The Cost of Irresponsibility

KEY VERSE: “Have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” —Mark 12:10,11

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Mark 12:1-12

RESPONDING TO THE religious authorities who opposed him, Jesus quoted the parable of the vineyard, which is also a prophecy spoken by Isaiah in Chapter 5:1-7. This is a lesson which taught the Jews they had not faithfully lived up to the covenant which God made with them. Jesus said a man (representing God) planted a vineyard—“The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel” (Isa, 5:7)—fenced it (with the Law) and built a watchtower (the prophets) and winepress. He then leased the vineyard to tenants (leaders of the people) and left the country.

God had done much for his vineyard in the way of planting, care and cultivation, so he inquires in Isaiah 5:4, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” At various seasons, the man sent servants and faithful prophets, to collect fruits of righteousness, compensation that was due him from the tenants, and they “beat him, and sent him away empty.”—Mark 12:3

“He sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.” (vs. 5) Lastly, the vineyard’s owner [God] sent his Son, Jesus, in the end of the Jewish Age, sure that they would respect him.

But those tenants, in their selfish ambition to retain their stewardship, said among themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.” (vss. 6-8) Jesus ends the parable, asking, “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.”—vs. 9

Elaborating on his question, Jesus quotes the prophecy in Psalm 118:22,23, saying: “Have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” (Mark 12:10-12) Jesus was the ‘stone’ that the builders refused and in his triumph he will become the headstone of the corner, the building of God.

Although this stone was indeed rejected by the nation of Israel at Jesus’ First Advent, that would not hinder its exaltation in God’s due time as the chief stone in the glorious spiritual Temple of God. The Lord appointed new ‘tenants’—the twelve apostles—and also started a new vineyard, putting in only the true vine to bring forth “the fruits thereof.” (Matt. 21:43) Those faithful servants, although having long ago fallen asleep, continue through their word and teachings to care for the true vineyard of the Lord, the church, the body of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the [true] vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

There was improper fruitage in the first vineyard—the grapes were wild. There was much desirable fruitage in the second!—John 15:5,8

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