This parable is one of three parables Jesus directs at religious leaders. Matthew gives all three parables, Luke only gives one. Jesus is speaking to a massive crowd of people about the leaders who are listening in.
The Owner & His Tenants
Verse 9 A vineyard owner rents out his land to contract farmers. The tenant farmers have the freedom to do whatever they would like with the land and, in exchange, they agree to pay the owner a percentage of their income as rent for the land.
The vineyard owner is a mirror of God. The vineyard that God cares for, prunes, and protects is the nation of Israel, his chosen people.
The tenant farmers mirror the religious leaders who are those God puts in charge of caring for his people and leading them in obedience to the ways of God. Back then, God placed people in the care of kings, priests, Pharisees, and scribes. They were never the owners of God’s vineyard, just the stewards.
The prophet Isaiah talks about the vineyard:
“Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter. Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it. I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it. The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.” Isaiah 5:1-7 NLT
Back to the book of Luke, the owner of the vineyard leaves the farmers to go on a long trip. One commentator says this mirrors God leaving his people for 2,000 years (which is the time between the Old Testament and New Testament). God didn’t physically walk with his people until He returned as His son, Jesus.
The Ungrateful, Evil Tenant Farmers
Verse 10 At harvest time, the owner sends a slave/servant to collect a share of the crops that is due to him. But the tenant farmers beat the slave/servant and sent him away empty-handed. It’s illegal to not pay someone what they deserve. But they go a step further and beat the slave, who is only trying to collect what is due.
Now, look at this message the prophet Jeremiah records in the Old Testament from God: “From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out.” Jeremiah 7:25 NLT
Throughout the Old Testament, from Moses to John the Baptist here in the New Testament, God sent his prophets to the people with messages to return to God’s Law, to holiness, to obey it, walk in it, and pursue a righteous life. They called God’s people to love Him, serve Him, repent of their sins, and cry out for forgiveness that produces spiritual fruit for the honor and glory of God.
And yet the people would shame, beat, and throw out these prophets/slaves/servants. The servant prophets faced hatred, hostility, and death.
The farmers walked in their own way and in the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
The Landowner’s Kindness & Mercy
Verse 11 The landowner sends another slave to the tenant farmers and they do the same.
Verse 12 The landowner sends a third slave with the same result. The book of Matthew says the owner sent more slaves but the tenant farmers killed them.
The Owner gave the tenant farmers the privilege and freedom to farm on the land and they made a promise to pay a portion back. But here they are rebellious, selfish, disrespectful, and vicious to the point of murder.
Look at the patience of the vineyard owner in this story. He could have called the authorities and demanded justice after the tenant farmers beat up the first slave, but he didn’t. His patience and kindness with the farmers sent a second slave. His mercy sent a third. The owner gives them opportunity after opportunity to do what is right, to do what they said they would do.
This is much like God’s children. Our gracious, merciful God has given us opportunity after opportunity to repent.
The Owner Offers His Son
Verse 13 Now the owner asks himself what he should do. Clearly, he’s not getting the right response here. Should he seek vengeance? No, he sends his beloved son and gives them one more chance. Maybe they will treat his son better than the slaves.
Verse 14 When the tenant farmers saw the son, they knew exactly who he was. An heir. The tenant farmers discussed their options. Could be they thought the father/owner was dead, and so the son now came. They conclude that killing the son would mean they could collect his inheritance, which would be the land. They planned and premeditated murder with full knowledge of who the son was, hoping they could take control of everything.
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, who has all divine authority. The religious leaders should have revered him. Instead, they discussed ways to get rid of him.
Jesus’ whole life contains endless evidence that He is the Son of God. The religious leaders couldn’t question the miracles and divine power He held. It is unmistakably clear. He showed divine power over disease, demons, and death.
Approval of Men Over The Approval of God
John 12:42 tells us that many rulers believed in Jesus as the Messiah, but because of the Pharisees, they didn’t confess this for fear that the Pharisees would throw the people out of the synagogue. These rulers loved the approval of men over the approval of God. They loved their religion and the praise it brought them over the love of God.
