The Parables of Jesus. Pt. 8 A rented vineyard, Gospel rejection, judgment on the wicked and restoration.
Good morning....
1 John 5:5,10 "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
Matthew 21:33-41 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: 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. 35 And 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. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my 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. 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.
This parable is used to show how the nation Israel has rejected their own Messiah and King, Jesus Christ. We are alerted to the spiritual nature of this parable by the use of "a certain householder." Just as the "certain man" represented the Father in heaven so the "certain householder" represents the Father in this parable.
The word "householder" is from a Greek word that means the master of the household. The word is found in our language as the word "despot" which refers to a person holding absolute power and authority over something, usually a government.
The householder made a significant investment into the vineyard. He installed hedges around it like bramble bushes to keep out people who would steal the grapes or animals that might try to eat them. Then he installed a wine press with a tower. The wine press would process he grapes into liquid form and the tower allowed for guarding the property.
The householder rented out the vineyard to husbandmen to manage it while he was traveling. A husbandman refers to farming tasks like weeding, watering, watching and then bringing in the harvest.
Matthew 21:35-39 And 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. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my 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.
The time of harvest had come and the owner of the vineyard sent his servants to go and collect the profits from his vineyard. The husbandmen beat one servant, killed another and stoned another.
This happened many times and the certain householder naturally became very angry with the husbandmen. He decided to send his son thinking that they would respect him. Instead they determined to kill him and claim the vineyard for themselves.
Matthew 21:40-41 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.
Jesus asked the Pharisees and lawyers what that landowner would do when he discovered that they killed his son. They correctly answered that he would thoroughly destroy the wicked men and rent out his vineyard to honorable husbandmen.
The picture here is that Israel had been a carefully prepared vineyard of Jehovah that was meant to be very fruitful in teaching the nations the truth about God. (Isaiah 5:1-7) Instead the nation mostly rejected Jehovah while they worshiped idols and pursued wealth.
God sent many, many prophets to Israel & Judah over many years calling them to repentance and offering restoration. Hebrews 11 makes it clear that many of them suffered fates similar to the servants and son of the certain householder.
The Father ultimately sent His Son Jesus Christ who was being rejected by the religious leaders or Israel and would end up being put to death by them. So the Pharisees and scribes said a strong judgment upon the wicked husbandmen would be right. Now we will see Christ make the application of this parable.
Matthew 21:42-44 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.
Jesus connects His offer of the kingdom to Israel as the stone rejected by the builders. The Father will take His Son and make Him the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22-23). The application is that the kingdom would be taken from Israel and given back to them in the future when they would demonstrate repentance and faith. (Romans 11:26-27)
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.
There is no doubt that the priests and Pharisees got the message of this parable. They were ready to lay hands on Christ but could not because the multitude of people with him viewed Jesus as a prophet.
Thoughts to Ponder...
The message is very clear. Israel was carefully cultivated by God to be a beacon of light shining His truth into the world. They were to lead other people and nations into a right relationship with God. Instead, they fell into idolatry and materialism.
Prophets were sent and faithfully called them to repent but the nation refused the message. Like the parable, they would kill the Son of God on the cross but Christ would become the chief cornerstone and He will grind them to powder when He returns to judge the world unless they fall before Him in broken repentance.
The message of this parable is personal to us as well. We can respond to the gospel by exercising faith in Jesus Christ or we can reject Him as our savior. If we choose the latter course of action then at the final day of judgment we will be forced to spend eternity in hell.
Bob
1 John 5:5,10 "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
Matthew 21:33-41 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: 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. 35 And 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. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my 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. 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.
This parable is used to show how the nation Israel has rejected their own Messiah and King, Jesus Christ. We are alerted to the spiritual nature of this parable by the use of "a certain householder." Just as the "certain man" represented the Father in heaven so the "certain householder" represents the Father in this parable.
The word "householder" is from a Greek word that means the master of the household. The word is found in our language as the word "despot" which refers to a person holding absolute power and authority over something, usually a government.
The householder made a significant investment into the vineyard. He installed hedges around it like bramble bushes to keep out people who would steal the grapes or animals that might try to eat them. Then he installed a wine press with a tower. The wine press would process he grapes into liquid form and the tower allowed for guarding the property.
The householder rented out the vineyard to husbandmen to manage it while he was traveling. A husbandman refers to farming tasks like weeding, watering, watching and then bringing in the harvest.
Matthew 21:35-39 And 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. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my 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.
The time of harvest had come and the owner of the vineyard sent his servants to go and collect the profits from his vineyard. The husbandmen beat one servant, killed another and stoned another.
This happened many times and the certain householder naturally became very angry with the husbandmen. He decided to send his son thinking that they would respect him. Instead they determined to kill him and claim the vineyard for themselves.
Matthew 21:40-41 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.
Jesus asked the Pharisees and lawyers what that landowner would do when he discovered that they killed his son. They correctly answered that he would thoroughly destroy the wicked men and rent out his vineyard to honorable husbandmen.
The picture here is that Israel had been a carefully prepared vineyard of Jehovah that was meant to be very fruitful in teaching the nations the truth about God. (Isaiah 5:1-7) Instead the nation mostly rejected Jehovah while they worshiped idols and pursued wealth.
God sent many, many prophets to Israel & Judah over many years calling them to repentance and offering restoration. Hebrews 11 makes it clear that many of them suffered fates similar to the servants and son of the certain householder.
The Father ultimately sent His Son Jesus Christ who was being rejected by the religious leaders or Israel and would end up being put to death by them. So the Pharisees and scribes said a strong judgment upon the wicked husbandmen would be right. Now we will see Christ make the application of this parable.
Matthew 21:42-44 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.
Jesus connects His offer of the kingdom to Israel as the stone rejected by the builders. The Father will take His Son and make Him the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22-23). The application is that the kingdom would be taken from Israel and given back to them in the future when they would demonstrate repentance and faith. (Romans 11:26-27)
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.
There is no doubt that the priests and Pharisees got the message of this parable. They were ready to lay hands on Christ but could not because the multitude of people with him viewed Jesus as a prophet.
Thoughts to Ponder...
The message is very clear. Israel was carefully cultivated by God to be a beacon of light shining His truth into the world. They were to lead other people and nations into a right relationship with God. Instead, they fell into idolatry and materialism.
Prophets were sent and faithfully called them to repent but the nation refused the message. Like the parable, they would kill the Son of God on the cross but Christ would become the chief cornerstone and He will grind them to powder when He returns to judge the world unless they fall before Him in broken repentance.
The message of this parable is personal to us as well. We can respond to the gospel by exercising faith in Jesus Christ or we can reject Him as our savior. If we choose the latter course of action then at the final day of judgment we will be forced to spend eternity in hell.
Bob
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