the rest seized his servants, mistreated [them], and killed [them].

Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding [hall] was filled with guests.

So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not having wedding clothes?' And he was speechless.

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

Now when [harvest] time of fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, that they might collect his fruits.

Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did to them likewise.

"But when the farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and let us gain possession of his inheritance.'

Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"

Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the farmers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers flogged him and sent him away empty-handed.

And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and threw [him] out.

But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.'

You made a way before it, and caused its roots to strike, and the land was filled [with it].

It sent forth its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the river.

The boar out of the wood has laid it waste, and the wild beast has devoured it.

and restore that which Your right hand has planted, and look on the son of man whom You have strengthened for Yourself.

And I made a hedge round it, and dug a trench, and planted a choice vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and dug a place for the wine vat in it; and I waited [for it] to bring forth grapes, and it brought forth thorns.

What shall I do anymore to My vineyard, that I have not done to it? Whereas I expected [it] to bring forth grapes, but it has brought forth thorns.

Then he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and I haven't found [any]. Cut it down; why does it even waste the ground?'

And if it produces fruit, [fine]. But if not, in the coming [year], you can cut it down.'"

Every branch in Me which does not bear fruit He takes away; and every [branch] which bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.

Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit on its own, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw [them] into the fire, and they are burned.

By this My Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; and you will become My disciples.

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, [remember] that you do not support the root, but the root [supports] you.

Well [said]. By unbelief they were broken off, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear.

Behold then the kindness and severity of God: upon those that fell, severity; but upon you, kindness, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also shall be cut off.

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these, the natural ones, be grafted into their own olive tree?

I [am] the Lord your God; walk in My commandments, and keep My ordinances, and do them;