33 “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Matthew 21:33–39 (ESV)
“As we have seen thus far, Jesus has harsh words for the Jewish leaders, based largely upon their failure to see their need of repentance (Matt. 9:9–13; 21:28–32). The parable of the tenants recorded in Matthew 21:33–46 reveals a further reason for our Lord’s condemnation of the scribes and elders in their unwillingness to bear fruit for the Creator and thus draw the nations unto Him,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Today’s text begins with the phrase “Hear another parable.” This was a command from the Lord. Such an order would not have been well received by the Jewish religious leaders. They were used to giving commands, not receiving them.
Jesus told a story about a master of a house (οἰκοδεσπότης; oikodespotes). The English word despot, meaning an autocrat and authoritarian, comes from this Greek word. The master was a man of means and merchandise. This is supported by the Lord’s ongoing depiction of him. Several items should be noted.
First, the master planted a vineyard. Second, he put a fence around his vineyard. This would have provided protection from predators and a boundary discouraging thieves. Third, the master dug a winepress in the vineyard (ληνός’ lenos) Fourth, the man built a tower (πύργος; prygos). Towers were used for observation and defense against enemies. Fifth, the master leased the vineyard to tenant farmers. He hired them to work the land while he traveled to another country. The master retained ownership of the land even though tenant farmers worked the land and harvested the crop. This practice remains common among landowners today.
The stage was set. Jesus completed Act 1 of the story. Act 2 begins with the harvest.
“When the season for fruit drew near.” Jesus did not provide any other time frame, but His listeners would have known several years would have passed. Many wineries indicate it takes up to three years for newly planted vineyards to yield usable grapes.
“Making wine is a long, slow process. It can take a full three years to get from the initial planting of a brand-new grapevine through the first harvest, and the first vintage might not be bottled for another two years after that. But when terroir and winemaking skill combine, the finished product is worth the wait,” explains the Winecooler Direct Website.
Following this extended period from planting to harvest, the master of the house “sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.” However, the tenant farmers the master hired to work the vineyard did not respond well to the master’s servants. “The tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.”
Following a further indefinite period of time, the master sent more servants to collect the harvest. In doing so, the master displayed unusual patience. “Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.”
“The tenants proved to be wicked men, scoundrels, dishonest and cruel. When the servants asked for the portion of the grape-harvest to which the owner had a legal claim, they were refused,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
Finally, instead of retaliation the master sent his son. He reasoned “They will respect my son.” However, the tenants did nothing of the kind. “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.”
“It might be argued that at this point the story goes way beyond the boundaries of reason, that in the ordinary course of life no proprietor whose rights had been so rudely trampled upon would have been generous enough to give the criminals still another chance, and certainly that he would not have delivered over his own dear son to the whims and wiles of those who had bludgeoned his servants. This must be granted. But then, it should be borne in mind that this is a parable. Moreover, as will be shown later (see verse 42), it is a parable depicting sin most unreasonable and love incomprehensible! Considered in this light, the story is one of the most beautiful and touching ever told,” states Dr. Hendriksen.
We will examine the conclusion of the parable, and its application, when next we meet. Until then, give thanks to the Lord today for His incomprehensible love in contrast to our most unreasonable sin.
Soli deo Gloria!
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