With his parable, Jesus is telling the Pharisees that he knows about their plots to murder him. Jesus knows the religious leaders just want to control their own version of the kingdom of God. They want to control the synagogue, the temples, and the people’s praise. They want to run God’s Kingdom their own way.
Verse 15 In the middle of his parable, Jesus poses this question for those listening: what then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
The book of Matthew gives us a response from the people listening to the story. “The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.” Matthew 21:41 NLT
The Owner’s Vengeance And Offering of The Vineyard
Verse 16 Jesus affirms their response by saying the vineyard owner will come and destroy the tenant farmers and give the vineyard to others.
Remember this in Luke 19: “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”” Luke 19:41-44 NLT
But when the people listening to this parable heard Jesus’ conclusion, they said, “Surely not!” (Matthew 20:16 ESV)
Another version says ”How terrible that such a thing should ever happen,” his listeners protested.” Luke 20:16 NLT
In the original Greek language, this verse says, “May it never be,” which is a very strong ‘no, no, no! Never, never, never! Can’t happen!’
Those listening understood the meaning of Jesus’ parable.
The problem is nothing has changed over the years. God planted his people, gave them everything they needed, and put protection all around them, and yet they still rebel. God sent prophet after prophet with warnings and yet nothing changed.
The same happens in our own lives. God sends us warnings to repent and years later, we’re still battling the same conversations with our Maker.
Verse 17 Jesus responds with an Old Testament scripture from Psalm 118:22. The stone the builders rejected is Jesus. God made him the cornerstone (which is the most important piece of a foundation. If you get the cornerstone off, the entire foundation will crumble.).
Verse 18 Anyone who questions Jesus’ authority by God loses their own authority on earth. The Jewish nation persecuted its prophets and now its religious leaders were persecuting Jesus. This provoked God to take away their kingdom privileges. The religious leaders lost all rights of inheritance in God’s kingdom.
Verse 19 The religious leaders were pretty sure Jesus spoke this parable toward them. And Jesus did.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Unfortunately, the corruption in their hearts rebelled against the conviction of their wrongs. Instead of listening to the conviction in their spirits, anger got the best of them.
When the heart wants to do evil, it doesn’t matter how big the consequences are. No amount of warnings will stop a stubborn heart set on following its desires.
Eternal Consequences
There are eternal consequences for those who reject Jesus with their words and actions. We either love Jesus, acknowledge Him as the Son of God, the only Savior, and put our trust and faith in Him, or we live a cursed fate. God can see through our lip service. He knows the condition of our hearts. If we say we believe but we live differently, we are hypocrites. If we say Jesus has changed our hearts, our actions should reflect a changed life. God promises judgment for all those who reject Jesus’ change in their lives.
One thing the parable didn’t address: After destroying Israel’s religious leaders and system (as verse 18 addressed), who did God, the owner, give His vineyard to?
The Authority of Jesus Transfers To His Believers
Flip back to Luke chapter 9, “One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1-2 NLT
Jesus transferred to the Twelve apostles his authority and power over demons and disease and sent them out to proclaim the way of salvation and entrance into God’s kingdom.
Luke 9:6 says, “They began going about among the villages preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.”
The apostles became the new caretakers or stewards in God’s vineyard.
The religious leaders did not receive this power because God did not authorize them. They were not proclaiming the truth, so God did not empower them.
God authorizes and empowers believers to share the Truth about Jesus.
Luke 10 says, “The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:1-3 NLT
The religious leaders are the wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing.
New Stewards of God’s Kingdom
Now, the Twelve apostles and 70 followers are the new stewards of the kingdom and Truth of God. They all expressed Jesus’ power, experienced it, and performed it.
“Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen. I tell you, many prophets and kings longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.” Luke 10:23-24 NLT
Jesus gave his followers’ the privileges people longed for through the centuries. He gave them revelations and the power to perform miracles, which shows they are the new stewards of divine truth.
