The Wicked Tenants in the Vineyard
(Matthew 21: 33-45; Mark 12: 1-12; Luke 20 : 9-19)
SYMBOLISM
* Vineyard is a common symbol for the Jewish nation in scripture.
* The land owner of the Vineyard represents God, who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watch tower.
This shows God watches us with all care and precaution.
* The Landowner’s servants are the prophets of the Old Testament. When vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
This shows that God sent His prophets to preach and teach the people – men like John the Baptist who had the authority to speak for God. John proclaimed, Jesus to be the Messiah. But the Israel leaders rejected him.
* The tenants are the Jewish rulers. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
This shows the treachery and the disrespect that the kings had shown towards God’s servants.
* The owner’s son represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
This shows that the proclamation of the prophets that Jesus was the Messiah, was rejected by His own people and they cast Him out of the land and killed Him and thereby incurred the divine judgement.
∗The corner stone refers to Jesus our Saviour.
So, the rejected stone becomes the corner stone. It refers to the crucifixion and the restoration and resurrection of Jesus.
THE DIVINE JUDGEMENT
∗ The stone metaphor in Matthew 21: 44 shows how a stone can be used to build something beautiful, such as His church, or it can be used to crush and destroy the sinner, depending on the situation.
∗ The cornerstone shows that, to the believers, God’s Word is salvation, peace and comfort. To the others, it is foolish and disconcerting because of its ability to convict a man of his sins.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
∗ The people, who rejected the stone would be refrained from the Kingdom of Heaven and the fruit bearing believers would be added unto His Kingdom.
INSIGHT OF THE UNBELIEVERS
The chief priests of the religious establishment…….
∗ ….are jealous and envious of Jesus’ popularity with the common people.
∗ ….realise that Jesus is talking about them which hurts their pride and embarrasses them in front of the people.
∗ ….understood the analogy of the son and that Jesus was referring to Himself. This would be blasphemous to them.
THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE PARABLE
The priests of the religious establishment decided to seek and kill Jesus. From then on wards the leaders would meet in secrecy to plot how they would get rid of Jesus. Why all the secrecy? The believers thought of Jesus as a prophet from God; arresting Him could cause an uprising. An uprising would jeopardise the leaders’ relationship with the Roman authorities, something that the Jews did not want at any cost.
APPLICATION IN OUR LIVES
Are we the wicked tenants or are we the servants of the Landowner?
Are we living a life of obedience to His Word or living a life of disobedience to His Word?
It’s our choice!
Let’s pray…..
Lord, let us follow You faithfully and keep us safe in Your Kingdom..
Lord, Your work in our lives is marvellous. We thank you, Lord.
Lord, give us the strength to be like the Cornerstone and be ready for Your judgement.
Glory be to God.
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