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APRIL 29
is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the
inheritance may be ours.’ So they cast him
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out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore
20:5 Why then did you not believe him? what will the owner of the vineyard do to
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John had clearly testified that Jesus was the them? He will come and destroy those vine-
Messiah. If John was a prophet whose words dressers and give the vineyard to others.”
were true, they ought to believe his testimony And when they heard it they said, “Cer-
about Christ.On the other hand,it would have tainly not!”
been political folly for the Pharisees to attack 17 Then He looked at them and said, “What
the legitimacy of John the Baptist or deny his then is this that is written:
authority as a prophet of God. John was enor-
mously popular with the people and a martyr ‘The stone which the builders rejected
at the hands of the despised Herod. For the Has become the chief cornerstone’?
Pharisees to question John’s authority was to 18 Whoever falls on that stone will be broken;
attack a national hero, and they knew better
than that. So they pleaded ignorance (v. 7). but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to
powder.”
19 And the chief priests and the scribes that
very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but
7 So they answered that they did not know they feared the people—for they knew He had
where it was from. spoken this parable against them.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell 20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who
you by what authority I do these things.” pretended to be righteous, that they might
9 Then He began to tell the people this para- seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to
ble: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased the power and the authority of the governor.
it to vinedressers, and went into a far country 21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher,
for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a we know that You say and teach rightly, and
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servant to the vinedressers, that they might You do not show personal favoritism, but
give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful for
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the vinedressers beat him and sent him away us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
empty-handed. Again he sent another ser- 23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to
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vant; and they beat him also, treated him them, “Why do you test Me? Show Me a denar-
shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. ius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”
12 And again he sent a third; and they wounded They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”
him also and cast him out. 25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to
“Then the owner of the vineyard said, Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to
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‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. God the things that are God’s.”
Probably they will respect him when they see 26 But they could not catch Him in His words
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him.’ But when the vinedressers saw him, in the presence of the people. And they mar-
they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This veled at His answer and kept silent.
DAY 29: How does Ruth exemplify the Proverbs 31 wife?
The “virtuous” wife of Proverbs 31:10 is personified by “virtuous” Ruth of whom the same
Hebrew word is used (Ruth 3:11). With amazing parallel, they share at least 8 character traits (see
below).One wonders (in concert with Jewish tradition) if King Lemuel’s mother might not have been
Bathsheba, who orally passed the family heritage of Ruth’s spotless reputation along to David’s son
Solomon. Lemuel, which means “devoted to God,”could have been a family name for Solomon (see
Jedidiah, 2 Sam.12:25), who then could have penned Proverbs 31:10–31 with Ruth in mind:

1. Devoted to her family (Ruth 1:15–18 // Prov. 31:10–12,23).
2. Delighted in her work (Ruth 2:2 // Prov. 31:13).
3. Diligent in her labor (Ruth 2:7,17,23 // Prov. 31:14–18,19–21,24,27).
4. Dedicated to godly speech (Ruth 2:10,13 // Prov. 13:26).
5. Dependent on God (Ruth 2:12 // Prov. 31:25b,30).
6. Dressed with care (Ruth 3:3 // Prov. 31:22,25a).
7. Discreet with men (Ruth 3:6–13 // Prov. 31:11,12,23).
8. Delivered blessings (Ruth 4:14,15 // Prov. 31:28,29,31)

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