Man Under Judgment

MEMORY VERSE: “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away.” —Luke 21:33

LUKE 20:9-18

JESUS’ Parable of the Vineyard is historic in that it describes symbolically the attitude of the Jewish nation, particularly of the religious leaders, toward God and his servants, ending with the coming of Jesus at the time of his first advent. “The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,” the Scriptures declare. The fruit of the vineyard for which the Lord looked was “judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.”—Isa. 5:7

Having planted this vineyard, Jehovah expected some fruitage from it. From time to time throughout the Jewish Age he sent his servants, the prophets, but these were usually rejected and persecuted by the religious leaders of the people. Actually, the fruits of righteousness which the nation should have developed under the ownership of God were seldom present, and this is one reason they stoned those whom the Lord sent to them.

Finally, at the end of that age, God sent his own beloved Son to the nation. He received even worse treatment. They killed him outright, fearing that he had been sent to take control of the vineyard. While the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day disclaimed belief in him as the Messiah, yet in view of his miraculous ministry they could not help fearing in their hearts that he might be. So, like those before them, who had persecuted God’s prophets, they were blinded by their fears and hatred, and set about to kill the Prince of life—and they succeeded.

“What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.” (vss. 15,16) This had a literal fulfillment; for in A.D. 70-73 Titus and his army destroyed Jerusalem, and the people scattered and were not a nation from that time until the new state of Israel was formed in the Holy Land in 1948.

And, just as the parable indicates, this vineyard was given to others. These others were Jesus and the apostles, and all those whom the Lord has raised up during the Gospel dispensation to represent him in the earth and to work for his cause. While the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day sat “in Moses’ seat,” they lost that high position of trust, and since that time God’s light of truth has been shining out to the world through Jesus and his faithful followers. Jesus was the light of the world, and he commissioned his disciples to represent him as light-bearers.—Matt. 5:14

Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 concerning the stone which the builders rejected, and which became “the head stone of the corner” in God’s new building. This is a reference to the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish nation; and he did become the chief cornerstone in the new building, the church of the Christian era. While this language is highly symbolic, the lesson of the parable is most apparent.

Jesus then added, “Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Luke 20:18) This would seem to suggest that no one is able to oppose Jesus successfully, and that all efforts to do so would be thwarted. This, of course, is a viewpoint related to the divine purpose as a whole. As our memory verse reminds us, God’s word and plan can never be destroyed or pass away unfulfilled. And it is because of this that those who continue to oppose God’s ways as centered in Christ will eventually be destroyed, or ground to powder, for “the wages of sin is death.” “Every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:23

In Matthew’s record of this parable we find an additional thought presented. He quotes Jesus as saying, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matt. 21:43) The honor of being associated with the Messiah in the rulership of his kingdom was one of the hopes of Israel. But because of their unfaithfulness in rejecting Jesus and crucifying him, this prospect was taken from them and given to a “nation” which would bring forth the fruits for which the owner of the vineyard looked. Peter, quoting the prophecy referring to Jesus as a “stone of stumbling,” adds, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”—I Pet. 2:8,9

QUESTIONS

Relate the Parable of the Vineyard. To whom does it apply?

What was the fruitage Jehovah expected from this vineyard?

Who were the servants sent to the vineyard?

Who was the “beloved Son”?

To whom was the vineyard given when the original husbandmen proved unfaithful?

Who was “the head stone of the corner”?

In what sense will this stone crush those upon whom it falls?

Who is the new nation to whom the kingdom was given when Israel failed?

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