April 20
Luke 20:9-18
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (ESV)
This is a rather large portion of scripture, but I thought it would be helpful to include the entire parable, which is also told in Mark 12.
The ESV Study Bible says of the parable:
"Luke 20:9-18 The Parable of the Wicked Tenants. This parable, while spoken to the people (vv. 1, 9), is directed to Jesus’ opponents (19:47; 20:1, 19) and is intended as an analogy (with many referents) to show that God (the “owner,” v. 13) is taking away the kingdom from Israel "
The Expositor's Commentary (Abridged) New Testament explains:
"The refusal of the leaders to accept Jesus' authority (vv.1-8) leads to this parable that not only clearly affirms that authority but also alludes to Jesus' death and his subsequent vindication. The parable draws its imagery from the Song of the Vineyard (Isa 5:1-7). This story tends more toward allegory than Jesus' parables usually do. The vineyard may be compared to Israel; the owner represents God; the son, Jesus; the tenants, the religious leaders charged with cultivating the religious life of Israel (as they acknowledge in v.19); and the servants correspond to the prophets."
The main thrust of the parable seems to be that the Kingdom is being removed from Israel, especially from the corrupt religious leaders, who oppose Jesus and burden the people. In the end, the vineyard will be tended by a people (spiritual Israel, both Jews and Gentiles) and the lord of the vineyard's justification will be established. The false religious leaders will be unable to stand against the Lord. Indeed, nothing false will stand in the day of judgment.
Psalm 118:19-24
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. (ESV)
Maranatha! IC -|- XC
Luke 20:9-18
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (ESV)
This is a rather large portion of scripture, but I thought it would be helpful to include the entire parable, which is also told in Mark 12.
The ESV Study Bible says of the parable:
"Luke 20:9-18 The Parable of the Wicked Tenants. This parable, while spoken to the people (vv. 1, 9), is directed to Jesus’ opponents (19:47; 20:1, 19) and is intended as an analogy (with many referents) to show that God (the “owner,” v. 13) is taking away the kingdom from Israel "
The Expositor's Commentary (Abridged) New Testament explains:
"The refusal of the leaders to accept Jesus' authority (vv.1-8) leads to this parable that not only clearly affirms that authority but also alludes to Jesus' death and his subsequent vindication. The parable draws its imagery from the Song of the Vineyard (Isa 5:1-7). This story tends more toward allegory than Jesus' parables usually do. The vineyard may be compared to Israel; the owner represents God; the son, Jesus; the tenants, the religious leaders charged with cultivating the religious life of Israel (as they acknowledge in v.19); and the servants correspond to the prophets."
The main thrust of the parable seems to be that the Kingdom is being removed from Israel, especially from the corrupt religious leaders, who oppose Jesus and burden the people. In the end, the vineyard will be tended by a people (spiritual Israel, both Jews and Gentiles) and the lord of the vineyard's justification will be established. The false religious leaders will be unable to stand against the Lord. Indeed, nothing false will stand in the day of judgment.
Psalm 118:19-24
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. (ESV)
Maranatha! IC -|- XC
