But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
This parable of Jesus documents something unique: audience participation. Unlike many parables that even the disciples didn’t understand, the crowd and the religious leaders seemed to be understanding Jesus and the point He was making about the Kingdom of God. We see this as the crowd responds correctly to Jesus’ question, and later we see, “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them.”
The judgement of God seems harsh to some. The idea that one day God will judge the lives and acts of us all does not sit well. Why do such a thing? Why judge people at all?
In Jesus’ context, it was not uncommon for a landowner to hire tenants to care for the owner’s land.* The land owner and the tenants were partners, and the tenants had certain financial responsibilities. Similarly, the land owner had certain responsibilities of involvement that ensured his position of ownership.* The tenants in the story of Jesus did the unthinkable, betraying their responsibilities, beating and murdering the land owner’s representatives which included and ended with the murder of the land owner’s own son. It was easy for the crowd to know what was just in this story.
How often do we see justice clearly from the outside? We see the actions of others and say, “that’s evil.” Do we see our own actions this way? Do we see clearly enough to allow God to be the judge? Do we see humanity through the eyes of God?
If we saw the mishandling of the son of God, the mistreatment of those God has entrusted with His creation, and the many times God patiently reached out through the prophets, we may see as clearly as God that justice must come.
God has entrusted us with His Kingdom. We have certain responsibilities as tenants of His Kingdom. We fail, and He knows it. He patiently and kindly sends His messengers. He has graciously even sent His only Son. How will we respond?
The religious leaders of that day learned from Jesus that His Kingdom would be entrusted to others: you and me. What will we do with this responsibility? Will we remember the mistakes of those who went before us? Will we recall the justice of the Lord? Will we receive His representatives well?
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to remember that you are just the tenant, entrusted to care for what belongs to God. Perhaps today God wants you to repent and change your ways. Perhaps He’s sent representatives to speak to you and wants you to receive them. Maybe it’s time to see yourself in His story.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 538–545, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 21:33–46).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).