Jesus told men of Jerusalem this parable (a story to teach a lesson):
“There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”
You see this owner had a well-prepared vineyard, with a thick hedge to keep out animals or thieves; a tower built for a watchman to stay in; and a press made to crush the grapes. He went away to a far land, leaving keepers in charge. When it was near time for the fruit to be gathered he sent servants to the vinard.
But the keepers would not give the servants any fruit, and treated them roughly, and at last killed them. The owner sent other servants who were treated the same cruel way.
When the owner heard what the keepers had done, he decided to send his own son to them; he said, “They will revence my son.” But, instead, when the owner’s son came, they said among themselves, “This is the heir, come, let us kill him, and seize on his inheritance.”
The rough men wanted the vineyard for themselves, and were so wicked they took the owner’s son and killed him, as they had the servants.
Jesus asked the men who listened to this story what should be done to the wicked keepers. They said those keepers should be punished and the vineyard put in charge of other men.
This parable was really the story of the nation, Israel: God had given them a good land and every blessing: they should have obeyed and greatly honored Him. But, instead, they had disobeyed His words, and cruelly treated His servants, the prophets. At last He sent His own Son, Jesus, and they showed Him no honor, but killed Him.
The men who were listening to Jesus, were even then trying to find cause to destroy Him, but feared to do so because they knew the people believed Him to be from God (vs. 46).
Jesus asked the men if they had not read the scripture which said, “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become Head of the corner.”
The men knew those words, written in the psalms, but they would not believe that Jesus was the One meant, who would be rejected, but was to be the honored One, as the corner stone is of a building (Psa. 118:2222The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118:22)). They refused Jesus as King and Lord, but God has given Him the place of honor. He has raised Him from the dead, and has seated Him at His own right hand in the glory, till He shall come forth to rule this world in righousness and PEACE. This world will not know Peace till then.
ML 08/29/1943