Same Old Story

"Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'" - Mt 21:37

Jesus directs today's lesson at the chief priests and elders. The Parable of the Tenants has an interesting and thinly veiled cast of characters. The landowner (God), the vineyard (His Kingdom), the tenants (the Jewish religious leadership), the servants (the prophets), the beloved son (Jesus), and the replacement tenants (the Gentiles, or non-Jewish people who will accept God's Word).

The landowner in the story was forgiving and gave the tenants more chances than they deserved ... until, finally, they went too far: They kill the owner's son expecting to gain his inheritance (Mt 21:38-39). Jesus asks the Jewish leaders what the vineyard owner will do to those tenants. These leaders know how a story like this will end:

They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times" (Mt 21:41).

Jesus is prophesying His own death at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. He warns that the Kingdom would be taken away from those who refuse to submit to God and given to those who would - that is, the Gentiles. The leaders understand the allegory. They're just too deep in the story to change the real-life ending.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the many opportunities You offer me to receive mercy.

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