Matthew 21:33-36
"“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 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 jus kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?’ They said to Him, He will destroy those wicked men miserable, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.’ Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.”
It is interesting to note that only three of Jesus’ parables are included in all three of the Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This one, the Parable of the Sower, and the Parable of the Mustard Seed. All three are agriculturally focused! It is this Parable of the Two Kinds of Farmers that had captured the five most fundamental and basic truths of the Gospel message! Here is the powerful content of the Gospel!
A. THE INCREDIBLE PATIENCE OF GOD. “…he sent his servants…again he sent other servants…then last of all he sent his son…”
Here is the patient love of God extended to the sinful people of this world. Here are sendings that communicate a patience that does not thunder judgment at every provocation, but takes its time. Here is the loving heart of a patient Almighty God, Owner of all, but having entrusted the care of His Kingdom work to human beings so very capable of manipulative selfishness and merciless hatred. Yet, His infinite patience is incredible…beyond our comprehension. But recall how it is stated elsewhere:
“God, who at various times, and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” (Hebrews 1:1)
Never in the entire history of humanity has there been a time when the loving, patient heart of God has not been actively reaching out to win the hearts of people…sinful hearts, hearts bowed down in self-centeredness. Rejected? Yes! Despised? Yes! Debated? Decided against? Yes! Laughed at? Yes! Ridiculed? Yes! Militated against?
Yes! But incredibly…yes, incredibly, He has never stopped reaching out to the hearts of people, wicked they may be! Incredible!
B. THE INCALCULABLE PERVERSION OF HUMANITY. “…the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another…and (to the next ones sent) they did likewise…and (to the owner’s son) they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let just kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.”
Listen to the Scriptural description of those who came, who lived, who preached, who loved, who cared:
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:32-38)
I am persuaded that the English language…or for that matter…any language known to human beings on this planet, is incapable of adequately expressing the incalculable perversion of the whole human race. Sin!
* Sin is an unwanted intruder into the heart that was made as the dwelling place of God!
* Sin is a poison in the mind and a destroyer of common decency!
* Sin has run rampant through the course of human history…
* ruining human lives around the world;
* devastating the dreams of a bride and groom;
* heartlessly destroying marriages;
* murdering the innocent unborn babies;
* leaving mothers and children helpless;
* breaking the hearts of mothers and fathers;
* destroying the futures for billions of young men and women;
* bringing innocent, illegitimate children into a cruel, hating world;
* throwing life’s greatest hopes into the pits of despair.
* Sin has stood against all that right, pure,
decent, kind, gracious, and honest;
* Sin has polluted the decisions of world
governments;
* Sin has raised up heartless dictators with
oppression and murder on their hearts;
* Sin has marched its iron heels of destruction
across the peace-loving people of the world;
* Sin has shaken its ugly fist of rebellion in the
face of a Holy God…but one day…one
day… the God of glory, the God of grace, the
God of goodness…sent His own Son…
It is in this parable that one notices immediately the horrific depths of the sinful heart. The tenants’ plan to kill the son of the landlord contrasts glaringly with the landlord’s plan to send the son. Here is the picture of the depth of their evil hearts. The very futility of the tenants’ idea that by killing the son of the landlord, they would gain the inheritance simply shows up the fact of the insanity of sin!
C. THE INDESCRIBABLE PROVISION OF REDEMPTION. “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.”
In days long ago, God sent His message through the prophets who proclaimed the mercy and grace of God. God’s message anticipated the coming of One Who would be known as the Messiah, the Mighty Deliverer, the Savior. It would be His Son…His uniquely-born, one-of-a-kind Son. As Israel spent the long centuries living in obedience to the mandates of the sacrificial system God inaugurated, they still lived by faith…faith that looked forward to the coming of the One Who would bruise the head of the serpent, and bring deliverance from sin. God knew that the blood of bulls and goats could not atone for sin, but He accepted their faith and their obedience to His plan.
But when it came time to bring deliverance, God sent no other! He came…the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, though “being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)
Jesus Christ is not “one of” the servants! He is “THE SON!” HE IS THE HEIR! There was no sending of someone else, servant or angel, after sending His Son. This SON is the final One sent, the last of all that God would send. It is on the response to this great act of eternal, divine love that hangs the destiny of every human being.
