His Share of the Harvest!
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Psalm 33:12-22
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Exodus 12:21-51
The Exodus
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. 37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. 40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.
Matthew 21:33-46
The Parable of the Tenants
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Reflections: The Israelites, in obedience to Moses’ commands, take the hyssop and put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and are saved from the angel of death, whereas the Egyptians face the horror of their firstborn being killed. Pharaoh tells Moses and his people (600,000 just counting the men quite a big nation!) to finally leave, but ironically asks for a blessing. Pharaoh begins to realize that the nation of Israel is blessed by a power greater than himself. Yet, he will give one last grasp to keep his power, and the results for his people will be equally devastating.
Notice as well the historical nature of the accounting of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt. The men are counted at 600,000 (obviously they had been fruitful and had multiplied in their stay in Egypt) and it says they were there for 430 years. This helps us to date some of the Old Testament history.
Jesus tells another parable about how the kingdom works. It is about an owner who plants a vineyard, rents it to some tenants, and sends his servants to collect the fruit or harvest. Notice the language of “renting” and “tenants”. They have been given the land by agreement of the owner, on the owner’s terms, just like we would enter into any lease today.
In the Covenant God made with Israel, He agreed to protect them, if they would serve Him and honor His Law, which included giving the first-fruits of the harvest back to the Lord. But as we had seen in the previous passages, the leaders of the temple had turned it into money making machine, rather than honoring the intent of the purposes of offerings (rent) to the Lord.
Finally, the Owner(God), sent His own Son (Jesus) but the tenants (Israel, especially its leaders) rejected him and on the assumption, “This is the owner’s Son, let’s take him and kill him and get the inheritance.” Of course they were foolish to expect the Owner would not come back and give them what they deserved. Then the Owner rented the Vineyard to others (eventually the disciples and the Church of Jesus Christ!) under the same terms that they would give Him His share of the harvest at the proper time.
So we see two types of people in these passages. The Israelites obeyed what God had asked him to do and were protected and blessed beyond what they could ask or imagine. And the wicked tenants, who thought they had a better way, and tried to live life on their own terms. Where does this passage challenge you in your life? In what ways does God call you to give Him the share of the harvest He has entrusted to you? If it is all His anyways, does it not make sense to give back to Him what He deserves? I guess in the end it is a matter of who are you trusting for the blessing in your life!
May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Psalm 67:7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3
Generous God, you have so generously blessed us in manifold ways. How can we be but grateful? Forgive us for taking that grace for granted and lead us into deeper thankfulness. Amen.
Psalm 33:12-22
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches
all who live on earth—
15 he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.
Exodus 12:21-51
The Exodus
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!” 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. 36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. 37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves. 40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.
Matthew 21:33-46
The Parable of the Tenants
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Reflections: The Israelites, in obedience to Moses’ commands, take the hyssop and put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts and are saved from the angel of death, whereas the Egyptians face the horror of their firstborn being killed. Pharaoh tells Moses and his people (600,000 just counting the men quite a big nation!) to finally leave, but ironically asks for a blessing. Pharaoh begins to realize that the nation of Israel is blessed by a power greater than himself. Yet, he will give one last grasp to keep his power, and the results for his people will be equally devastating.
Notice as well the historical nature of the accounting of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt. The men are counted at 600,000 (obviously they had been fruitful and had multiplied in their stay in Egypt) and it says they were there for 430 years. This helps us to date some of the Old Testament history.
Jesus tells another parable about how the kingdom works. It is about an owner who plants a vineyard, rents it to some tenants, and sends his servants to collect the fruit or harvest. Notice the language of “renting” and “tenants”. They have been given the land by agreement of the owner, on the owner’s terms, just like we would enter into any lease today.
In the Covenant God made with Israel, He agreed to protect them, if they would serve Him and honor His Law, which included giving the first-fruits of the harvest back to the Lord. But as we had seen in the previous passages, the leaders of the temple had turned it into money making machine, rather than honoring the intent of the purposes of offerings (rent) to the Lord.
Finally, the Owner(God), sent His own Son (Jesus) but the tenants (Israel, especially its leaders) rejected him and on the assumption, “This is the owner’s Son, let’s take him and kill him and get the inheritance.” Of course they were foolish to expect the Owner would not come back and give them what they deserved. Then the Owner rented the Vineyard to others (eventually the disciples and the Church of Jesus Christ!) under the same terms that they would give Him His share of the harvest at the proper time.
So we see two types of people in these passages. The Israelites obeyed what God had asked him to do and were protected and blessed beyond what they could ask or imagine. And the wicked tenants, who thought they had a better way, and tried to live life on their own terms. Where does this passage challenge you in your life? In what ways does God call you to give Him the share of the harvest He has entrusted to you? If it is all His anyways, does it not make sense to give back to Him what He deserves? I guess in the end it is a matter of who are you trusting for the blessing in your life!
May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him. Psalm 67:7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:3
Generous God, you have so generously blessed us in manifold ways. How can we be but grateful? Forgive us for taking that grace for granted and lead us into deeper thankfulness. Amen.
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