Each of the Synoptics have Jesus presenting a parable about an absentee landlord. In each narrative a certain man plants a vineyard, rents it out to husbandmen and departs into a far country (Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9). During the first century AD, the Jewish authorities were concerned about folks in foreign countries owning the produce industry in Judea. They devised a plan, whereby Jews within the land could legally seize the lands in Judea, which were owned by foreigners. A law was passed in Judea, which allowed a transfer of ownership to a local claimant. If a claimant believed he was entitled to a piece of land, he could have presented his presumed ownership to the authorities, and the land became his, if the original owner didn’t lodge a protest within three years. So, after three years, if the Jewish authorities hadn’t received a protest from the original owner of the land, the land became the legal property of the claimant.[1]
In the context, therefore, of the absentee law, Jesus put forth to the Jewish authorities an additional parable, The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33). The main character in the parable is the householder, who for all intents and purposes, represents God. So, God planted a vineyard, Israel (Isaiah 5:1-3; Jeremiah 2:21); he protected it, and built a tower to preserve it from enemies, vis-à-vis he “let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country” (Matthew 21:33).
At the time of the harvest, the householder (God) sent his servants (the prophets) to receive the fruits of the vine (Matthew 21:34). However, the husbandmen beat and slew all the prophets that were sent to them (cp. Matthew 23:37; Acts 7:52). Afterward, the Lord sent more prophets, but they were treated, just as the first were (Matthew 21:36).
Finally, the Lord sent his Son, saying surely they’ll respect my Son (Matthew 21:37). Nevertheless, when the tenants or husbandmen saw the Son, they said among themselves, ‘this was the heir to the householder’s property, if he were killed, we would be able to seize the vine.’ Therefore, the tenants had the man arrested, and they cast him out of the vineyard and slew him (Matthew 21:37-39).
Then, Jesus asked the Jewish authorities what they thought the lord of the vineyard would do to the husbandmen, whom he left in charge of his vineyard, to care for and protect it. The chief priests and scribes told him that the lord of the vineyard would slay those wicked men, and afterward would rent his property out to other husbandmen who would return to him its fruits in their seasons (Matthew 21:40-41).
Jesus then asked them a rhetorical question to make his point. Hadn’t they ever read in the scriptures about the stone which the builders rejected, but became the main cornerstone? It was the Lord’s doing, and it was marvelous in our eyes (Matthew 21:42; cp Psalm 118:22-23). Of course, the Jewish authorities had read the Psalm, but they had never considered it, analyzed it and applied it to themselves, and that’s the problem. Many folks say they believe the scriptures, but they don’t **live out** the scriptures, applying them to their own lives.
The leaders of the Jews had been authorized by God to care for and protect his people, but they didn’t. Instead, they sought to seize the fruits of the vine, vis-à-vis God’s children, and make their own lives richer in the process. Therefore, Jesus told the Jewish authorities, the Kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a nation, which would bring forth the fruits to the Lord (Matthew 21:43).
Jesus concluded with a warning. Anyone who fell upon him, vis-à-vis stumbled at his words in his present ministry would be broken. In other words, they cannot hurt the stone. Instead, by stumbling at Christ’s words, they hurt their own souls, in that they are full of disbelief in Christ’s mission (cp. John 12:34), bigotry and contempt over his birth (John 8:41)[2] and education (cp. John 7:15).
On the other hand, later, when Christ has been raised up to be that chief cornerstone, when he has been glorified and the Holy Spirit has fallen upon the people, and great miraculous deeds have been done to prove Christ’s glorification, if at that time they oppose the Gospel, judgment would fall upon them, utterly destroying them, a stone grinds its contents to powder (Matthew 21:44)
When the chief priests and Pharisees heard this, the immediately understood that Jesus had spoken the parable in reference to them, however they were unable to arrest Jesus at that time, because they feared the people. They were very attentive to Jesus and saw him as a prophet. (Matthew 32:45-46).
[1] See Babylonian Talmud, “Baba Bathra” 35b, quoted in my study in the Gospel of Luke: “Jesus’ Response and Absentee Landlords.”
[2] The phrase in emphatic, meaning Jesus was born of fornication. This isn’t a reference to the virgin birth, but to the fact that Mary was found with child, prior to her marriage to Joseph (Matthew 1:18). See You Can Understand the Bible, Study Guide, by Dr. Bob Utley, the Expository Notes of Dr. Constable, and Robertson’s Word Pictures on John 8:41
Leave a Reply