The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers cont'

1
Lesson 14 The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
(cont.)
2
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Background
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Told during last week of Jesus life, a time of
  tremendous controversy with Jews
• Hostility to put Jesus to death was
  intensifyingnow, more than before, Jesus was
  presenting Himself as the Messiah
• The chief priests elders had questioned His
  authority
• Jesus exposed their insincerity with the Parable
  of the Two Sons
• Now, in this parable, He histories the rebellious
  Jewish nation, their rejection of the Messiah and
  the consequences thereof.

3
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• A landowner planted a vineyard, set it in order,
  leased it to vinedressers, then he went into a
  far country (a familiar scene)
• The landowner was God, the Father
• The vineyard represents the special advantages
  and opportunities which were given to the people
  as the chosen seed (cf. v. 43)
• The vineyard was prepared fully
• Hedge separated from pagan neighbors (Num.
  239) and by the law of Moses (Eph. 214-15)
• Tower symbol of protection comfort (cf. Isa.
  54)

4
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• A landowner planted a vineyard, set it in order,
  leased it to vinedressers, then he went into a
  far country (a familiar scene)
• The vinedressers/husbandmen represent the Jewish
  nation more fully, and their leaders (the priests
  and elders) more specifically (cf. v. 45)
• The far country reflects God letting His people
  make their own decisions, perhaps also a
  representation of God no longer speaking face to
  face with Israel from the death of Moses to the
  time of Christ (cf. Deut. 349-10)

5
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Vintage-time (harvest season) drew near, the
  landowner sent his servants to collect the fruit,
  but they were beaten, stoned and killed
• Harvest season denoted the state of ripeness that
  was expected of the Hebrew people
• Law of Moses was given to reveal sin (Rom. 320
  77)
• The Jews should have learned they were unable to
  justify themselves by that law (Gal. 310-11)
• Their hearts should have been longing for the
  fulfillment of the prophets message (cf. 1 Pe.
  110-11)

6
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Vintage-time (harvest season) drew near, the
  landowner sent his servants to collect the fruit,
  but they were beaten, stoned and killed
• The servants were the OT prophets who were
  shamelessly persecuted by many of the Jews
• Israel rejected many prophets (cf. 2 Chr.
  3615-16)
• Jesus paralleled persecution of old with
  persecution from wicked Jews in His day (cf. Mt.
  512 2337)
• The sustained efforts of God to collect His
  fruits is a commentary on His compassionate
  patience with man

7
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• The landowner sent his one son, his beloved, last
  of allThey will respect my son.
• The beloved is Jesus Christ (Mt. 317 175)
• Christ is in a different class than the
  servants/prophets (Mt. 1613-16) He is deity
  (Isa. 714 96 Jn. 11).
• The Son is Gods final offer to reconcile man
  (Heb. 1026 John 146)
• How great the demonstration of Gods love in
  sending His Son, in spite of the abuse heaped
  upon His prophets

8
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• But, the vinedressers saw the heir and said,
  Let us kill him and seize his inheritance.
  They cast him out and killed him.
• They recognized He was the heir (Heb. 12)not
  totally ignorant, but had blinded themselves
• Jewish rulers wanted the inheritance they
  delivered Him up out of envy (Mt. 2718)
• Christ was taken out of the city (Jn. 1917)
  suffered outside the gate (Heb. 1312)
• Parabolic prophecy of the Saviors death (cf. Mt.
  1621)

9
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• The Lord asked the Jews, what will the
  landowner do to those vinedressers?
• They replied, He will destroy those wicked men
  miserably adding, God forbid! (Lk. 1216)
• They pronounced their own doom (like King David
  did), which was fulfilled in the destruction of
  Jerusalem in A.D. 70

10
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Christ told them that the conduct of the
  vinedressers was a fulfillment of prophecy The
  stone which the builders rejectedthe chief
  cornerstone (cf. Ps. 11822-23)
• Jesus was the rejected stone. Also called
• Stone of stumbling to Jews rock of offense to
  Gentiles (1 Pet. 28 1 Cor. 123)
• A tried stone (Isa. 2816)
• Living, elect/chosen, precious stone (1 Pet. 24)
• Spiritual Rock that sustains (1 Cor. 104)

11
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Christ told them that the conduct of the
  vinedressers was a fulfillment of prophecy The
  stone which the builders rejectedthe chief
  cornerstone (cf. Ps. 11822-23)
• The rejected stone became chief cornerstone.
• Cornerstones gave strength to two walls connected
• As the chief cornerstone, Jesus blends together
• Eternity (Jn. 11) time (Jn. 114)
• Deity (Heb. 18) humanity (1 Tim. 316)
• First covenant second covenant (Heb. 109)
• Mercy (Eph. 24) justice of God (Rom. 326)
• Jew Gentile (Eph. 216)

12
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Jesus declared the kingdom would be taken from
  the Jews and given to a fruitful nation
• The kingdom to be taken from the Jews was their
  reign as Jehovahs covenant people.
• Premillennialism asserts a nationalistic
  restoration of the Hebrew nation, which this
  statement of Jesus obviously denies.
• That new nation was the church of Christ (1
  Pet. 29), the spiritual Israel of God (Gal. 616)

13
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersThe
Narrative
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• Christ affirms that those who oppose Him will be
  crushed
• The Jews were crushed in A.D. 70 by the
  RomansGods armies (Mt. 227)
• The Jewish rejection of Christ brought Gods
  wrath (1 Thess. 215-16)
• Multiplied thousands of Israelites were killed
  and enslaved. Josephus says that 1.1 mil Jews
  were killed.
• The Hebrews were scattered (cf. Dt. 2829 Jer.
  249 Amos 99).
• The temples foundations were plowed up (Mt.
  242).
• The principle applies to any who oppose the Son
  of God!

14
The Parable of the Wicked VinedressersLessons/Tr
uths
Mt. 2133-45 Mk. 121-12 Lk. 209-19

• God bestows wonderful privileges which He expects
  to be used.
• People often make bad use of their privileges,
  leading to significant consequences.
• Persecution of Gods messengers is an assault
  upon the Lord Himself.
• God is infinitely merciful and patient.
• There is a limit to divine grace.
• Rejecting Christ brings condemnation.
• The Jewish nation has been rejected as the Lords
  covenant people.
• Mans rebellion cannot foil the plan of the
  Almighty.