Our Scripture meditation is based on Luke 20:9–18, the Gospel Reading for next week.
[9] And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. [10] When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [11] And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. [12] And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. [13] Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ [14] But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ [15] And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? [16] He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” [17] But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? [18] Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Our meditations are usually on shorter Scripture passages. This week the entire parable is necessary to grasp the story’s primary message.
This is a hard teaching of Jesus. Interpreting this parable, the owner of the vineyard is God the Father. The owner’s son is Jesus. The tenants are those among the Jewish people who are rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus clearly teaches that God the Father will “come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
This teaching is especially difficult because Jesus is referring to God’s original chosen people. How much more would this apply to Gentiles who reject Jesus as Savior and Lord?
Parables such as this one are great examples of why doctrines or practices are not determined from a single passage of Scripture. It is vitally important to remember why God uses the law. Jesus spoke this parable out of love for his fellow Hebrew people. The goal was to see them come to repentance. This time, the goal required confrontation.
Think of this in terms of a medical doctor. Say a doctor’s patient has a treatable disease. The patient refuses to accept the treatment. When the doctor confronts the patient about refusing treatment, the doctor’s goal is not to antagonize the patient. Instead, the doctor is acting out of concern for his patient, desiring the patient be healed.
So, it is with our Great Physician. Jesus goes to every extent to bring home God’s people.
Kevin Wilson 360 