Matthew 21:33-46

[mindlight]

Does Matthew 21:33-46 imply the rejection of Israel because they rejected the Messiah. Can it be used to justify the slaughter of Jews by Christians down the centuries because of their rejection of Jesus.

The Parable of the Tenants
21:33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. 21:34 When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop. 21:35 But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 21:36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way. 21:37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and get his inheritance!’ 21:39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 21:40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 21:41 They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

21:43 For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 21:44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.” 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 21:46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.

 

[mooi licht]

Those verses say that the owner of the vineyard will come and cast them out, not the new workers. God is responsible for their punishment, not Christians.

Also see Romans 11:25-32. God made promises to His chosen people (Israel); He will not revoke the truths that He speaks.

 

[TheCub]

.

God's Presence Transferred From the Synagogue to the Church​

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes'? [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] (The one who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.)" When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Mat 21:33-46)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]Clearly in this parable, the vineyard represents the people of God i.e. Israel; the servants represent the prophets; the landowner's son is Jesus; and the tenants represent the Jews, in particular the chief priests and Pharisees. The people that will produce its fruit represents the Church i.e. the people of God after the death of Jesus or [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]the New Israel [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Gal 4:28-31 and CCC 877).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Indeed this parable was realized with the immolation, death and resurrection of Jesus.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]The Temple at Jerusalem was the house of God. Within the Temple was a section known as the Holy of Holies, which represented the dwelling place of God on earth. So sacred was the Holy of Holies that only the High Priest could enter it, and only once each year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of the sin-offering and offer incense. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](4)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] A veil which hung from the ceiling to the floor separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. Clearly, the veil represented a barrier between God and man resulting from Adam's sin. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised." [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Mat 27:50-52)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]The passage above represents the sacrifice of Christ defeating sin and tearing down the barrier between God and man. The New American Bible (NAB) in the corresponding footnote described it this way:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"…Probably the torn veil of the gospels is the inner one. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]The meaning of the scene may be that now, because of Jesus' death, all people have access to the presence of God,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] or that the temple, its holiest part standing exposed, is now profaned and will soon be destroyed…"[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]St. Paul explained it this way: "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]….[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Hebrews 9:11-12)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul stated: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]broken down the dividing wall of hostility[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica], by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Eph 2:13-18)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In his first letter to Timothy, he stated: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…" [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. 1Ti 2:5)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]It was St. John who wrote: "Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father." [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. 1 John 2:22)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In view of the passages above, we submit that the tearing of the veil also represents the transfer of God's presence from the synagogue to the Church --- [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]from Israel to the New Israel [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Gal 4:28-31 and CCC 877).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Even His name Emmanuel, which means "God is with us", supports this [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Isa 7:14).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]We also see it in the word 'communion' which means in union with. In the Roman Catholic Church bread and wine are consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica].[/FONT]

 

[mindlight]

Those verses say that the owner of the vineyard will come and cast them out, not the new workers. God is responsible for their punishment, not Christians.

Good point Jesus will do it not his people.

21:40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 21:41 They said to him, “He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.”

Also see Romans 11:25-32. God made promises to His chosen people (Israel); He will not revoke the truths that He speaks.

11:25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;

he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

11:27 And this is my covenant with them,

when I take away their sins.”

11:28 In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. 11:29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 11:30 Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, 11:31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 11:32 For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

The promises stand but surely only for those who are trusting in God for them. Otherwise we'd be talking about universalism. Not all who call themselves Israel are Israel.

 

[mindlight]

.

God's Presence Transferred From the Synagogue to the Church​

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes'? [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] (The one who falls on this stone will be dashed to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.)" When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Mat 21:33-46)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]Clearly in this parable, the vineyard represents the people of God i.e. Israel; the servants represent the prophets; the landowner's son is Jesus; and the tenants represent the Jews, in particular the chief priests and Pharisees. The people that will produce its fruit represents the Church i.e. the people of God after the death of Jesus or [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]the New Israel [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Gal 4:28-31 and CCC 877).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Indeed this parable was realized with the immolation, death and resurrection of Jesus.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]The Temple at Jerusalem was the house of God. Within the Temple was a section known as the Holy of Holies, which represented the dwelling place of God on earth. So sacred was the Holy of Holies that only the High Priest could enter it, and only once each year on the Day of Atonement to sprinkle the blood of the sin-offering and offer incense. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](4)[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] A veil which hung from the ceiling to the floor separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. Clearly, the veil represented a barrier between God and man resulting from Adam's sin. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised." [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Mat 27:50-52)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]The passage above represents the sacrifice of Christ defeating sin and tearing down the barrier between God and man. The New American Bible (NAB) in the corresponding footnote described it this way:[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]"…Probably the torn veil of the gospels is the inner one. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]The meaning of the scene may be that now, because of Jesus' death, all people have access to the presence of God,[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] or that the temple, its holiest part standing exposed, is now profaned and will soon be destroyed…"[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]St. Paul explained it this way: "But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]….[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Hebrews 9:11-12)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul stated: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]broken down the dividing wall of hostility[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica], by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. Eph 2:13-18)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In his first letter to Timothy, he stated: "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…" [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. 1Ti 2:5)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]It was St. John who wrote: "Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica] Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father." [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Cf. 1 John 2:22)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica]In view of the passages above, we submit that the tearing of the veil also represents the transfer of God's presence from the synagogue to the Church --- [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]from Israel to the New Israel [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Gal 4:28-31 and CCC 877).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]Even His name Emmanuel, which means "God is with us", supports this [/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica](Isa 7:14).[/FONT][FONT=Arial, helvetica]We also see it in the word 'communion' which means in union with. In the Roman Catholic Church bread and wine are consecrated into the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, helvetica].[/FONT]

To be sure Jesus has initiated a new covenant. Simply being a Jew is not enough to get a person saved and a way as now been opened for Jew and Gentile to come into the very holy of holies presence of God.

Those who have rejected the Messiah will be utterly destoyed. But as pointed out by the previous poster to simply say that the Jews have been replaced by the church might be simplistic. Jesus may well have said this about the religious authorities but many Jews in the crowd held him to be a prophet. So not all Jews need to be included in this.

The promises given to Israel are not all simply transferrable to the church

 

[mooi licht]

Not all who call themselves Israel are Israel.

Very true. God's promises were part of a covenant, which is a two sided deal.

 

[TheCub]

It was St. John who wrote: "Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well. Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father." (Cf. 1 John 2:22)


Certain of the Jews may view Jesus as a prophet. Indeed He is (not was). Such people continue to be adherents of Judaism which rejects Jesus as the Christ.

Indeed there were (and continue to be) many prophets......but only one is the Christ.....and that is Jesus.