Knowing The Word in Luke 20:9-18, The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants is an allegory of Jesus’ relationship to the Jewish leaders. He is making God’s last appeal to them. He is not a prophet—a messenger from God—but he is the Son of God—God himself in their midst in the temple. The tenants are farmers. The farmers have behaved with outrageous and unreasonable enmity, dishonesty, and selfishness. They treat each servant the vineyard owner sends worse than the previous. This illustrates God’s patience and compassion with his “stiff-necked” people. Finally, he sends his “beloved son.” If they kill the son, and the father is already dead, then it is theirs. The tenants can claim ownership of an absentee landlord. This parable exposes the fact that Jesus knew exactly what awaited him. Jesus’ enemies thought it unthinkable the vineyard would be given to those outside of the Jewish race, but Jesus makes the point it will be given to others, meaning the Gentiles. When people reject Jesus, it is they who will ultimately suffer rejection, not he.

Luke 20:9-18

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

Prayer:

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,

However dark it be;

Lead me by thine own hand,

Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough,

It will be still the best;

Winding or straight, it leads

Right onward to thy rest.

Choose thou for me my friends,

My sickness or my health;

Choose thou my cares for me,

My poverty or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice

In things great or small;

Be thou my guide, my strength,

My wisdom, and my all.

Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889