Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19
Jesus continues His talk with the chief priests and elders with another parable. He tells the story of a master of a house who builds a certain area on his property and outfits it with everything it needs to thrive. He rents it to tenants, and at harvest, sends servants to get the crops. The tenants won't give the servants what is right, and beat and kill them. This happens a few times with different servants. Finally the master sends his son, sure that they will respect him. But they kill him too. Jesus asks the crowd to decide what the judgment should be. They say the tenants should be put to a miserable death and the vineyard should be rented to people who will do the work right. Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23 to them. When Jesus says this cornerstone will be pivotal in judgment in the kingdom of God, the chief priests and Pharisees realize that He is talking about them.
Jesus is continuing to hammer home the truth by using what would be familiar scenarios to the crowd. God is the master of the house. Though everything in the world belongs to Him, He has built a vineyard-a promised land. He has provided trustworthy boundaries for safety, a winepress for provision, and built a tower for shelter. He entrusts the whole operation of growing the harvest--His beloved people, Israel--to the priests. But when God sent His servants, the prophets, to check on operations and give instructions, the religious killed them. (There are so many instances in the Old Testament of this happening.) So finally God sends His Son, because surely they will respect Him. But Jesus foreshadows that, no, they will kill Him just the same. Of course, the chief priests and Pharisees are LIVID at such an injustice. So Jesus points them to their knowledge of the Old Testament (like He does..) and brings the punchline. God will no longer entrust His vineyard to only Israel, but will make the promise available to anyone who will work for the good of the Master. The lightbulb comes on over the heads of the Pharisees and chief priests. Although they see their part in the story, they refuse to change and they become even more committed to ending Jesus' ministry. The only thing that stops them is their fear of the crowd.
God has a covenant with His chosen people, Israel. The Old Testament is full of God's pursuing love and full of Israel's disobedience. This parable changes me in verse 43. As part of Jesus' New Testament--New Covenant--the promises of God will be transferred to a new people--The Church. THAT'S US!!! God's promise is ushered in and instituted by His Son, Christ Jesus. The Cornerstone--then, now, and forever. May the Master find us faithful.
PS This clip from The Office made me think of this parable. I wonder if the disciples are in the background telling the Pharisees "He's talking about you!!!" 😁😁😁
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