Lesson 4431

 (Lesson 4431)(03-21-24) Luke 20:9-19 

“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 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. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.” 

 

In today’s quote, Jesus told the parable of the wicked tenants to the leaders in the temple. He then asked what the owner of the vineyard would do to those tenants. He answered His own question saying that the owner would come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others. When the Jews said, "God forbid," Jesus pointed to a scripture, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner," indicating that the kingdom of God would be taken away from the Jews who rejected it and given to the Gentiles who will produce its fruits. 

When chief priests, scribes, and elders realized that Jesus was describing themselves as the wicked tenants who have rejected God's prophets and plan to kill His Son. They wanted to arrest Him immediately but they feared the reaction of the people, who believed Jesus is a messenger from God. Today’s quote underscores the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders and foreshadows His death and resurrection, symbolizing the transfer of God's “chosen” status from the Jews to the Gentiles.~