¶ And he began to speak unto them in similitudes. A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with an hedge, and ordained a winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to hire unto husbandmen, and went into a strange country.
And they went about to take him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spake that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.
And he said: unto you is it given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God: but to other in similitudes, that when they see, they should not see, and when they hear they should not understand.
¶ These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs. The time will come when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs: but I shall shew you plainly from my father.