so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should convert, and their sins be forgiven them.

He answered and said to them, Because it has been given to you 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 grown dull, their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, that they should not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their heart and convert, and I should heal them.

He answered and said, I will not, but afterward 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, Truly, 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 vinedressers and went into a far country.

The kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who made a wedding feast for his son,

Again, he sent out other servants, saying, Tell those being invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast.

And the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

Then he said to his servants, The wedding feast 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 evil and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

For many are called, but few are chosen.

Now when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.

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

But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.

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

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

And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out.

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

You have cleared away for it, and caused the roots to take root, and it filled the land.

It sent out its boughs to the Sea, and its branches to the River.

The boar out of the woods tears it up, and the wild beast of the field devours it.

and the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the son that You made strong for Yourself.

And He fenced it, and cleared out its stones, and planted it with choice vines, and built a tower in its midst, and hewed out a winepress in it; and He looked for it to produce grapes, but it produced rotten grapes.

What more could have been done to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield rotten grapes?

Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it encumber the ground?

And see if it produces fruit. But if not, after that you can cut it down.

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

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, 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 as a branch and is dried up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; thus you will be 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, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be highminded, but fear.

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: On those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will 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 will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree.

I am Jehovah your God. Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them;