Old Testament

New Testament

Matthew 21:24-35 International Children’s Bible (ICB)

24. Jesus answered, “I will ask you a question, too. If you answer me, then I will tell you what authority I have to do these things.

25. Tell me: When John baptized people, did that come from God or from man?”The priests and the leaders argued about Jesus’ question. They said to each other, “If we answer, ‘John’s baptism was from God,’ then Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe John?’

26. But if we say, ‘It was from man,’ we are afraid of what the people will do because they all believe that John was a prophet.”

27. So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”Then Jesus said, “Then I won’t tell you what authority I have to do these things!

28. “Tell me what you think about this: There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first son and said, ‘Son, go and work today in my vineyard.’

29. The son answered, ‘I will not go.’ But later the son decided he should go, and he went.

30. Then the father went to the other son and said, ‘Son, go and work today in my vineyard.’ The son answered, ‘Yes, sir, I will go and work.’ But he did not go.

31. Which of the two sons obeyed his father?”The priests and leaders answered, “The first son.”Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth. The tax collectors and the prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before you do.

32. John came to show you the right way to live. And you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes believed John. You saw this, but you still refused to change and believe him.

33. “Listen to this story: There was a man who owned a vineyard. He put a wall around the vineyard and dug a hole for a winepress. Then he built a tower. He leased the land to some farmers and left for a trip.

34. Later, it was time for the grapes to be picked. So the man sent his servants to the farmers to get his share of the grapes.

35. But the farmers grabbed the servants, beat one, killed another, and then killed a third servant with stones.

Read complete chapter Matthew 21