the parable of the vineyard

Good morning friends,
The religious leaders figure out right away what Jesus is saying with this parable. He tells a story about a vineyard that a landowner leases to tenants. The landowner is God and the tenants are the religious leaders. At the harvest God sends his servants, the prophets, to collect what is owed of the harvest, in other words righteousness, love and obedience. Instead of hearing God's voice the leaders beat and throw out the prophets. Finally as a last resort, God sends his son, Jesus, to the tenants to call them back to their duty. Instead of listening, they kill him, and God judges them harshly.

To go along with the parable Jesus quotes scripture from the Psalms about the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone. Jesus identifies himself with the cornerstone: though rejected by the builders, he is the foundation of the world. He is also powerful in a way they do not expect; even though he is rejected, he will finally be victorious. Amen, come Lord Jesus; give us your peace.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 20:9-19

9He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out.

13Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

When they heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!” 17But he looked at them and said, “What then does this text mean: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” 19When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.