Parable of the Tenants
PARABLE OF THE TENANTS – INTRODUCTION
The Parable of the Tenants is found in all 3 synoptic Gospels – Matthew 21:35-45, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-18. Jesus shared this parable as part of His response to the chief priests and the elders. They were questioning His authority. These religious leaders did not like Jesus and were plotting to kill Him. Jesus tells this parable in a way to make sure these religious leaders would know he was speaking about them.
SUMMARY
In this parable, a landowner plants a vineyard and then rents it to tenants when he leaves town. After the harvest, the landowner sent servants to collect fruit, but the tenants beat, stoned, and killed the servants. Finally, the owner sends his beloved son to collect his share of the harvest, but he is killed too.
In the final verses of this parable, Jesus asked, “Didn’t you ever read in the Scriptures? ‘The stone rejected by the builders has now become the Cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see.’” Jesus is the chief cornerstone of God’s great plan and Kingdom. All things are established and fulfilled in Him. A cornerstone is something to build upon. All the work of God across creation is built upon Jesus Christ. He is the strong, unshakable foundation for our life. Whatever we build should be built upon Jesus Christ – the chief cornerstone.
MEANING
In this parable the landowner symbolizes God, the vineyard – God’s Kingdom; the tenants – specifically denote the religious leaders; the servants represent – God’s prophets and believers, the beloved son – is a picture of Jesus Christ.
APPLICATION
Even though this parable was given directly to the Jews and their religious leaders the lessons taught in this parable apply to all people and especially us as believers. The Parable of Tenants is an invitation to examine our faithfulness as stewards of the gospel and the gifts God has given us. It challenges believers to produce the fruits of the Spirit and to bring glory to Him in all we do.
This parable also serves as a call to accept Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of our faith. It provides the impetus to reflect and examine our acceptance or rejection of Jesus’ lordship and the implications of that choice for our eternal destiny.
Everything we have is through God’s abundant love. He has sent us prophets, ministers, fellow Christians, and Christ Himself to get us to turn to Him as His children. If we choose to reject God, His Son, and everything He stands for, we will lose out on His promise of eternal glory because that gift is reserved for those who love and follow Him. Many of those who have come into this world (tenants) have rejected God’s Son and have failed to work His vineyard. The population of the world (or the size of the vineyard) has grown and the number of souls to be saved has greatly increased. Ask yourself if you are working the vineyard as God desires. Ask if you are shamefully treating His servants and rejecting His son. “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?”
KEY LESSONS TO LEARN
The Parable of the Tenants is a multifaceted teaching and provides us incite into several key Biblical lessons including;
Stewardship
As Christians, we are stewards of God’s creation and the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. We have been given certain responsibilities and are expected to bear fruit in keeping with God’s purposes.
The Patience of God
This parable shows us God’s patience, as He sends multiple servants, representing the prophets, and finally, His Son, Jesus, giving people many chances to repent and do right. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9)
God’s Judgment
We are warned about the judgment that comes upon those who reject God’s message, His messengers, and His Son Jesus Christ. This serves as a sober reminder to heed God’s Word, respect His authority, and believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.
- The Kingdom Is Open to All
The vineyard is taken from the tenants and given to others, symbolizing that the Kingdom of God will be open to all who are faithful, not just a select group.
Jesus Is the Cornerstone
The most important lesson of all is that the rejection of the master’s son, who is a representation of Jesus, highlights His role as the cornerstone of faith. Despite being rejected by men, Jesus is exalted by God and is essential for salvation through faith.
CLOSING
God offers us His amazing vineyard that comes with abundant blessings, but He does expect us to bear fruit and give Him His rightful share. He doesn’t force this relationship on us but offers it freely. The choice is ours. We can live giving glory and honor to God – thus bearing fruit with our lives, or forfeit His everlasting Kingdom. He wants us to choose Him (it’s His will), but He won’t force us. When we don’t choose God, we choose death.