Entitled

Intro

Without pointing fingers or naming names, do you know anyone who meets the definition for entitled? A definition is on the screen. “Entitlement is the belief that one is deserving of or entitled to certain privileges or special treatment.” The biblical idea that everyone is called to work for and enjoy the labors of their own hands seems to be lost in our culture. Many people want all the things it took decades for their parents or grandparents to earn and save for. Others grow up being given everything they could ever want or need because their parent grew up struggling to make ends meet. Living your life feeling entitled to even more is not a very thankful way to live.

Last week Jesus was confronted by religious leaders who challenged his source of authority and Jesus masterfully made them look foolish again when they could not answer his question about John’s authority. Today, Jesus tells a parable or allegory about a vineyard and a group of ungrateful, entitled tenants. What’s the connection? Let’s dive in together.

Series

As we continue our series: The Crown & The Cross sermon, Mark’s Gospel shows Jesus as a man with a clear message and mission, and the reader is called to actively response to the message. Jesus’ responses always helped his listeners better understand God’s heart and his statements are typically clear commands for us to follow.

In the first half of Mark the emphasis was on seeing Jesus revealed as Messiah - the King who deserved the crown. Now in the second half the focus is on Jesus in Jerusalem fulfilling His life’s mission to suffer and die on the cross - and to rise from the dead.

Last week the religious leaders challenged Jesus authority trying to fight back as they plotted their destruction of Jesus. Today, Jesus uses a parable to point out their rejection of him as Messiah just as Israel rejected the prophets in the OT.

This is a good example of why we need to read Scripture in context of the larger passage. Remember, our chapter and verse breaks were not part of the inspired original writings. They were added by scribes who later broke the books up into smaller segments to make it easier for us to reference. This parable would not make sense without the previous passage in chapter 11.

We are starting Mark chapter 12 today. Our parallel passages are again in Matthew 21 and Luke 20.

PRAY

READ Mark 12:1-12

The Vineyard

Jesus told a parable - an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. The people and places of the parables were relatable to everyone but sometimes the spiritual meaning was hidden from the listener. Often Jesus had to explain the parable to the disciples. In this case, the meaning is clear and indisputable to everyone.

In fact, Jesus recalls an OT parable from the prophet Isaiah about a vineyard - so even the story was familiar to the listeners, but the meaning was slightly different.

Notice who does all of the initial work. The man - the owner. He planted the vineyard, he put a fence around it to protect it from wild animals and maybe thieves too. He dug out the pit for the winepress to gather and process the grapes. And he built a watch tower. This is where the workers would live and guard the vineyard. It was after all this work preparing the vineyard, plus the money he spent to purchase the land, that he leased it out to tenant farmers. Notice in v. 2 the goal is to get some of the fruit. He expected to share in the profits.

With a new vineyard it would be at least four to five years before a crop would be harvested. That is a long time between the beginning of the project and the sending of the collectors. So, the tenants have had time to feel securely entrenched, entitled - forgetting that they are not the owners, but hired to tend the vineyard. They don’t welcome someone coming to collect a share of the vineyard. They want it all for themselves. They did the work - they’re entitled to it. Right?

Megan read Isaiah 5 for us earlier. We will turn there in a moment we can see the similarities and differences. But before we do that, let’s identify the characters in Jesus’ parable. This one is more of an allegory, because rather than a story with one key truth, the characters in the story represent real people.

Characters in the Parable

Vineyard Owner God, the Father

Vineyard Israel, God’s chosen nation

Tenants Religious Leaders

Servants Prophets including John the Baptist

Owner's Son Jesus, the Son of God

Similarities and Differences

Let’s find some similarities and differences as we look at Isaiah 5:1-7. In Isaiah it is the vineyard which has failed, here in Mark it is the tenants. In Isaiah the vineyard is to be abandoned and devastated, in Jesus’ story it will be entrusted to new tenants.

So, Isaiah’s warning message we find unrelieved disaster, whereas Jesus’ parable offers hope for a new beginning. But the new beginning will come only after judgment on the existing tenants - the religious leaders.

Warning for Israel

Notice the progressively worse treatment of the servants in vv 3-5. They beat the first and sent him away. The next was hit in the head and treated shamefully. The next was killed. Then many more servants were sent and they were either beaten or killed.

