The
Parable of the Tenants
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AIM:
To
see that reading a passage in its full context is very important.
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READ
Mark 12: 1-9
Jesus
then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a
vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress
and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers
and moved to another place.
As the Man who
plants the vineyard represents God and the vineyard, Israel; the wall
around the vineyard represents God's protection of Israel through
their history. The Man's removal to another place represents God
leaving Israel free to work out His will prior to Christ's coming.[1]
2
At
harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them
some of the fruit of the vineyard.
At
harvest time
– Those particular times when God sent the prophets to Israel,
desiring that they know of their need for redemption. Of course, He
expected such at all times, but at those times the need was more
urgent.
A
servant
– One of the prophets.
Fruit
of the vineyard
– Manifestations of Israel's love of God and their awareness of the
need of salvation.[2]
3
But
they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4
Then
he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and
treated him shamefully. 5
He
sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others;
some of them they beat, others they killed.
The Bible has many
examples of this kind of treatment of the prophets. Both Isaiah[3]
and John the Baptist were murdered, and practically all the prophets
were rejected. The parable has the form of an allegory, because it's
unlikely any earthly owner would have endured such rejection of his
claims for so long, or have sent a beloved some on a dangerous
mission. However this accurately depicts the way God dealt with
Israel and their attitude towards Him.
Henry E. Turlington:
“A parable is not bound absolutely by historical realism; it is
bound by it's purpose, however unusual its details. It is of course
true that no father would be likely to send his son on so dangerous
an errand.”[4]
6
“He
had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of
all,saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
They
will respect my son
– The wicked husbandmen, representing the Jewish religious
establishment didn't respect the Son; they killed Him. However this
statement nevertheless indicated that the Son would indeed be
referenced, which of course, He was. Many have through the ages.[5]
7
“But
the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s
kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
The
inheritance will be ours –
There was a law in which the property of one who died without a will
that whoever was in possession of such property had prior claim. The
tenants assumed that the since he had been so long away, that the
owner had died. Here the reality and the parable align, for the
tenants were as wrong about the owner of the vineyard as the
religious authorities about God.[6]
8
So
they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
Took
him
– Seized him and bound him
And
killed him – They
crucified the Lord.
Out
of the vineyard
– the Crucifixion took place outside the city walls.[7]
9
“What
then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those
tenants and give the vineyard to others.
Then
he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place –
This form of tenant farming relationship was a common practice in
Jesus' day, especially in Galilee. Records of the same sort of
dispute between landowners and tenant formers have been discovered.
Sent
a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of
the vineyard – Jesus'
Jewish audiences were aware that the vineyard was used as a picture
of Israel in the Old Testament. The vinedressers represented the
rulers of Israel and vineyard, the people of Israel as a whole.
But
they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty – The
vinedressers had neither bought nor built the vineyard. A generous
owner allowed them to work in his vineyard, yet they turned against
him. They had to answer for it one day.
Then
he sent another servant... He sent still another... He sent many
others... -
The owner was very patient, sending messenger after messenger,
despite the fact that they were all abused and mistreated. Because
the owner wasn't there, the vinedressers doubted and mocked his
authority. They soon found out that, although they couldn't see him,
his authority was still real.
This
is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours -
This
was very foolish of the vinedressers. They apparently thought that if
they killed the owner's son, that he would just give up and let them
have the vineyard.
So
they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard –
This
parable informs us that Jesus knew He was the Son of God – and that
He would soon be killed.
The
Son was the final messenger. There would be no other. Either the
message he brought would be accepted, or they would face certain
judgement. Spurgeon: “If you don't hear the beloved Son of God, you
have refused your last hope. He
is God's ultimatum.
Nothing remains when Christ is refused. No one else can be sent;
heaven itself contains no further messenger. If Christ be rejected,
hope is rejected.”[8]
Verse 9 – Mark
omitted some details which Matthew included[9], that the priests
themselves gave the prophesy of the removal and destruction of the
tenants and the letting out of the vineyard to others. Also omitted
was the fact that 'others' would 'render him the fruits in their
seasons'.
This verse is a
clear prophesy that Israel would be scattered by God and that
salvation would be extended to the Gentiles.[10]
1. On
first reading, if you were encountering this for
the first time,
what would you say this story is about?
2. Jesus is
speaking about a vineyard. If you have access to an electronic
searchable Bible, find how many references there are to vineyards in
the whole Bible.
3. Of the Old
Testament passages, which to you think the Jesus' listeners might be
inclined to compare this parable?
READ
Isaiah 5:1-7
I
will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
This
vineyard had many advantages. It belonged to a loving person, was
planted on a fertile hillside, the ground was carefully prepared and
it was planted with good stock. It was also protected and provision
was made for the processing of the fruit.
