The Parable Of The Vineyard And Wicked Tenants Series

In our study of the parables, we now come to the last of three parables taught by Jesus in Matthew chapter 21. Now as I always say, Jesus taught using parables to illustrate a spiritual truth regarding the Kingdom of Heaven. Parables are not meant to be taken literally, mom, but are necessary for us to have an understanding Of spiritual truths we would not be able to understand on our own. One of the most striking and challenging parables that Jesus told is the Parable of the Tenants or the Parable of the Vineyard, recorded in Matthew 21:33-46.

In this parable, Jesus exposes the rebellion and wickedness of the religious leaders of his time and reveals the consequences of rejecting him as the Messiah and the Son of God. He also shows us the grace and mercy of God, who sent his Son to die for our sins and to give us eternal life.

33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. (Matthew 21:33–46)

The parable of the tenants is set in the context of Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, before his crucifixion and resurrection. He had entered the city triumphantly, riding on a donkey, and was hailed by the people as the Son of David and the King of Israel. He had cleansed the temple of the money changers and the merchants and had healed the blind and the lame. He had also confronted the chief priests and the elders, who questioned his authority and tried to trap him with their questions. In response, Jesus told them three parables: the parable of the two sons, the parable of the tenants, and the parable of the wedding banquet. These parables were aimed at exposing the hypocrisy and unbelief of the religious leaders and warning them of the judgment that awaited them if they did not repent and believe in him.

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

They wanted to know Jesus's authority. They demanded his credentials and wanted to know who gave him the authority to do and say such things. We know that Jesus taught contrary to everything the religious leaders of his day taught. He focused on the heart matter, while the Jewish religion of that day focused on the external. And so, in his teaching, he unmasked their hypocrisy and their lust for power.

Now, let’s look at this Parable, verse-by-verse:

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. (Matthew 21:33)

This would have been a common scene in Jesus’s day. Someone who owns land, a wealthy man, develops this land into a vineyard. And he develops this land for the purpose of leasing it out so that he can make money, while the farmers use the land to grow grapes and produce wine. And we learned from the parable that master spares no expense to develop the land to its best potential. He builds a hedge around the vineyard to keep wild animals and thieves out. He built a tower and the wine press. And then after developing the land he leases the land to the farmers to allow his investment to grow. The point is, that this landowner took great care to make sure that he did it right.