Wednesday, April 10, 2024
The Parables of Jesus Series
Tonight’s Study – Session 14: The Parable of The Vineyard Owner
Introduction: The Parable of the Vineyard owner is also known as the Parable of The Wicked Vinedressers. This parable speaks primarily of the rejection of Christ. As the people in the vineyard rejected the servants and the son of the owner, so people reject God’s Son and His ministers.
The Parable of The Vineyard Owner (The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers) is found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
LET’S LOOK AT THE PASSAGES IN THE THREE GOSPELS
Matthew 21:33-46
“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.’ 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. “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 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 Lords 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.
Mark 12:1-12
Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.
And they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again, he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again, he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore, still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So, they took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.
“Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lords doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So, they left Him and went away.
Luke 20:9-19
Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, so that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
Again, he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again, he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. They will respect him when they see him.’ But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ So, they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it, they said, “Certainly not!” Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people —for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL (Matthew 21:33-46)
1.The Story – vv. 33-41
- Parable – v.33. A vineyard was planted, and all the preparations were provided for its harvesting, including caretakers. God is the owner of the vineyard. When Jesus spoke of the vineyard and winepress in v.33. He was alluding to the prophecy of Isaiah 5:2.
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 (Isaiah 5:2).
The “vineyard” is a common symbol for Israel in Scripture. Here the landowner, representing God, developed the vineyard with great care, then leased it to vinedressers, representing the Jewish leaders.
- Preparation – v.34. The owner sent the servants to collect the fruit of the vineyard.
- Persecution – vv.35-39. The servants were killed. The owner finally sent his son, thinking they would respect him. They killed him!
The servants represented the Old Testament prophets, and the son represents Jesus Christ.
- Plan – vv.40-41. The owner of the vineyard will destroy the wicked vinedressers and place other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.
Who are the other vinedressers?
The kingdom and all the spiritual advantages given to Israel would now be given to other vinedressers, symbolizing the church (Matt. 21:43), which consists primarily of Gentiles (Romans 11:11).
I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11).
2.The Savior – vv.42-44
- Savior – v.42. This is a prophecy of Psalm 118:22.
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone (Psalm 118:22).
Christ is the chief cornerstone; we are the small stones making up the building.
Cornerstone – The first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation.
- Sharing – v.43. “What I mean is that the Kingdom of God shall be taken away from you and given to a nation that will give God his share of the crop” (Matt. 21:43, TLB). Jesus is reiterating what He said in v.41 of Matthew 21.
A Very Important Truth to Remember!