Luke 20:1-181And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, 2And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? 3And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 5And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? 6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. 7And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. 8And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. 9Then 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. 10And 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. 11And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13Then 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. 14But 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. 15So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17And 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? 18Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Luke 20:1‑18)
The men who had charge of all in the temple were more than ever angry at the Lord Jesus when He sent away those who were selling things there. They asked Him who gave Him authority, or the right, to do so.
Jesus knew their hatred for Him, and what they would soon do to Him, and He answered them by this parable:
“A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen (keepers), and went to a far country for a long time. At the season he sent a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him and sent him away empty.
“Again he sent another servant, and they beat him also, and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty. Again he sent a third: they wounded him also, and cast him out.
“Then said the Lord (owner) 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, sang, ‘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.”
The meaning of this parable was very plain, was it not? All know that vineyards are planted that fruit will grow: a large vineyard needs many keepers, and it would be right for the owner to have a share of the fruit.
The people of Jerusalem and all that land were like a vineyard to God: He had brought them there from Egypt, and done every good for them: should He not have “fruit,” or praise from them?
The priest and scribes and rulers were to be as “husbandmen” to do for the people, and to teach them to praise God. Some of them did honor God, but many did not. God told His wishes to men who believed Him, and they told His words to the leaders and to the pele, such men were the “servants” sent, called prophets. Yet they were not liked, even Moses was spoken against, and some were put in prison, and some were stoned.
After many years God sent His own beloved Son to the land, just as the owner of the vineyard sent his son. Did the men of the temple, who were the “keepers” of the people give respect to God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, or praise God for Him? No, they were at that very time planning to “cast Him out,” and do what the keepers said, “Come, let us kill Him.”
Those men had not believed the words of the prophet John, or turned from their sins as he told them, then they did not believe the Lord Jesus. They were selfish and dishonest, as the vineyard keepers; they wanted to use all things for themselves.
The parable was a plain answer to their question, “Who is he that gave thee authority?” It was God Who sent His Son and gave Him authority. This is for us to think of too: although the Lord Jesus took a humble place on earth, He was and is the Son of God, and has every right over all.
ML 11/25/1945