“He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!” 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’[a]? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.” Luke 20.9-19
Jesus was no longer pulling punches. He was letting every one of them land with the full impact intended.
The time for Christ’s sacrifice was soon approaching, and Jesus wanted as many as possible to trust in Him. So He tells the parable in which He is depicted as the son, the tenants are the Jews—the religious leaders and teachers of the Law—and the vineyard is God’s people, His promises, and His land. They have rejected God. The final straw is rejecting the vineyard’s son, Jesus, and turning their backs completely on the owner.
Jesus even quotes from what we know as Old Testament Scripture (which He does often). This is Psalm 118:22—“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the Jewish religious leaders understood it. For the second time that day they looked for a way to arrest and kill Jesus because they could not argue against Him.
What Jesus is teaching here is the story of the Bible. It is the story of God’s people over and over again throughout Scripture. God reaches out to love and redeem His people, and they reject Him. He sends prophets and priests whom they reject. Finally He sends His Son, Jesus, whom they kill. God is a loving, patient, caring Father who wants to save and love His people. Yet like disobedient children, they run far from His authority and devote themselves to sin.
This is also the story of us—disobedient people seeking fame and fortune, importance and significance—when our true worth comes from being a child of God. Our purpose is to know and love the Father. There is no other purpose in this life. By knowing and loving God we know and love all of God’s people. This should be the story for each generation: to love God and to love others.
Yet we are also human, and our sin convinces us that our way is better. This is a life from the pit of Hades. We will only find contentment, life, and meaning when walking alongside our Master and Rabbi, Jesus.
Let’s repent today together. Let’s turn back to the Master. Let’s lean on the Lord and be the people He has called us to be—by His grace and for His glory.
“O Lord God, You are good and true. Thank You for loving Your people. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your grace. I trust You and love You, Lord. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen