THE VINEYARD OWNER

The Vineyard Owner, like the Creator, “saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed” (Genesis 1:31). His vineyard was wonderfully complete with the best grape vines, “a fence around it … a winepress in it, and … a watchtower” (Matthew 21:33).

After leasing the vineyard to tenants, he went away. At the end of the first year, he sent a delegation to collect the rent. Instead of paying what they owed, the evil tenants “took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third”(Matthew 21:35). Exasperated, the vineyard owner “sent other servants, more than the first group, and they did the same to them” (Matthew 21:36)

“Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him” (Matthew 21:37-39)

As you know, this parable was prophetic. Many of the Old Testament prophets had been rejected. John the Baptist had been rejected. But a gracious God “sent His Son” who would also be rejected and ultimately crucified.

“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew he was speaking about them” (Matthew 21:45). It was only a matter of time before the evil religious leaders would do the unthinkable… they would kill the Son.

But that wasn’t the end of the story, for the powerful Vineyard Owner still owns the vineyard!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).