The
Lord is declaring that we are His beloved inheritance, and is
pointing out His care and anxiety about us.
Spurgeon:
“I have been thinking of the advantages of my own position towards
the Lord, and lamenting with great shamefacedness that I am not
bringing forth such fruit to Him as my position demands. Considering
our privileges, advantages, and opportunities, I fear many of us have
need to feel great searchings of the heart.”
With
these advantages, it not a surprise that it was expected to bring
forth good grapes. What else? Certainly not bad fruit!
Bad
fruit –
What is being dealt with here is worse than unfruitfulness. Bad
fruit, that is dead works. Bad fruit – the wolfsbane, or wild
vine[11] which has beautiful berries, but which are bitter,
foul-smelling and poisonous.
Bad
fruit
– What the vineyard would produce if nothing had been done to it!
All that had been put into it had no result.[12]
3
“Now
you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
judge between me and my vineyard.4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
Judge
between me and my vineyard
– A simple question. Who is to blame for a harvest of bad fruit? Is
it the fault of the owner of the vineyard? Or of the vineyard itself?
Certainly,
we (and they) know farming is a matter of cause and effect. One could
never 'blame' a vineyard for lack of production. But in the Lord's
vineyard, the will of man is a factor.
What
more could have been done for my vineyard –
In the story, nothing had been neglected by the owner of the
vineyard. He did all he could do. Likewise, God cannot be blamed for
all the bad fruit Israel brought forth. He did all that he could do,
other than taking away free will.
The
fault lies with Man, not God.
Spurgeon:
“O you that profess to be His people, what more could Christ have
done for you? What more could the Holy Spirit have done? What richer
promises, what wiser precepts, what kinder providences, what more
gracious patience?”[13]
5
Now
I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.6 I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.”
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.6 I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.”
7
The
vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
The
'One I love', owner of the vineyard, is God and the vineyard is
Israel. Isaiah identifies himself as a representative of God's
people. (Introducing himself in verses 1 and 2, and quoting God from
3-6.) A vineyard as a representation of Israel is used elsewhere in
scripture[14], sometimes associated with the image of a bride with
her beloved. This is rather evident in the Song of Solomon[15].
Isaiah continues this tradition, but it now shows a breakdown in that
relationship.
The
imagery of a love song sets up the audience to hear words of that
kind, but they hear something completely different: words of
judgement. Thus the passage is an allegory. Only in verse 7 is it
made clear that the song is a judgement upon Israel.[16]
4. Quickly
scan the passages around this section.
Mark
11:27 – 33
27
They
arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple
courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders
came to him. 28
“By
what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who
gave you authority to do this?”
While
Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the
teachers of the law and the elders came to him
– He wasn't looking to debate the religious leaders, but rather
wanted to teach the people and tell them about God's Good News. But
they came to Him, and he was more than able to handle them.
By
what authority are you doing these things?
- Jesus had driven the corrupt moneychangers from the temple courts.
Now the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders wanted to know
by what right had He to carry out such acts.[17]
29
Jesus
replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will
tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30
John’s
baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”
31
They
discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From
heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
32
But
if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for
everyone held that John really was a prophet.)
33
So
they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus
said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing
these things.”
I
will ask you one question – By
asking them to answer the question regarding John the Baptist, Jesus
was not evading their question. If John really was from God, then he
was right about Jesus, who was indeed the Messiah. If what John said
was the truth, then Jesus had all authority.
He
didn't dodge their question, but rather cleared the air and showed
that their attitude towards Him was the same as towards John:
rejection.[18]
Mark
12:13 – 17
13
Later
they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch
him in his words. 14
They
came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of
integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no
attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance
with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b][19]
to Caesar or not? 15
Should
we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But
Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?”
he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.”
16
They
brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this?
And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,”
they replied.
17
Then
Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s
and to God what is God’s.”
And
they were amazed at him.
What
is the context?
5. What
similarities are there between the two passages in Mark and Isaiah?
What differences?
6. Comparing
these two readings answer the following:
- Who is the owner that Jesus refers to in His parable?
- Who or what is represented by the vineyard and the vines?
- Who are the messengers sent by the owner to enquire about the harvest?
- Can you give an example from the Old Testament of these messengers?
- Can you give an example from the New Testament who the listeners would know?
7. READ
verses 10 and 11.
10
Haven’t
you read this passage of Scripture:
“‘The
stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a][20]?”
has become the cornerstone;11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[a][20]?”
Who
is the capstone and who are the builders? See from where this
reference is taken. (this Psalm would have been publicly read at this
time of year.)
8. Where
was, and at what time of year, was this parable spoken? Are the time
and place significant to the context?
