Matthew 21: 33-43, 45-46
Jesus said to
the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
Parable of the vineyard
What is the message of the parable of
the vineyard? Jesus' story about an absentee landlord and his not-so-good
tenants would have made sense to his audience. The hills of Galilee were lined
with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to let out
their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of collecting rent. Why
did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the scribes and
Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had
spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah
5:7). Jesus' listeners would have likely understood this parable as referring
to God's dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people.
This parable speaks to us today
as well. It richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals
with his people. First, it tells us of God's generosity and trust. The vineyard
is well equipped with everything the tenants need. The owner went away and left
the vineyard in the hands of the tenants. God, likewise trusts us enough to
give us freedom to run life as we choose. This parable also tells us of God's
patience and justice. Not once, but many times he forgives the tenants their
debts. But while the tenants take advantage of the owner's patience, his
judgment and justice prevail in the end.
-Adapted
from rc.net.com
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