1 Then Jesus began teaching them with stories: “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. 9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.
Message: The Parable of the Tenants
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, as he has predicted 3 times his death and resurrection. He comes in on a colt and pronounces a judgment on the chief priests and scribes and elders at the temple about them not following their mission to make welcome the Gentiles at the temple. These leaders question Jesus' authority. Jesus communicates to his disciples that they are to have faith in God - to come to God by prayer in faith and then to forgive those that transgress against them. We are to be a people of faith and then forgiveness.
Now Jesus takes a moment to share a parable. This parable is in line with some of the subjects that he has been addressing, namely the importance of those individuals over are in charge of other individuals. In the 1st Century, it was common for landowners to hire tenant farmers to take care of their vines on their behalf. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells about a song about the Lord's vineyard. In that story the vineyard is judged for failing to to yield the proper fruit - a message that is sort of similar to the curse that Jesus pronounced on the fig tree as well as the chief priests and scribes.
This story speaks of the owner of the vineyard hiring tenant farmers to take care of his vineyard while he is away. But, the tenant farmers did more than just take care of the vineyard, they began to take ownership of it. Thus, they expanded their responsibility to include a sort of claim on it. In so doing, as the landowners servants came, he was beat up and sent away. And the landowner sent others, but they were also beat up or killed. Finally, the landowner sent his son but the same thing happened to the son, this time murdering the son. Jesus then says in response to this - What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others.
- The servants represent the old covenant prophets - these prophets were rejected often by the leaders of the ancient covenant community
- The landowner is God himself
- The tenant farmers are the kings, priests, other leaders, including what could be called today the church.
- The landowner sent His Son (Jesus), but he is received with even more hatred than the prophets.
This is an interesting lesson because Jesus is talking more about service (Mark 10:43-45) and forgiving others (Mark 11:25). The focus is on others. The tenant farmers were given one tasked, but they expanded it to include other responsibility and in so doing they lost their chief task. They became like the chief priests and scribes and began using the temple in a way they had wanted.
I think for me I look at the application of this passage to be the importance of remembering my first love and remembering how God has called me to live and act in this world. I need to be careful about getting too big for my own britches and taking ownership of what he has simply put me in charge of. And I need to always bring it back to Jesus, His Son, and even those that he has sent. Again, the focus is not on me, but others.
Summary - Jesus brings a parable to his people to remind them of the message that God has sent His Son to redeem people, and yet the Son will be rejected. People don't want the solution that Jesus provides. They want their own selfish solutions. He continues to get his disciples ready for what is coming - his death which will involve his complete rejection and scorn.
Promise: People will do whatever is necessary often to please themselves and get their own way. As God puts us in charge though of his vineyard, this world, we have a responsibility to respect his leadership and do what He asks.
Prayer: Lord, I love you and you are the Lord and King. I am your vessel. You have created all and so no matter my situation I need to serve you. Give me the strength and power to continue to share Your love with others. God you are in charge of all and I praise You for your love for us, but I must submit and surrender to You continually. I must trust Your ways. Keep me ever mindful of what you are teaching me to have faith in you, forgive others, and serve people.
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