9. In
verse 1 of Mark 12 we read 'Jesus then began to speak to them in
parables'. Who are the “them” referred to in this verse? (read
the context)
10. Do
you think that the Jewish leaders understood the connection between
Jesus' words in 10. verses 8-10 and their intentions in Mark
11:18[21] and also Mark 12:12-13[22]?
11. What
was the purpose for Jesus speaking this parable to this particular
audience?
12. If
you were to tell this story but be more blunt in your presentation,
what would you have said?
13. If
we apply this parable to a modern day context:
- Who or what is represented by the vineyard?
- Who are the people sent by the owner?
- Who is the son?
14. Explain
the modern day implications of this parable for:
- the world
- the church
- you as an individual.
[3]
Hebrews
11:37?
[9]
See
Matthew 21:41, 42
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:
“‘The
stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[h](a)?
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’[h](a)?
(a)
NIV subnote: Psalm 118:22, 23
[11]
2
Kings 4:39
[14]
e.g.
Isaiah 3:18, Isaiah 27:2-6, Psalm 80:8-19
[15]
Song
of Solomon 7:6-9; 8:11, 12
[19]
NIV
subnote: A
special tax levied on subject peoples, not on Roman citizens
[20]
NIV
subnote: Psalm
118:22,23
[21]
18
The
chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began
looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the
whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
The
chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this
– The reproof He had given the money changers, and the buyers and
sellers in the Temple. Also the argument he had used from Isaiah, and
the sharp rebuke He gave for the profamation of the holy place.
For
they feared him –
That he would cause great changes to come about that would affect
their credit among the people, and also draw people away from them.
Because
the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching
– Both at the subject matter, which had not yet been revealed, and
at the manner it was delivered in, with authority the Scribes and
Pharisees did not have.(a)
Jesus
rebuked the religious leaders in front of the people. They were
afraid that they would lose their honour and reputation in front of
the people.
When
someone comes to correct or reprove us, do we rebel, and undermine
their authority? Or do we respectfully, go to God and ask Him for
help and wisdom to address what we have been challenged with. Our
natural inclination is to be defensive, but we need to yield this
defensiveness to Christ, seek His wisdom and follow His
instructions.(b)
[22]
12
Then
the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for
a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable
against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left
him and went away.
What
then will the owner of the Vineyard do? - The
vinedressers are foolish to think that if they had killed the owner's
son, that the vineyard would be theirs. Jesus drew the correct point
that having rejected messenger after messenger, and having rejected
the son, their day of reckoning would come.
Haven't
you read this passage of Scripture? -
Psalm 118:22 – 28, part of the 'Hosanna Psalm'. The Messiah was
officially presented to Israel. The hostility of the Jewish leaders
showed that He was rejected, even if he was initially greeted with
hosannas quoted from Psalm 118.
The
stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone –
Jesus is often likened to a stone or rock. He is the rock of
provision that followed Israel in the desert (1 Corinthians 10:4). He
is the stone of stumbling (1 Peter 2:8). He is the stone cut without
hands that crushes the powers of this world (Daniel 2:45).
They
knew he had spoken the parable against them
– They were cut to the heart and convicted by the Holy Spirit.
Their reaction to the conviction was by rejecting,
not by receiving.
They plotted to murder Jesus instead of repenting before Him.(a)
The
teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him
– They had long since decided to kill Jesus, their concern at this
time was how to bring Him into custody without creating an uproar
among the people.
They
knew he had spoken the parable against them
– They understood Jesus' claims; there was no way for them to
escape the Messianic implications of what He said.
The
whole history of Israel from the Exodus onwards was summarised. They
story of God's dealings with His people.
What's
more: Jesus exposed the treachery of the religious leaders and
virtually compelled them to renounce their boastful authority. With
this simple parable he fully answered their question, claimed divine
authority, charged the rulers with unfaithfulness to God and with
plotting to kill His Son.(b)
The
parable has both economic and intertextual significance. On the
economical point, the indication is that the landowner had made a
significant investment. Planting, fencing and building represent a
considerable financial outlay. It is a commitment. On the
Intertextual point – the link with Isaiah 5:1 – 7 is important.
As Isaiah did, Jesus summarised Israel's history. Isaiah had
described Israel as an unfaithful lover, but Jesus' story is more
graphic and violent. The actions of the tenants are more shocking –
their fault is not just a failure to produce grapes, but that they
treat
the landowners' representatives with treachery. Many attempts are
made for the landowner to receive what is due to him before he sends
his son. There is a clear escalation of ill treatment. The
intensification of the landowner's efforts is equally clear. The
tenants were not just evil but irrational. How could they hope to
inherit the vineyard after such behaviour? The outcome is certain:
judgement, retribution and replacement.(c)
13
Later
they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch
him in his words.
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