The Parable Of The Wicked Vine-Dressers.

THE PARABLE OF THE WICKED VINE-DRESSERS.

Mark 12:1-12.

The vineyard is a well-known motif for Israel (cf. Isaiah 5:7). We saw it in the parable of the labourers in the vineyard (cf. Matthew 20:1-16), and in the example of the two sons whose father asked them to go and work in his vineyard (cf. Matthew 21:28-32). Our present passage begins, “Then He began to preach to them in parables” (Mark 12:1).

Jesus started talking in terms which are strongly reminiscent of Isaiah 5:2. ‘What could have been done more for my vineyard?’ the LORD had asked in Isaiah 5:4. For the LORD ‘looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry’ (Isaiah 5:7). Had Israel forgotten the time when the LORD had heard their own cry, and delivered them from Egypt, and planted them as a vine in the land of promise (cf. Psalm 80:8-10)?

The first thing we might notice about the householder in Jesus’ parable, is that having done all that he could for his vineyard, he “went into a far country” (Mark 12:1). When it seems to us that God is far off, it is not for us to shirk our duties. The time of harvest must come (Mark 12:2) - and will we be ready?

The way the householder’s workmen treated his servants is appalling. They beat one, threw stones at another, and killed another (Mark 12:3-5). This stands for the reaction of the religious leaders to the prophets of old. Then their successors, instead of reverencing the Son, sought to wrest the inheritance from His hands. They cast Him out of His own vineyard, and slew Him (Mark 12:6-8). They did so ‘by the hands of wicked men,’ we are told in Acts 2:23.

Jesus’ rhetorical question introduced the subject of vengeance on this occasion. The chief priests and elders of the people would have the vineyard taken from themselves; and given to other, more worthy, custodians (Mark 12:9).

“Have you not even read this Scripture?” asked Jesus (Mark 12:10-11). He quoted Psalm 118:22-23. Were they about to reject the Rock of our salvation? Then the kingdom of God would be taken from them, and given to God’s new people in Christ (cf. 1 Peter 2:6-10): both Jews and Gentiles (1 Corinthians 1:21-24).

Sadly, the chief priests and the Pharisees, recognising themselves in Jesus’ parable, instead of taking the warning, still sought to lay malicious hands on the Son (Mark 12:12). Their collective conscience was no doubt crying out in the words of Nathan of old: ‘Thou art the man’ (2 Samuel 12:7). Yet they failed to do the right thing.

Perhaps we are doing this all over again every time the church - or even the individual Christian - compromises with the world? Thus doing, ‘they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame’ (Hebrews 6:6).