The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

[Christian2]

Hello,

Would someone please interpret this parable for me? I am particularly interested in verses 40 through 44.

Matthew: 33 “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. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 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.” 42 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 LORD's doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes'?

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

This parable can be also be found in Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-19.

Thank you.

[August]

Hi Christian2,

The meaning here can be broken up as follows: God is the landowner, the vineyard is the kingdom of God, the servants are the prophets and priests who remained faithful to God, the son is Jesus, and the tenants are the Jews who opposed Jesus. It then follows that killing of the son is the crucifixion of Jesus, and the parable is about Jesus exposing the plot to kill Him, and the consequences for those who rejected Him.

Jesus Himself is the stone that the builders rejected but still is that cornerstone on which His church is built. (Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7) The removal of the tenants after His death is the transferral of the kingdom to a new people of God, that included the gentiles. Verse 42 is cross-referenced to Psalm 118:22,23, and Jesus confirms here that Him being the cornerstone is by the auhtority of God. Vesre 43 describes taking away the status of being God's people from those that killed Jesus, and giving it to those that will bear the fruits of His sacrifice.

Verse 44 is quite significant. It relates to the prophesies of Daniel 2: 34, 44 and Is 8:14. Jesus is the destroyer of earthly kingdoms, and at the same time the founder of God's kingdom on earth. It also points out that the jewish leaders are opposed to this kingdom.

Some will build on the stone, others will trip over it. At the final judgment, God's enemies will be crushed by it. Jesus will be both the building block and the crushing stone, promising mercy and forgiveness, but also judgment. Also note the fear of the Pharisees and priests when they heard this, they knew Jesus was speaking about them.

Jesus is referred to as a "stone" in a few places in the NT: Acts 4:11, Rom 9:33, 1 Pet 2: 6-8.

Hope it helps.

[Christian2]

Hi August,

Yes this helps. Thank you.

Vesre 43 describes taking away the status of being God's people from those that killed Jesus, and giving it to those that will bear the fruits of His sacrifice.

This would be the Christian church--those who accept Jesus as Messiah--they are the people who "bear the fruits of His sacrifice." Correct?

Continuing with the Scriptures you quoted--1 Pet 2:6-8 on to verses 9-10:

"9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

These are the Christians bearing the fruit.

Also, you said that the Jews lost their status of being God's people. Are you saying that unless the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah that they are lost--they have no salvation? What does that mean as far as the everlasting covenant? The land--did they lose that too or am I mixing apples and oranges?

[August]

This would be the Christian church--those who accept Jesus as Messiah--they are the people who "bear the fruits of His sacrifice." Correct?

Continuing with the Scriptures you quoted--1 Pet 2:6-8 on to verses 9-10:

"9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

These are the Christians bearing the fruit.

Yes. If you read further into the various confession of faith, this is a central theme, that of a holy, catholic church. This is not the RCC, but the universal church of Jesus.

Also, you said that the Jews lost their status of being God's people. Are you saying that unless the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah that they are lost--they have no salvation? What does that mean as far as the everlasting covenant?

The first part of your statement does not quite reflect what I said. If it is, then I misspoke. Thise that were responsilbe for killing Jesus because they refused to believe that He was the saviour, lost their status as God's people. As Christians, we believe that there is only one way to salvation and that is through the Messiah. It is shown to be the case in NT Scripture, which is rejected by the Judaic faith.

The one plan that is consistently communicated throughout the Bible is God's plan to restore a people for Him from the fallen through a Messiah.

If you read Eph 2 and 4 it is quite clear that there is just one covenant:
Ephes. 2:11-22 (NIV)
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- [12] remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
[14] For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
[19] Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephes. 4:3-6 (NIV)
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Rev F Klett states: "The core of the Abrahamic promise was to bring a restoration of blessing to all peoples through the seed of Abraham. This seed is ultimately the King of Israel, the Messiah. Psalm 72:17 tells us this by applying the very words of the Abrahamic promise to the Son of David: "May his name endure forever...all nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed"."

Galatians 3 says this: Galatians 3:14-16 (NIV)
He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
[15] Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. [16] The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.

There is just one everlasting covenant, which with the life and death of Jesus, was expanded to include all, Jews and gentiles. Those that reject Jesus also rejects His salvation.

Ulitmately, God is the sole and only judge of who gets saved or not. God can decide to save whomever He wants, so I am not going to make a rash statement and condemn all Jews to hell. That is between each person and God.

If we then read Romans 11, it provides for the future conversion of Israel to Christianity:

Romans 11:26-27 (NIV)
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
[27] And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins."

God di not replace the Jewish people with the church, He rather grafted the gentiles into Israel. God is not finished with the Jewish people.

As for their physical land, I don't think it quite relates to this discussion.

This is quite a tricky topic, so ask away if you have any further questions.

[Christian2]

Thanks August. I am going to look all of this over and will come back if I need some more help.

I appreciate your time.