Open Writing

Nut long after Jesus 'ad fettled t' money-changers, 'e wor walkin' through t' Temple when up comes a crahd o' Scribes an' Chief Preeasts, ready ter start the'r chunterin' and threeapin'.

'Wheeare's thi authority, then?' they axed 'im. 'Wheeare's tha got leave ter do what tha's doin'?'

'Fust let me put a question,' replied Jesus. 'What abaht John the Baptist? What reight 'ad 'e ter baptise fowk? Did it come from God — or from man?'

Well, that fair flummoxed 'em. The' thowt ter thersens: if wi say 'from God', 'e'll say 'Why didn't yer believe John, then?' An' wi dursn't say 'from man', 'cos mooast fowk think John wor a real prophet. So the' just said, 'Wi dooan't knaw'.

'Then Ah s'll nut say what my authority is,' replied Jesus.

Then Jesus telled 'em one of 'is last parribles ...

Ther' wor once a well-ter-do land-awner 'oo set up a grand neew vineyard. 'E put up a strong fence all rahnd it, dug aht a gurt 'oile fer t' wine-press, an' built a watch-tower. In other words, 'e med a reight gooid job on it.

Then t' awner let 'is vineyard aht ter tenant-farmers — an' off 'e went abrooad. When it got ter t' back-end 'e sent a servant ter these 'ere tenants so 'e could 'ave 'is share o' t' profits from t' 'arvest.

Well, t' tenants grabbed 'od o' this servant, brayed 'im summat shockin', an' sent 'im off empty-'anded. So t' awner tried ageean, an' sent another servant. This time t' tenants clahted 'im on t' 'eead, an' 'ooined 'im summat crewel. T' awner sent yet another servant — an' this man the' murdered.

All t' servants 'e sent wer' awther shamefully tret or killed bi these wicked tenants. But t' awner thowt 'e 'd try just once mooare. All 'e 'ad left ter send nah, though, wor 'is awn son.

'Sewerly', 'e thowt, 'The'll show respect fer mi awn son!'

When the' saw 'im comin' inter t' vineyard t' tenants said ter thersens:

'Ey! This is t' son — an' one day 'e 'll bi t'awner. Wi mun kill 'im, an' then t' vineyard 'll belong to us!'
So the' grabbed 'od o' t' son, an' killed 'im, then chucked 'is body ower t' fence.

'Nah, then!' said Jesus. 'What d' yer think t' awner o' t' vineyard's bahn ter do? 'E'll come back an' fettle these tenants! 'E'll kill 'em all, an' 'and t' vineyard ower to other fowk. 'Ave yer nut read i' t' Scriptures?

T stooane 'at f builders thowt wor no use
'As nah getten ter bi t' chief corner-stooane.

T' religious leaders wer' blazin' angry at this tale an' all 'at Jesus 'ad said, an' some on 'em wanted 'im arrested on t' spot. But the' wer' afeeared of all t' ordinary fowk 'at 'ad gathered theeare rahnd Jesus.

A bit later some o' t' Pharisees an't' followers of Herod 'ad another go at Jesus.

'Maister', one on 'em axed. 'Wi know tha's an honest man, an' tha's niwer flaid ter tell t' plain trewth. Nah, tell us this. Is it reight ter pay taxes ter Caesar — or nut?'

Jesus saw what a cunnin' question this wor. If 'e said 'No', the'd 'ave 'im arrested fer defyin' t' Roman authorities. If 'e said 'Yes', fowk i' t' crahd 'ould think 'e wor a suppooarter o' t' Romans.

'Well', says Jesus. 'Art-ta tryin' ter trap mi, then? Tha knaws Ah've no brass missen — but bring me a silver penny an' wi'll 'ave a look at it.'

So someb'dy browt a coin ter t' front, an' Jesus got 'im to 'od it up an' show it ter t' crahd.

'Nah, sither at this coin', says Jesus. 'Whose face is it? Whose name's written rahnd it?'

'It's Caesar's', some on 'em replied. 'It's t' Roman Emperor.'

'Well then', says Jesus, 'Tha mun give ter Caesar what belongs ter Caesar — an' ter God what belongs ter God.'