The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 21 Part 9 The Parable Of The Wicked Husbandmen (2)

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: 

With the words "Hear another parable" Jesus spoke to the people gathered around about Him, but His parable was primarily directed to the chief priests. 

God gave Israel's spiritual leaders a charge to teach His law to the people, and to show them the right way to worship.

Romans 9:4-5  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 

The design of Jesus' parable was to highlight many privileges God bestowed on the Jewish nation which contrasted sharply with their unfruitfulness, unfaithfulness and ingratitude.

Jewish leaders both secular and religious, consistently abused the servants of the Lord.

In this parable, Jesus also foretold of their hatred toward the Son of God less than a few days later, culminating in Christ's death on a cross. 

The consequences of their hatred and rebellion against God would be the miserable destruction of the Christ rejecting religious leaders.

They continued listening to Jesus until the application of His parable was made, when they perceived it was spoken of them.

In this parable of Jesus, the "certain householder" represents God, who is the creator and owner of all things.

The vineyard represents the church of God or Israel in the Old Testament and which now includes the New Testament church.

The hedge planted around the vineyard represents God's providential provision and protection in the lives of those who trust Him.

The winepress and storage vats picture God at work in our hearts, changing us so that we can bear fruit for His kingdom purposes.

We must take note that men tread grapes with bare feet in those days, because the fruit must be pressed or squeezed to extract the juice.

In like manner, God’s Spirit works in us to press and squeeze out dross and to purify our hearts so that we produce fruit for Christ.

The guard tower represents the prophets and preachers of God sent to instruct, admonish or warn His people to keep the ways of God.

In Jesus' parable, the husbandmen who lease the land, represent the Jewish religious leaders who teach traditions of men instead of teaching truth from God's Word.

They created a false, man centered religious system of works in order to gain God's favor, while at the same time they failed to teach God's law to the people.

This parable is connected to the father and his two sons that he commanded to go into his vineyard to work.

One son represented the Jewish people who responded by faith to the preaching of John the Baptist.

The other son represented the Jewish religious leaders who observed John's ministry but did not heed his preaching.

Both parables flow out of Jesus asking the scribes and priests about the ministry of John the Baptist.

We also looked at scriptures that speak of Israel as the choicest of vines, a nation planted by the LORD, to love and serve Him and to be His witness to all the nations.

Israel is called a noble vine of a "wholly right seed" planted with optimal conditions to grow and produce excellent fruit.

God's charge against Israel was that in spite of all her advantages, Israel became degenerate through idolatry and yielded wild, poisonous, inedible grapes.

Thus, God's choicest vine became unfruitful which happened when the religious leaders elevated traditions of men higher than holy scripture from God.

One other point to note is that the householder (representing God) leased the vineyard and went to a "far country."

This refers to when the glory of God left Israel's tabernacle as recorded by Ezekiel, due to their idolatry (See Ezekiel 10).

Though God's glory departed, He still sent His prophets early in the morning to preach about their need to repent and be restored to God.

Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the temple and there was a revival that lasted for a while in Jerusalem. 

However, the glory of God did not return to it, thus the picture of God going into a far country.

This pictures the New Testament church since Jesus returned to His heavenly Father right before the day of Pentecost.

Christians are to be watching, waiting and working for Christ, while anticipating His return.

Thus, the householder in a far country also pictures Christ seated in heaven at the Father's right hand, waiting until He comes to take His bride (the church) home to heaven.

Jesus still sends faithful pastors and church leaders to call sinners to repentance and to call a lukewarm church back to a vibrant relationship with Him.

Matthew 21:34-35  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. 

"And when the time of the fruit drew near" refers to gathering the fruit, according to the law (See Leviticus 19:23-25). 

God's law stipulated that for the first three years, the fruit of all trees was not to be eaten, or sold for profit.

On the fourth year, the fruit was to be holy for the Lord  and given to the priests, or eaten by the owners before the Lord, at Jerusalem. 

From the fifth year on, the fruit it might be eaten, or sold for profit.

In Jesus' parable, the householder sent servants to collect the fruits of the harvest per the lease agreement he made with the husbandmen (farmers).

The farmers physically attacked the householders servants, which pictures Jewish religious and civil leaders rejecting and abusing God's prophets.

Hebrews 11:32-38  And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

Remember that the husbandmen in this parable primarily represent the Jewish religious leaders. 

They "took" his servants which is the idea of seizing God's prophets with force. 

They beat one servant, killed a second servant and stoned a third one, which pictures how God's prophets were often mistreated and abused.

The writer of the book of Hebrews summarizes the prophets of God who rose up early in the morning to preach God's Word to a rebellious nation.

Though God's prophets were enabled to work many mighty signs and wonders, most often, their message was rejected.

Jehovah's prophets were tortured, cruelly mocked, scourged with whips, cut in half by a saw, beaten with sticks or clubs, or killed by a sword.

They often were destitute of the minimal physical needs of food, clothing, shelter and water.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16  And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 16  But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. 

This text summarizes how the Old Testament unfolded.

