October 5, 2008: Matthew 21: 33 - 243
Contributor: Branwen Jones
On
an allegorical level this seems to be a fairly transparent parable directed
at the chief priests and Pharisees, who were well aware that Jesus was targeting
them. The main characters in the story are as follows:
Vineyard Owner = God
Vineyard = House of Israel
Tenants = Chief Priests / Pharisees / Elders / Leaders
Servants = Prophets
Son and Heir = Jesus
The vineyard owner (God) leases his vineyard to tenants. Later, at vintage time, he sends his servants (prophets) to collect the fruit but the tenants ‘thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third.’ Even the son and heir (Jesus) is dealt with in the same summary fashion. He is thrown out of the vineyard and killed.
So how will God deal with such treachery? Jesus asks the opinion of the chief priests and elders, who condemn themselves with their answer. ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’
As Jesus solemnly warns the chief priests and Pharisees: ‘the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’ In other words Jesus will establish a new church with new leaders because the leaders of the House of Israel disobeyed God’s commands. They were more intent on acquiring wealth and position for themselves than in nurturing the people of Israel. It is the chief priests and elders who will be thrown out of the vineyard.
Furthermore, and perhaps more importantly, the Jewish leaders have rejected Jesus as the rightful Son of God and the Messiah. Jesus reminds them of this by quoting the scriptures: ‘It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.’ Jesus may well be rejected by His own people but he will be the keystone of the church and God’s kingdom.