The Skeptics Annotated Bible (760 page)

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

(21.33)
“There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard … and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

(21.34)
“When the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.”

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

(21.35)
“The husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.”

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

(21.36)
“He sent other servants … and they did unto them likewise.”

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

(21.37)
“Last of all he sent unto them his son.”

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

(21.38-39)
“But when the husbandmen saw the son … they caught him … and slew him.”

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

(21.40-41)
“The lord … of the vineyard … will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

(21.44)
“Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
Whoever falls on “this stone” (Jesus) will be broken, and whomever the stone falls on will be ground into powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

(22.1-14)
The parable of the weddin
g
feast
The kingdom of heaven is, according to Jesus, like the king in this parable. If so, I'd stay away from there if I were you.

The parable begins with the king sending servants to invite everyone to come to his son's wedding feast. But they all made excuses for not coming, and some even killed the king's messengers. So the king sent an army to kill the people that killed his messengers, burning down the city, as well. The king sent out more servants, telling them to invite everyone, good or bad. At the banquet the king noticed that one guest didn't have on a wedding garment, so the king tied him up and “cast him into the outer darkness” where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

22
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

(22.1-2)
“Jesus … said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.”

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

(22.3)
“And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.”

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

(22.4-5)
“Again, he sent forth other servants, saying … come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways.”

6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

(22.6) “And the remnant took his servants … and slew them.”

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

(22.7)
“The king … sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

(22.8-10)
“Then saith he to his servants … as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage … both bad and good.”
318 Is anyone good?”

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

(22.11-12) “When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

(22.13)
“Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot … and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
157 Does Hell exist?