Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD'S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?" And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.--Mark 12:1-12
The owner sent servants to collect fruit from His vineyard. The ones sent were either beaten or killed by the servants of the tenant farmer. The owner then sent His Son...they killed him too. What would the owner of the vineyard do? He would destroy the vinedressers and give His vineyard to others. Isaiah explains the vineyard reference...
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.--Isaiah 5:7
The man who planted the vineyard was God and the vineyard was Israel. The hedge set around it was the law of Moses...which protected them and separated them from the Gentiles. The vinedressers were the Pharisees and the religious leaders.
Jesus speaks prophetically in verse 10 about His rejection and death by the leaders of Israel...He was the stone which the builders of Israel rejected. After His resurrection He was given pre-eminence, His Father made Him the chief cornerstone in the church. Read below what Peter says in chapter 4 of Acts.
"let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." --Acts 4:10-12
Now the Jewish leaders understood what Jesus was saying. He was quoting Psalm 118 which speaks of the Messiah. Jesus was applying these verses to Himself. In fact, they understood so well that they tried to lay hands on Him then but feared the people. The very next section of Scripture shows a joining of bitter enemies...the Pharisees, the Saducees and the Herodians in a plan to trick Jesus into saying something that could be used against Him.
The beauty of this story is obvious...But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved...sent His Son not only to warn us but to die for us. And not for us only, but also for the very ones who nailed Him to the cross. The story also highlights the Father's love and patience with His disobedient people by sending prophet after prophet to warn them that judgment would come. Unfortunately, we usually don't appreciate God's long suffering until it is too late. We also mistake God's longsuffering and patience for either indifference or inability. God's longsuffering is His kindness to us. His will is that none should perish. When judgment does come it will fall on those who did not "reverence His Son." Psalm 2 comes to mind here...I will end with it. Pay special attention to verses 10-12.
Psalm 2
The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