Throughout the OT, God sent his messengers (prophets) to warn Israel of their sin, to call them to righteousness, to obeying God’s Word, to fruitful living. Israel had beaten and killed many of the prophets because they did not want to hear that message of repentance.

v. 6 says, Finally, the owner had only one left to send. This is his final messenger. It’s his only son, whom he loved dearly. “Surely they will respect my son.” In Mark 1:11 at this baptism, God the Father speaks from heaven saying about Jesus, this is my beloved son. And again at the transfiguration in Mark 9:7, the Father speaks from a cloud saying This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

This father’s love for his son is repeated through the OT for our benefit. This is just like Abraham’s love for son Isaac whom he is called to sacrifice as a test of his faith. And Jacob’s love for Joseph. Hosea’s long and patient love for his unfaithful wife Gomer. And throughout history, God’s unending love for Israel who continued to wander and disobey him. In all of these, we see God’s love for people and his desire for them to follow Him.

Just like the fruitless fig tree and the Temple filled with merchandise and commotion instead of prayer - no spiritual fruit is found in God’s vineyard, and the tenants, the religious leaders, believe they are entitled to all the glory and honor and wealth from the temple. They are guilty of robbery and murder. They won’t give God what he is due.

The religious leaders clearly understood that this parable was about them. In v 12 they were looking for a way to arrest him, but again they feared the people.

Jesus is similar to the prophets who came before him as he calls Israel to repentance. But with him is a finality in his coming. God will send no more messengers. Christ is God’s last and final word to humanity.

Even with the dire warnings, at the heart of this story is grace. The possibility that the leaders would hear, understood and respond to Jesus. They could still repent and recognize him as Messiah.

There is also a clear teaching of God’s overall purpose and sovereignty. It is coupled with human choice and freedom to accept, believe, and obey.

Warnings for the Church

This parable teaches us more about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus’ makes it clear that he is fully consciousness of his Sonship in relation to the Lord of the vineyard and he is fully awareness of his impending death at the hands of the authorities. Jesus was not surprised by the rejection and crucifixion. He knew they were coming just as he had clearly told his disciples three times already.

in v. 10 Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23. Jesus is himself that rejected stone which becomes the keystone or cornerstone of the building which is the new temple, the Christian church, his body.

The Gentiles, once despised by Israel, will soon find a place as ‘living stones’ in God’s plan (1 Pet. 2:5). They are the ones to whom the vineyard will be given.

Mark’s readers, primarily Gentiles, must have enjoyed seeing themselves in this passage as they gratefully recognized their place in God’s redemption plan.

The parable applies to the church today. Israel was chosen by God to fulfill His purposes of the whole world knowing and glorifying Him. God equipped them specially for this task, but the religious leaders mistook that assignment as special privilege and wanted to be accountable only to themselves, not to God.

What fruit does God requires from us today?

The answer comes from what immediately precedes and follows the parable (12:13–17, 28–34):

1. God requires that our place of worship be a house of prayer for all nations (11:17).

2. God also requires our community to be a forgiving one (11:25).

3. We are to give to God what belongs to Him (12:17).

4. We are also to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (12:30), and our neighbors as ourselves (12:31).

In other words, God expects the vineyard, God’s people, to be an accepting, prayerful, forgiving, devoted, and loving fellowship built around his Son, the one stone that binds everything together. When it becomes something other than that, it should expect God’s judgment.

The parable can also apply to today’s church leaders who cease to be servants and stewards and seek to be owners and lords themselves. It should be a clear warning to the churches where pastors and leaders build powerful empires with money flowing to the top.

Some early interpretations of this parable included seeing the fence around the vineyard as the protection offered by the Law. Today, we could say that living according to God’s Word is like a hedge of protection around your life. It will not keep you safe from all the evils of the world, but it will protect you from the temptations and consequences of sin that can be devastating. We can also see the watch tower and think about the protection of living in the authority of a church family who loves and cares for you. A Pastor and leaders who are looking out for danger and warning you.

Take Aways

John MacArthur said, Jesus is either the cornerstone and foundation of your life or the crushing stone of judgment.

Have you rejected Jesus or have you accepted him as your Lord and Savior? There is still time to repent of your sins, ask his forgiveness and become a follower of Jesus Christ. Will you do that today?

If you are a believer, do you come to church with an attitude of entitlement? I paid my dues, I paid my tithes and offerings - things should be done the way I want them done!

We are stewards and tenants in a vineyard that belongs to God. Let’s give him the glory and offer up the fruit that belongs to Him.

Church leaders are in the watchtower helping look out for dangers in the world around us. And we have the protection of God’s Word when we live our lives by it.

Let’s be thankful for all God has given us - to provide for our needs, to grow and learn together in a Christian community, to encourage each other to be fruitful in sharing God’s Word. Be thankful not entitled.

Benediction

To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. In the name of Jesus, the Son of God most high, I pray. Amen.