Parable of the Landowner

Connection

Just over one Month Ago:

Triumphal Entry:

Confession of the People vs. the Opposition of the Leaders of Jerusalem

Matthew 21:9 “The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!””

Chanting Psalm 118:25-26

Reason why this Psalm comes to mind

This is the hope of the people

Proclamation is their Confession of Faith

Mark 1:7 “And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.”

Matthew 14:33 “And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!””

Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Confession of the People:

This is the One in whom the Psalms were written

“Hosanna” Save Us - He is the One who can and will save us from the judgment of our sin

Son of David - Fulfillment of the Covenant

2 Samuel 7:12–13 ““When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Matthew 21:10 “When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?””

Cleanses the Temple - to illustrate how far removed they are from the righteousness of God

Curses the Fig Tree - to illustrate the lack of Fruit being produced in Jerusalem

Demonstrates His authority from God

Parable of the Two Sons - illustrate the vastness of the Kingdom - King of the Jew and Gentile

Here: 2nd of three parables - Meant to:

Point out the error of Israel

Your righteousness is insufficient

Your rebellion is Idolatry

The Kingdom belongs to the people of the faith

There will be a separation

Both physically (in time) and spiritually (in eternity)

Read Text

Parable of the Landowner

The Gospel according to Matthew 2. The Parable of the Tenants, 21:33–46

This was a new vineyard, set up on new land. Being new, it involved some uncertainty as to how well it would work out, but the householder did all that he should have done to ensure a good vineyard. He fenced it off, which would protect it from wild animals and the like. He dug a winepress. This meant two basins cut out of rock, or if out of soil, lined with rocks and sealed with plaster; one would have been lower than the other, and they would have been connected by a channel. The grapes were thrown into the upper basin and trodden under foot, with the result that the juice flowed into the lower where it began the process of fermentation. He also built a tower, which would enable a watchman to survey the vineyard and the surrounding terrain so that he could take action against marauders, human or animal. Then he let the vineyard out to vine growers.57 That he went abroad does not necessarily mean that he went to another country (though that is not unlikely), but it certainly indicates that he was at quite a distance from his new investment.

-Leon Morris

Vine Growers - live on the property while the Landowner was temporarily away

Pay a small rent and tend the land

Productive fruit would harvest in the 4-5 years

Landowner would send servants to collect on the Fruit

We can see the Parallels:

God is always portrayed as the Landowner

Isa 5:1-7

Entrusted us with the care taking of His Creation

Biblical Mandate: Genesis 2:15 “Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.”

Genesis 1:27–28 “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””

In this Parable:

The Vine-growers beat stoned and killed 2 sets of servants

Jeremiah -

Prophesying Judah will be judged

Babylon takes Judah captive - Jeremiah seen as a traitor - submit to the Babylonian authority

Opposed many of the prophets that the king chose

Became an enemy of the King and his people

Many 1st Century Church Fathers have Jeremiah put to death by stoning in Babylon

So the Landowner sends His Son

Surely they would respect Him all the more

But they do the same to Him

Q: Matthew 21:40 ““Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?””

Lets the Chief Priests answer:

A: Matthew 21:41 “They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.””

What is the proper response?

If all of this parable were relatable - What would be the proper response?

Jesus has already demonstrated all of the pieces:

Landowner, Vine Growers, Servants,

Surely They will respect my Son.

Did you never read in the Scripture:

Same psalm they were singing as Jesus the King entered into the City of David

The Faith has been built on the solid foundation of the righteousness and faithfulness of God

and the Chief Cornerstone is being rejected by the very builders that God has commissioned

Matthew 21:43–44 ““Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.””

KoG - will be given to a people of Faith

Picture the Church

1 Pt 2