The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 21 Part 8 The Parable Of The Wicked Husbandmen (1)

Matthew twenty one began with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on an ass and its foal, as scripture foretold.

Next, Jesus cleansed the Temple of God, overturing the money changer's tables and driving out those who profited by selling sacrificial animals at high prices.

The next morning as they traveled back to the Temple, and Jesus inspected a fig tree that looked healthy but was barren of fruit.

Jesus judged the barren fig tree by saying it would never produce any fruit and it withered from the bottom up and died.

This pictures Christ inspecting the lives of each Christian to see if we are living for God's glory and doing His kingdom work.

Jesus was then confronted by the scribes and priests who demanded to know by what authority Jesus did these things.

Jesus replied that they must first answer His question about John the Baptists ministry.

The scribes and priests avoided answering Jesus, so our Lord told them a parable about a father and two sons who were told to go today and work in his vineyard.

One son flatly said he would not go, but later repented and did the work his father asked him to do.

This son is a picture of those who responded to John the Baptist's ministry.

The other son said he was willing to go into the vineyard, but it was mere lip service. 

He never did any work for his father.

This son represents religious Jews who loved the praises and traditions of men more than the praises and scriptures of God.

Jesus asked the scribes and priests which of the two sons actually did the will of his father and they rightly replied the first son.

Therefore, Jesus condemned the religious leaders for their unbelief.

Next, Jesus gave a more powerful parable to illustrate the dangerous judgment awaiting religious Jews who trusted in their traditions instead of trusting God.

This parable of Jesus is known as the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.

Matthew 21:33  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: 

A householder in this parable is the master of the home, and the landowner.

The householder decided to plant a vineyard that would produce good crops of grapes for producing wine.

This was a carefully planned vineyard where vines were planted in orderly rows, with enough separation between them to ensure optimal growing conditions.

He also planted a suitable dense hedge around the perimeter of the vineyard to keep the vines safe from animals that might otherwise eat the fruit.

A good hedge also kept people from sneaking in to steal fruit from his vineyard.

A good diagram from Logos Bible Software which I have, is pasted below to illustrate what a winepress looked like.

Next, the householder excavated down to rock in order to form an upper trench where grapes were pressed, and lower inground vats or cisterns to catch the juice.

Finally, the householder constructed a tower for men to guard against animals trying to enter the vineyard or people trying to steal grapes.

At this point, the householder "let it out" to husbandmen, which means he leased the vineyard to farmers.

A typical lease required farmers to do all work necessary for the vineyard, in return for an agreed upon portion of the harvest.

Now, let us set the stage so that we understand what Jesus taught in this parable.

The householder is none other than God. 

The vineyard He planted is the nation Israel.

The hedge he planted for protection pictures God placing a hedge of protection around His saints.

The guard tower the householder built pictures God being our strong tower and place of refuge.

The husbandmen in this parable represent the Jewish religious leaders who were responsible for caring for God's vineyard.

God planted His church in the Old Testament, which refers to the Jewish nation.

Isaiah 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

The kingdom of God is pictured as His vineyard which received everything necessary for good maintenance and bountiful harvests.

Isaiah prophesied of the kingdom of God and the reign of Messiah.

In this text He calls Israel the "planting of the LORD" and they are planted for His glory.

Isaiah 5:1-2  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 

Again, we hear Isaiah tell us that Israel is God's beloved vineyard.

He planted it in a very good place that He calls a "very fruitful hill."

Like the parable of Jesus, God fenced in or hedged His vineyard, Israel, taking out stones so that only the best soil remained for planting the vine.

God called Israel "the choicest vine" having the best potential to produce the best grapes.

However, when God looked for His vine Israel to produce good grapes, it brought forth wild grapes.

The "wild grapes" that God's vine Israel yielded, had a terrible odor and were poisonous.

Thus, the wild grapes were rendered worthless for wine production. 

Jeremiah 2:20-21  20  For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. 21  Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? 

Jeremiah also spoke about Israel as God's choice vine that He carefully planted and tended.

Breaking the yoke and bursting the bands refers to Jehovah using Moses to free the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery.

God planted Israel as a noble vine from the best seed stock, yet they turned into a degenerate plant because of idolatry.

Exodus 19:7-8  And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8  And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. 

When God gave Israel His law at Mount Sinai, with one voice the people committed to live in accord with His commandments.

Yet, the people consistently fell into idolatry by worshiping false gods.

Since Israel was referred to as Jehovah's wife, God said that the nation, His vine, committed adultery.

God did all that He could do to ensure that Israel would grow into a wonderful vine of blessing to all nations.

He planted them as a noble vine from a "wholly right seed" meaning that there was no contamination in His vine.

God drove out the seven wicked nations from Canaan land so that Israel could enter into the promised land.

They had every possible benefit of homes, farms, and crops that they did not make or plant.

God placed various protections around His people like a hedge to protect His vineyard.

Psalm 80:14-15  Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 15  And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 

The Psalmist also spoke about Israel as Jehovah's special vine.

At this point in their history, Israel and Judah fell into idolatry and God judged them for it by allowing their enemies to be victorious over them.

Thus, the Psalmist is praying to God to look upon their plight and oppression and visit them once again.

God often visited His people when they suffered severe oppression, like when He spoke to Moses at the burning bush (See Exodus 3:1-8).

In praying for the mercy of God, the Psalmist reminded the LORD that Israel was His vine, planted by His right hand and made strong for His glory and purposes.

God placed a hedge of protection around Israel, His choice vine.

Zechariah 2:4-5  And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 5  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 

The idea of building a hedge around His vineyard connects with God's protection of Israel in the Old Testament.

God protected them from Pharaoh's army by a thick cloud of smoke during the day and by a pillar of fire at night (See Exodus 14:19-20).

God sent stinging hornets before Israel to cause panic and discomfort to their enemies (See Exodus 23:38; Deuteronomy 7:20).

The angel of the LORD killed 185,000 Assyrians in one night (See 2 Kings 19:35).

God blinded the Syrian army and the vile men of Sodom (See Genesis 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18).

God sent hailstones against the Amorites and thunder against the Philistines (See Joshua 10:11; 1 Samuel 7:10).

Job 1:9-10  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 

Satan came before the throne of God and wanted to attack the patriarch named Job.

He said that God made a hedge that surrounded Job on every side, and that God richly blessed Job.

God Himself is the strong tower to guard against enemies who attack His vineyard.

Psalm 61:1-3  To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. 

King David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel reminds us that God is the rock that is higher than our trials and troubles.

God is our place of shelter and protection.

God is our strong tower of protection from our enemies.

Proverbs 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

King David's son King Solomon was granted wonderful wisdom from the LORD to help him guide Israel rightly.

Solomon reminds us that the name of the LORD is our strong tower and that those who trust Him can run to His name and find safety.

John 15:4-8  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 

In like manner, the Church of Jesus Christ is part of God's vineyard today and we will have much to learn from this parable.

John 15:5-8 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

We now have the elements in place to understand Jesus' parable and we will take one more post to study it.

We must remember that each Christian has been grafted into the Vine, Jesus Christ.

We must stay attached to Christ our vine, so that we can produce much fruit.

Our Father is glorified when His children produce fruit for His kingdom.

Like Israel of the Old Testament, Christ's church has been given all necessary things from the Father to be productive and fruitful for His kingdom purposes.

We must take heed because we already learned that Jesus Christ will inspect our lives for fruit.

Bob