The Parable of the Tenants (Landowner of the Vineyard): Matthew 21:33, Mark 12:1, Luke 20:9
by Owen Borville
February 28, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Tenants or Landowner includes an explanation of God's plan and purpose for mankind. The parable is found in Matthew 21:33-46:
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures (Psalm 118:22-23):
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
The parable is also found in Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-18.
It is clear in the parable that the landowner represents God, the vineyard is the Kingdom of Heaven, the tenants are the religious leaders of Israel, the servants are the prophets sent by God, and "the son" is Jesus Christ. The parable can be viewed as a summary of the history of God's relationship with mankind since the covenant with the His people, the people of Israel. God made an agreement with His people and gave them a mission to produce "good fruit" according to His commandments. He left them alone for a while and noticed that they were not producing good fruit and were not doing the things that were commanded as part of God's plan and purpose. The religious leaders had become consumed with the traditions of man and were not following the true commandments of God. God sent prophets to teach the people and lead them back to righteousness, but the people rejected the prophets and killed them. Then God sent Jesus Christ but the people rejected and killed him also. Therefore, God took the inheritance and kingdom away from his original people that included His original covenant and gave it to a new group of servants who followed Him and produced "good fruit" according to His commandments.
by Owen Borville
February 28, 2019
Bible
The Parable of the Tenants or Landowner includes an explanation of God's plan and purpose for mankind. The parable is found in Matthew 21:33-46:
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures (Psalm 118:22-23):
“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
The parable is also found in Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-18.
It is clear in the parable that the landowner represents God, the vineyard is the Kingdom of Heaven, the tenants are the religious leaders of Israel, the servants are the prophets sent by God, and "the son" is Jesus Christ. The parable can be viewed as a summary of the history of God's relationship with mankind since the covenant with the His people, the people of Israel. God made an agreement with His people and gave them a mission to produce "good fruit" according to His commandments. He left them alone for a while and noticed that they were not producing good fruit and were not doing the things that were commanded as part of God's plan and purpose. The religious leaders had become consumed with the traditions of man and were not following the true commandments of God. God sent prophets to teach the people and lead them back to righteousness, but the people rejected the prophets and killed them. Then God sent Jesus Christ but the people rejected and killed him also. Therefore, God took the inheritance and kingdom away from his original people that included His original covenant and gave it to a new group of servants who followed Him and produced "good fruit" according to His commandments.