“Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” Jesus in Matthew 21:40
“Because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger –they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned their back to me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it.” The LORD from Jeremiah 32:32-33
“I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’; they will say, ‘You are my God!’” Hosea 2:23
Jesus is in the temple teaching the people but He has been cornered by the chief priests and elders, who seek to destroy Him (Luke 19:47). However, the crowds are hanging on every word as Jesus teaches in parables. One of the parables is about an owner of a vineyard who went on a journey (v. 33). This parable teaches on two topics worth discussing: 1) what does Jesus teach on Israel? 2) what does Jesus teach about Himself? Here we will discuss the first topic.
Jesus continues: And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another and stoned a third. When the owner sent a larger group of slaves in response, the vine-growers did the same thing (vv. 33-34).
Most of the time Jesus uses fictional events in order to make a point in His parables. But here Jesus is speaking of actual historical events, with the owner symbolizing God and the vine-growers symbolizing Israel. The actual events of which Jesus is speaking can be traced throughout the Old Testament. One passage in particular is from 2 Chronicles.
In 2 Chronicles 36:14-16 we read that the people and the priests of Israel were engaged in idolatry. Out of compassion the Lord “sent word to them again and again by His messengers.” But Israel “continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of God arose against His people, until there was no remedy.” God removed His divine hand of protection and Jerusalem, the temple and many people were destroyed. Those who survived were led away into captivity to Babylon.
Jesus continues His parable. Next the landowner sends his son thinking, they will respect my son (v.37). Instead the vine-growers, wanting the son’s inheritance, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him (v.39). When Jesus asks what the owner will do to the vine-growers, the chief priests and elders say, “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” (v. 41).
Without realizing it, the chief priests and elders have just articulated the new covenant. Even though salvation is from the Jews, Jesus says (John 4:22), the vineyard will be rented out to new tenants, the Gentiles. With the resurrection of Jesus, salvation is now available to the Gentiles as well; a people who are producing fruit (Matthew 21:43).
Paul uses a different analogy to communicate the same truth, that of an olive tree. Branches were broken off of the cultivated olive tree so that branches from the wild olive tree may be grafted in (see Romans 11:17). For the non-Jewish world, this is great news! But in case we Gentiles become complacent, Paul warns us in Romans 11:20-21: “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of disbelief], He will not spare you either.”
I believe the Lord is not finished with the Jewish people. However, their status as God’s chosen people has been taken from them and given to others. Hopefully jealousy of the believing Gentiles will drive the Jews to their Messiah (Romans 11:11). Paul continues and says the day is coming when all of Israel will receive her Messiah! (Romans 11:26)
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