Is God Judgmental?

The Parable of the Tenants

12 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. 6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all,saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.

It is important to note the in the Old Testament God is symbolized as "the Vine" and Israel the vineyard.  (Isaiah 5:1-7) Therefore, the tenants represent the kings of Israel.  Most interpret the "servants" to mean the prophets God sent to Israel to bring them back to an obedient (fruit bearing) relationship with God.  We see the patience of the landowner (God) as he sends servant after servant only to have them abused each time, and some of them actually killed.  

The tenants wrongly conclude when the owner sends his son if they kill him, they can take control of vineyard.  But much to their chagrin after they kill the son they are called into judgement. They will be killed and the vineyard given to others. Note as we are getting toward the end of Mark, Jesus is clearly referring to himself and the Jewish leaders as the tenants.  Jesus knew he was the Son of God, and knew he would be killed because of it. At the end of the story, the chief priest and teachers of the law (Pharisees) knew he had spoken about them so they began to plot his arrest. They realized it was not a good time...yet!

We often get uncomfortable with stories that represent the judgment of God.  But we also forget the patience of God had with His own people the Jews. The people of the covenant with Abraham.  Time after time God sent prophets to win them back to Him, but they refused and abused and killed his prophets.  Finally God sent Jesus the Messiah to them.  Some believed, others rejected him, and some had a role in crucifying him.  The bottom line though is God desires all people to be saved. 

God offered His salvation first to the Jewish people from whom Jesus came from. Then to the Gentiles which was promised in the covenant with Abraham. God said to Abraham, "Through you all nations will be blessed. You have been blessed to be a blessing to all people."  God loves all people equally and he choose a specific group of people to reveal His love in the person of Jesus.  Jesus came from the house and line of David, the greatest king of Israel.  

All of God's covenants with the Jewish people pointed to the day when Jesus would come and fulfil all of the Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah.  Yet though he fulfilled every one of these prophecies some did not believe.  Why?  All one can say they were hardhearted. Just like Pharaoh had a hardened heart when God kept sending plagues to warn him and the people of Egypt.  Not matter what God did to warn him, Pharaoh's heart just got harder.  

Although we are uncomfortable with a judgmental God, without judgment there can be no mercy.  Without sin there is no forgiveness.  Though a just God judges our sin, He has provided us a Savior so that we might be justified in His presence.  At the final judgment there will be no one who didn't have a chance to accept God's mercy in Christ. And from this passage we learn God gives everyone many chances.  God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  And God desires all people to be saved.  Is God judgmental? You tell me.