Remember, that ten tribes that broke off from Judah and Jerusalem after King Solomon died, and they had nineteen evil kings. 

They did not have a single good king. 

Of all the kings of Judah, only eight out of twenty one kings, were "good" kings who followed Jehovah.

This is why God sent many prophets to preach His Word, because they were generally a rebellious people.

Thus, the faithfulness of God to keep His promises and to seek Israel's welfare is put on display in Jesus' parable.

Matthew 21:37  But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 

Jesus used this parable to teach how God persevered in His goodness to Israel. 

He sent other servants, which pictures sending more prophets even though the first ones sent were abused. 

They were also grievously abused and this shows how The priests and scribes persisted in their wickedness. 

One sin makes way for another of the same kind. 

The householder who pictures God in heaven, sent his son, thinking that they would respect him and give the fruits from his vineyard.

The words "They will reverence my son" connect with all the prophecies of Messiah's coming (See Isaiah 51 - 53).

Never did grace appear more gracious than in God sending the Son. 

This was done last of all since the prophets were  forerunners to Christ.

Never did sin appear more vile and wicked than in the Jews abuse of Christ, which was to be done in two or three days.

Matthew 10:5-8  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6  But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

In like manner, He sent them John the Baptist, to be the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah, and he was beheaded. 

Jesus then sent His disciples, to prepare his way with miracles and gospel preaching. 

Then, God's Son, Jesus, came and did many wonderful miracles and re-established God's Word as the standard for all people to hear and heed.

Matthew 21:38-39  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 words "When they saw the Son" point to Jesus Christ whom the people followed as their Messiah. 

Scribes and priests were moved by jealousy because Jesus' teaching and miracles threatened to undo traditions of men that they venerated.

Jesus' works and words exposed their hypocrisy and put severe restraint upon their income and power over the people.

What would their response be to Messiah? 

Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees plotted and conspired together with the Roman governor to have Jesus crucified.

Pilate and Herod, the princes of this world did not know for if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory, (See 1 Corinthians 2:8). 

But at least some chief priests and elders did know that this was the heir, Christ, the Messiah and said "Come, let us kill him."

Hebrews 13:11-12 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 

Catching the householder's son and casting him out of the vineyard to kill him corresponds to the sufferings and death of Christ on the cross outside the city walls.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that all bodies of animals sacrificed to God are burned outside the camp (Jerusalem) and this is why Jesus was crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem.

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. 

Now comes the dire warning of judgment upon the wicked religious leaders as Jesus applied His parable to them.

He asked them what would the householder do to those who killed his son.

The scribes and priests said that he will come with vengeance and miserably destroy all the wicked men.

They stood before Christ, guilty and condemned by their own words.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

The destruction of the wicked farmers foreshadows the impending Day of final judgment upon all evil doers.

Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome in 69 AD and the Jewish people dispersed.

Since that time some returned to modern Israel but they still have no temple to worship God.

Jesus will come to take His church home to heaven and Israel will go through seven years of tribulation on earth.

Tribulation will end with this text, when Jesus comes in flaming fire to destroy all the wicked, which day also includes the resurrection of damnation.

Then, he will find honorable farmers and lease his vineyard to them, and they will render the fruits each season (See Revelation 19).

Matthew 21:42-44  Jesus saith unto them, 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 cited Psalm 118:22 for this is a Messianic Psalm.

This Scripture is appropriately applied to the present case of the rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish priests, and scribes. 

Israel rejected their Messiah, who is the chief cornerstone. 

This connects with John's gospel that tells us Jesus came unto His own (The Jews) and His own received Him not. (See Isaiah 53; John 1:11).

Christ will ultimately be enthroned as King of kings and Lord of lords and those who rejected Him will be judged and eternally condemned.

Meanwhile, Israel was set aside during this time of gospel preaching and the age of Christ's church.

When Jesus brings His church home to heaven, God will turn His attention to the Jewish people, seeking to lead them to repentant faith in His son, and protecting them through the tribulation period.

Matthew 21:45-46  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. 

The scribes and chief priests then understood that Jesus spoke this parable against them and they wanted to lay hold on Jesus.

They could not do so because the multitude saw Christ as Messiah and a mighty prophet.

Thus, the parable concludes.

Christ is presently in heaven, seated at His Father's right hand awaiting the command to bring His church home to heaven.

He is going to inspect the lives of all Christians for fruit. 

At times, we may feel our Lord pressing or squeezing us through trials in order to purge out impurities that we might yield good fruit for His kingdom.

Man's religious systems are always going to oppose preaching and sharing the gospel of Christ.

So many religious leaders wield enormous power over people and enrich themselves in the process.

These are the same things that motivated scribes and priests to seek to kill their own Messiah.

We must reflect the heart of God and persevere when under duress, knowing that He will vindicate His Son by final and complete judgment.

Therefore, let us honor the Son of God with our lives.

Let us watch and wait for His coming.

Let us worship Christ and work for Him until this life is over.

Let us maintain a testimony of Godliness so that we can be His faithful witnesses.

Bob