Today, if we say we believe and follow Jesus, we are the new leaders God has allowed as the new tenants in the vineyard; the stewards of God’s kingdom and His redemption work on earth.
“He [Jesus] replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.” Matthew 13:11 NLT
Our Belief Unlocks God’s Mysteries
If we say we believe Jesus, He reveals the mysteries of His kingdom with revelations throughout scripture. No one else can open our eyes and ears to these hidden truths concerning the kingdom of God except Jesus’ Spirit, which comes to live in our hearts.
Only our faith in Jesus opens the door to deeper, divine revelations within God’s Kingdom.
While reading the Word of God, have you ever had an “ah ha” moment where it feels like the lights turned on in a dark place and now you see what this message is saying? Let’s say you’re having a typical day, have you ever had the Word of God come alive and apply to your situation with answers to your questions, direct your steps/path, or enlighten your mind with a deeper Truth that goes beyond what you can see? That is the Holy Spirit at work. A human being cannot open thoughts or a heart like that.
The Power of The Holy Spirit
Jesus is the key. Our advocate, the Holy Spirit living in us, opens the door of revelation to our thoughts and empowers us with enlightenment.
The Holy Spirit’s power can soften a strong will, break a hard heart, a lead a resistant spirit to repent.
Ephesians 2:20 says the church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ being the chief cornerstone.” The new leadership in the church is apostles and teachers who preach Jesus.
Jesus is our Lord, King, and Messiah. He is our authority and salvation. When we proclaim this truth, Jesus gives us the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Believers sharing God’s Truth help unlock God’s kingdom and let people in.
The Responsibility of Believers
In this parable, we are the tenant farmers. God has hired us under contract, under Jesus, gifted, and called to go into this world with a responsibility that has no equal. We are called to take care of God’s vineyard and produce righteous fruit that brings Him glory.
As believers, we enjoy the privileges of being The Church. God has given us certain privileges to hear the truth and know the truth, which is the message of Jesus. He has given us divine and direct revelation to see, hear, and learn His Word/His Kingdom. He gives us the power to perform miracles and cast out demons, which shows that we are the new stewards of divine truth. The Holy Spirit helps us understand hidden truths, mysteries, and parables concerning the kingdom of God. This is the New Testament truth.
Not everybody in the world has this privilege. Being under the knowledge of the truth means we have a responsibility.
What are we going to do with that truth? Are we going to be like the religious leaders who regarded their reputation with the people, their line of work, and their income as more important than the change Jesus came to bring? They loved their own ways, opinions, sins, systems, and relationships, and rejected Jesus so they could hold on to what they had.
This is the time to let go of everything, and put our trust in Christ so that we’re not destroyed and added to the number of those who forfeited all the potential and offered blessings of His kingdom.
Prayer
Father, thank you for your Word that provokes an urgency in acknowledging Jesus as my Lord and Savior. You give me the privilege of seeing who You are, Jesus, and I bear the responsibility to believe, to embrace You as Savior, or suffer the most fearful eternal consequences. Thank you for the gifts, skills, and opportunities you give me to share your Truth with this world. Holy Spirit, help me be faithful with the fruit you produce in me and acknowledge the Owner/Creator first and most for any fruit that is harvested from it. Thank you for the privilege and freedom to be a part of your vineyard, Father. Thank you for your patience and mercy with me, even in my disobedience. You are so gracious to give me opportunities to repent.
May Your grace be abundant. Help me let go of my own opinions and my version of life that I want to rule and control. I reject the corruption in my heart that is superseding the conviction of my wrongs.
May I not follow the majority, the many on the road to destruction, but may I come the narrow way, embracing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior with a heart of repentance, so that my life would fill up joy and blessing, that I might become a part of the people who are the new stewards of kingdom truth and blessing, not just for a time but for eternity.
May Your powerful work of grace and salvation operate in my heart, Jesus. Equip my words and empower me with courage as an authorized caretaker in your vineyard to share the Truth about Jesus wherever I go today. I pray for the faith of many to be added to the kingdom because Jesus’ work helped me obey. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.