Let’s explore the parable of the Tenant Farmers. It is said that the parable Jesus gave us of the Tenant is meant to teach us about what happened to the prophets who came before him and to Jesus. Those sent before him, the prophets sent to Jerusalem, were mistreated and some even killed. Then the Heavenly father sent his son Jesus Christ who was crucified. So what will God do to those who crucified his son?
God will miserably destroy the wicked. And will put within the Kingdom of God those who will bring forth the fruit of it. And the stone that was rejected will become the cornerstone…
Matthew 21:33-46
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:
34 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.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 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.
40 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.
Pharisees and Scribes
God the Father
In this parable the householder who planted the vineyard was God the Father. His vineyard the Kingdom of God. He fills the earth with the grapes, the souls of man to be cultivated and harvested for the Kingdom. He lets it out to the Pharisees and Scribes to care for the souls of the people while he is far away.
Pharisees as the Husbandmen
He has entrusted the wellbeing of his people to the Religious leaders that he has left to care for his vineyard. The parable would have been addressing the Jewish Religious leaders of the time therefore we refer to Pharisees and Scribes.
They are entrusted with the cultivation of the crop. They are the teachers, those who help interpret the word of God. Those who establish the traditions and laws that the people follow.
To plant the seed, they are responsible for bringing the people to God. To show them that their Idol worship and pagan practices are without truth. Responsible for an introduction to our Heavenly Father.
To water them, they are also responsible to keep the people learning God’s word, following God’s instructions and keeping his commandments.
Removal of weeds to ensure a plentiful harvest. They are also responsible to punish disobedience. To remove the elements of temptations so they may also remove sin.
42 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.
45 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 Cornerstone
Foundation of the Church
Jesus is telling them that even though he has been rejected by the Pharisees and Scribes, he is the foundation of his fathers Church and those who believe in God.
The Kingdom will be Taken
He lets them know that the Kingdom of God will be taken from them. Their oversight has not brought forth fruit in the Kingdom. They have left it barren in their works. The Kingdom will be given to a nation that will be successful and bring forth the fruit thereof.
Though the Pharisees knew he was referring to them they did not dare move to remove Jesus at that time. The multitudes of people who were following Jesus and his teaching considered him a prophet.
Mark 12:1-12
12 And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.
3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.
4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.
5 And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.
6 Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.
7 But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.’
8 And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
9 What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.
10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
11 This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
12 And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.
The Prophets
Devine Guidance
The Kingdom of God began to grow in the hearts of men. Mankind matured in understanding and faith, the souls of man as the grapes in the vineyard. God sent his Prophets to provide devine guidance and to influence the success of salvation for the people. He sent his servants to collect on the produce of the vineyard.
Disobedience
But they were met with resistance sometimes by the Pharisees and Scribes. The Prophets were ultimately mistreated and killed. So God continued to send additional Prophets to bring the message to the people. They were also mistreated like Jeremiah, sometimes killed like John the Baptist and others are stoned.
God continues to approach them reasonably. But he is met with the same response from them each time. They do not repent and remain disobedient to God.
Luke 20:9-18
9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
The Blood of the Lamb
The Savior of the World
In the final portion of the parable the certain man or the householder sends his son and heir to collect the harvest. But the husbandmen use this as an opportunity to try and take possession by killing his son and heir.
As a parable of Jesus this portion is clearly prophetic. He is telling them what will become of him. He is outlining the steps that will ultimately lead to his own death on the cross.
God sent his beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ to save the world. Ultimately, Jesus gave his life, shed his blood, so that we would be saved. He allowed himself to be tortured and killed for the salvation of mankind.
A New People
Jesus tells the Pharisees that because they were not obedient they are not granted entrance to God’s Kingdom. He has suggested that their will be a new people who will join him to increase the bounty in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The scripture warns us frequently of false teachers and tells us to discern the spirits of good and evil.
When we think about what evil man has done in the name of God or Church it is very sad. Like the Pharisees who obtained their power from leadership in guiding the people in religious beliefs. They became more interested in the self serving power than in the salvation of the people. They actually caused people to go astray for their own gain costing people their salvation.
We must also watch what we are following even today. We don’t want to think that those we trust could have ulterior self serving motives but we need to remain on guard. Keep our eyes on the Word of God, not on the opinions of man. Pray for discernment…
For the Love of God,
Sparks
