Slices
Prepare
Picture one of your favourite ancient buildings – perhaps an old church, or a National Trust house you’ve visited – and think about its permanence in the landscape.
Bible passage
The parable of the tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 ‘Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.”
14 ‘But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. “This is the heir,” they said. “Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’
When the people heard this, they said, ‘God forbid!’
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, ‘Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
‘“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone”?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Explore
Jesus can’t be more direct in his condemnation of the religious leaders than he is here. They can’t fail to identify themselves in this story of rejection and betrayal – and neither can the crowds who hear it. The killer punchline from Jesus (v 17) takes them right to biblical prophecy (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16). And with it comes a pointed warning (v 18) that seals his arrest warrant.
Jesus is often referred to in the New Testament as the cornerstone which is essential to sound construction. This is the foundation stone at the base of a building, often joining two walls. Its accurate position is vital; all other stones are set in reference to this one, so the integrity of the whole structure depends on it. Masons would inspect many stones carefully to find the ones they wanted for this role.
Jesus identifies himself as the ‘cornerstone’ (Mark 12:10,11) – the ‘precious’ rock upon which his church of all believers is built (Ephesians 2:20–22; 1 Peter 2:4–8). That same stone, says Peter, is a stumbling block for all who reject him.
Respond
How secure does your life feel today? Praise God that in the middle of events that might turn your world upside down, Jesus Christ can hold you firm. He can be your cornerstone.
Deeper Bible study
‘Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.’1
Having silenced their question over his authority, Jesus goes on the offensive. The story of the man planting a vineyard recalls Isaiah’s love song of the vineyard.2 Isaiah sings of God as a careful vine dresser who established Israel with great care seeking fruit – notably, social justice. He found only wild grapes. Israel, as a result, is warned of exile.
Now Jesus tells another allegory of God’s vineyard. The tenants represent Israel’s leaders, tending God’s people. Israel is to bear fruit – justice, righteousness, covenantal faithfulness and being a light to the nations. The servants are the prophets, sent to warn the leadership of their failure and its consequences. The prophets were mostly treated horrifically, their message rejected.3 The beloved Son is unambiguously Jesus, declared so at his baptism. The tenants kill him and throw him from the vineyard – foreshadowing their conspiracy in Jesus’ impending death. The owner, God, acts decisively against his tenants, destroying the vineyard – the devastation of Jerusalem is again predicted.4 The giving of the vineyard to others speaks of Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the gospel’s spread to the Gentiles. The leaders understand but, rather than repenting, they fulfil the parable by killing him, ironically declaring Jesus a prophet.
Here is salvation history in a nutshell, from Abraham to the world through the Prophet of prophets. We are warned: for now, we tenant God’s vineyard. Abiding by the Spirit in the Vine,5 we must do better than Israel’s leaders. We do so by faithfulness to the new covenant and doing works of love, mercy and justice. If we do not, God will give the vineyard to others. That is the history of the church. As churches decline, stagnate and corrupt God’s word, others are raised up. Our challenge is never to allow this to happen where we gather as God’s people.
Consider your church. Is it faithful? Merciful? Compassionate? Ask God to prune his vine so that we may be good tenants.
1 Isa 1:17, ESV 2 Isa 5:1–7 3 Luke 11:49–51 4 Cf Luke 19:41–44; 21:5–24 5 John 15:1–10
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Hosea 1,2; Jude
Pray for Scripture Union
Local mission partner Faith in Schools, working in Newham ask us to pray that God will give Christian parents a heart to become part of the Adopt a School scheme where they can sponsor a class for £60 which pays for one lesson in their child’s school.
