Scripture states Jesus
spoke to the gathered crowd at the temple in "parables." A parable,
as we know, was meant to be heard, and its meanings sparked within each person
in various ways. What sparked within you didn't necessarily spark within me.
Through the use of an
allegory, spiritual meaning may be symbolized in the use of events or
characters. It's used to illustrate a truth.
So what do we have here? A
parable? An allegory?
While not all of the
details here have inner meaning, there are definitely some which do. As we move
forward, one could say this is a hybrid between a parable and an allegory.
Jesus wisely begins by
using a descriptive setting to which the people can relate -- a vineyard.
"The hillsides of Palestine were covered with grape vineyards, the
backbone of the economy." [i]
By use of the vineyard,
other elements were understood:
* The need for a fence to
be in place -- to keep out unwanted animals like wild boars as well as
potential robbers;
* A pit (wine vat) beneath
the wine press -- the juice from the squeezed grapes would be collected in this
basin;
* A watchtower -- to keep
watch over the vineyard, for shelter, and for the purpose of storage.
Leviticus
19:23-25 provides insight in that after the initial planting of the
vineyard, it would usually take five years for the vintage. If the owner
followed the law, the first time for collecting the rental would be at the
five-year mark. This could be an agreed-upon amount of money or a fixed
percentage of the crop. [ii]
Thus an agreement would be
made between the owner and tenant for use of the land in return for a share.
With these elements of
common knowledge, what might be their underlying meanings?
In Isaiah
5:1-7 -- "The Song of the Unfruitful Vineyard" -- the vineyard is
Israel. The fence surrounding the vineyard is designed to keep out corrupting
influences. Some would consider the Gentile world to be such.
Regarding two key players,
the owner of the vineyard is God with the tenants being the Jewish religious
authorities. An "agreement" has been made between the two parties --
to take care of the vineyard (Israel). Yet as Marc * asked, "What kind of
fruit will be produced?" An excellent question. These authorities and
leaders were given an important responsibility -- to care for the spiritual
welfare of the people.
To find out (to collect)
what has been produced as time passes, other players are introduced in the
story: servants/slaves. These individuals sent by the owner (God) are the
prophets. Even though these messengers were continually rejected, God kept
sending them.
Point of Clarity. It's easy to lump-sum "all" by the actions of "some"
or "many." Case in point, not all of the people of Israel rejected
this agreement/covenant made with God. Not all mistreated these
"servants" -- the prophets.
Another way to view this,
in regard to the fruit of the vineyard,… the grapes being produced were
inedible -- being that of injustice and idolatry. The servants (prophets)
returned empty-handed.
Gene * wisely stated,
"God had to have seen something
in the tenants to continue to send servants -- giving them a chance." Nonetheless,
the religious authorities have put themselves ahead of God. They've selfishly
determined their welfare is more important to them than that of the people.
Even in the face of
continued rejection, the "owner" still had one -- his beloved son and
heir -- who could be sent. Surely the tenants would respect his son.
Jesus had laid out what
happened in the past and is now in the present. Verses 6 and 7 are on point.
The veil has been removed. The "Son" has come. Jesus' message of Good
News has been steadily building within the people of Israel and is picking up
speed.
The issue of whose welfare is more important comes
into play again. "This is the heir;
come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours." This was truth.
This was a direct shot at the Jewish authorities in that precise moment.
And will be….
Two verses follow, each with future consequences.
The statement made by
Jesus (verse 8) couldn't be clearer, especially to the "tenants." "They seized him, killed him, and threw
him out of the vineyard." Would the crowd though understand what Jesus
said? Not in their view of the Messiah -- the conqueror who would make all
things better. Who would comprehend its meaning? The religious authorities and
leaders. It was an indictment against them. And they knew it!
Did they care? Not really
-- not in their grand scheme of things. For them, the death of Jesus would put
an end to this revolution. Then, all would be right in their world. Things
would be better for themselves.
What would be considered
inconceivable though is "the giving of the vineyard to others" (verse
9). No way, no how. Couldn't happen. Ever.
Not to get ahead -- of
what will be destroyed -- Jesus quotes Psalm
118:22-23. The stone of which everything is based -- the
"cornerstone" -- may be rejected by these builders (the authorities),
but a house will be built for an emerging community. And this community will
include Gentiles. What has been in the hands of one group will be given to
another. Again, utterly inconceivable in the minds of the Jewish religious
leaders.
As for the hoped-for fruit
of the vineyard, what might that look like? Galatians 5:22-23 states it well. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control." A fruit worthy of sharing with God and the world.
NEXT
Putting Jesus to the test
-- pay or don't pay -- either way you'll ultimately pay; who rules what
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