An ordinary landlord would have retaliated against his insolent, rebellious, and murderous tenants. He would not have sent them his son! But THIS is no ordinary landlord. Here is the character of God…loving, ever-reaching out, more concerned over the souls of men, women, boys, and girls, than any ordinary landlord could ever be!
“They will honor My Son!” It seems that to the Owner, any other result was inconceivable. It is the Heavenly Landlord’s confidence in the mission of His Son, that provides the awful, terrible measure of the crime which disappointed it. Here is the divine description of the incredible love of God. Here is THE INDESCRIBABLE PROVISION FOR OUR SALVATION!
The powerful teaching of this Parable is seen further in verse 39: “So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.” No wonder the human writer of the Book of Hebrews, so in touch with and sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit wrote:
“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12)
D. THE INEXPLAINABLE PRESENTATION OF THE INHERITANCE. “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” (Matthew 21:43)
Notice the language of Matthew:
“There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower.” (Matthew 21:33)
God carefully prepared His vineyard, Israel. Recall the words of the LORD through the Prophet Isaiah:
“Now let me sing to my Well-beloved a son of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes. But it brought forth wild grapes. ‘And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; and break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned or dug, but there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.’ For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.” (Isaiah 5:1-7)
It is the mysterious use of the singular form, “nation,” rather than the more familiar “nations of the world” that we are accustomed to, that gives insight into the meaning in this parable. The singular form of the word points to the new creation of “a transformed people,” consisting of all who would receive His Son. Yes, God has given the awesome responsibility of proclaiming the grace of God in redemptive power to the Church…Jews and Gentiles…who would receive His Son, and make Him the LORD of their lives.
The date of that transfer…that “inexplainable presentation” of the work of God to the Church took place on three days…Good Friday, Quiet Saturday, and Easter Sunday!
Yes, “He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him. But as many as did receive Him, He gave to them the authority to become children of God; that is, to those who continually believe in Him.” (John 1:11-12)
It is to the Church…the Church Jesus established on earth…His body…His redeemed people…that He gave the responsibility of Kingdom work. It is OUR responsibility to bear fruit that is reflective of the Heavenly Owner of the vineyard. This Kingdom work is more clearly defined in Jesus’ quote from Psalm 118:22-23. It is the Church’s responsibility to evangelize the world. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, rejected by Israel. It seems absolutely preposterous that Jesus, the Messiah, should be rejected, not by aliens, but by those of His own house…by those very people who were the leaders in the vineyard of God.
While God does indeed have an everlasting love for Israel…His special people…the purpose of God for Israel was and is that they become a part of the transformed people of God through the work of the Messiah Who changes the heart. The evangelism of the Jewish people remains a Christian responsibility,
for “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
E. THE INEVITABLE PUNISHMENT OF REJECTORS. “‘Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?’ They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their season.’”
There are two powerful thoughts in this part of Jesus’ parable that emerge. First, Jesus promises that in and through the Church there will be the evidence of the labors of the new tenants. It is not always easy to define the word “fruit” in such a context. There is, however, the fruit of evangelism, the fruit of fellowship, the fruit of worship, the fruit of training, and the fruit of service. But superlative to all, is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, “gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
I maintain strongly that when the “fruit of the Spirit” is evident…that is, proof of the indwelling Spirit of God, the other fruits…evangelism, fellowship, worship, training, and service will become the natural outgrowth of this quality relationship with the Savior.
Second, Jesus promises that for the people who reject “the Chief Cornerstone,” there will be the inevitable judgment of God. The rejection of Jesus’ teaching…and the rejection of Jesus’ Person means a shattering fall today, and a pulverizing judgment tomorrow. The Old Testament background for Jesus’ reference is Psalm 118:22-23, BUT also from the Prophet Isaiah:
“ [The LORD] will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken, be snared and taken.” (Isaiah 8:14-15)
Conclusion:
Eternal judgment is not some fanciful notion concocted to pressure people into believing in Jesus Christ. It is Biblical reality! It is the Word
of God! It is that frightening fact of Scripture. Therefore, we, the Church, share the responsibility of standing before people at the crossroads of their lives, to invite them to know Jesus…not only because of the inevitable judgment, but because knowing Him is LIFE ETERNAL
