The Parable of the Tenants - Matthew 21:33-45
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.
Reflection:
As we have seen in Matthew's gospel, there is a movement both of Jesus to the cross, his ultimate goal; and also a judgment of the Jewish people, who rejected Him. This is another parable Jesus tells similar to yesterday, that indicts the Jewish leaders, as they begin to plot against Jesus and eventually arrest him. In the parable, the landowner represents God, who planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, and dug a winepress and watchtower for those overseeing the project. The idea is the God had given Israel, and by application the Church, everything it needs to produce fruit.
It is important to make the correlation that it is God's Church and He has planted it in the world for His purposes, and given it everything it needs to fulfill its mission and be fruitful. But as the story goes, as the owner sent back servants to collect what was reasonably due, the tenants beat and killed them. The owner sent another round, but to the same end. This is an obvious reference to the prophets, like Jeremiah, Isaiah and others that were sent to Israel to hold bring them back to God. But as the Old Testament records, they beat Jeremiah, killed Isaiah, stoned Zechariah the son of Jehoiada in the temple.
Last of all He sent the Son, hoping at least they would respect Him. But not only did they want to kill him, but they thought in doing so they could take over the Vineyard, the ultimate height of their depravity. At this point the chief priests and the Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them. Instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness from the God Jesus represented, they looked for a way to arrest and eventually kill him.
As I read these stories, probably like you, we see how foolish these leaders are and wonder how could they have ever done such a thing. How could they be so stupid to not realize who Jesus is, having studied the Old Testament for so long? But just as I get in judgmental mode, I think what might this story be saying to me. How might I be like those Pharisees? When I do start thinking it is my vineyard, and I am going to do what I want with it? When do I stop noticing the prophets in my midst that are calling me to greater faithfulness to God? When do I start taking shortcuts, rather than realizing we are called to carry our own cross. Jesus is still the cornerstone, and when we try to cut corners, preferring comfort over obedience, we are danger of being like the religious leaders of Jesus day.
Jesus, you are the cornerstone the builders rejected. As we have accepted you as the cornerstone of our lives, help us to build on this foundation and listen to Your voice as we build Your vineyard through the Church. Help us to use our gifts so that we as a Church might bear fruit for you that will last. Amen.
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.
Reflection:
As we have seen in Matthew's gospel, there is a movement both of Jesus to the cross, his ultimate goal; and also a judgment of the Jewish people, who rejected Him. This is another parable Jesus tells similar to yesterday, that indicts the Jewish leaders, as they begin to plot against Jesus and eventually arrest him. In the parable, the landowner represents God, who planted a vineyard, put a wall around it, and dug a winepress and watchtower for those overseeing the project. The idea is the God had given Israel, and by application the Church, everything it needs to produce fruit.
It is important to make the correlation that it is God's Church and He has planted it in the world for His purposes, and given it everything it needs to fulfill its mission and be fruitful. But as the story goes, as the owner sent back servants to collect what was reasonably due, the tenants beat and killed them. The owner sent another round, but to the same end. This is an obvious reference to the prophets, like Jeremiah, Isaiah and others that were sent to Israel to hold bring them back to God. But as the Old Testament records, they beat Jeremiah, killed Isaiah, stoned Zechariah the son of Jehoiada in the temple.
Last of all He sent the Son, hoping at least they would respect Him. But not only did they want to kill him, but they thought in doing so they could take over the Vineyard, the ultimate height of their depravity. At this point the chief priests and the Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them. Instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness from the God Jesus represented, they looked for a way to arrest and eventually kill him.
As I read these stories, probably like you, we see how foolish these leaders are and wonder how could they have ever done such a thing. How could they be so stupid to not realize who Jesus is, having studied the Old Testament for so long? But just as I get in judgmental mode, I think what might this story be saying to me. How might I be like those Pharisees? When I do start thinking it is my vineyard, and I am going to do what I want with it? When do I stop noticing the prophets in my midst that are calling me to greater faithfulness to God? When do I start taking shortcuts, rather than realizing we are called to carry our own cross. Jesus is still the cornerstone, and when we try to cut corners, preferring comfort over obedience, we are danger of being like the religious leaders of Jesus day.
Jesus, you are the cornerstone the builders rejected. As we have accepted you as the cornerstone of our lives, help us to build on this foundation and listen to Your voice as we build Your vineyard through the Church. Help us to use our gifts so that we as a Church might bear fruit for you that will last. Amen.
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