Do you remember about the big cluster of grapes which two men carried between them fastened to a staff, to show the people what a good land God had given them (Num. 13:23-2723And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. (Numbers 13:23‑27))? Those grapes grew in a valley of the land, later called Judea, of which Jerusalem was the chief city. So it was a good land to grow grape vines, and the people there have always had fine vineyards.
No Fruit for God
The Lord Jesus told men of the temple a story of a certain vineyard and its keepers. He said the owner planted the vines, placing a hedge around to protect from animals. He built a tower for a watchman to stay to guard against thieves, and a vat was made for the pressed out juice. Then the owner went to a far country, leaving men in charge of his fine vineyard.
When it was time to gather the fruit of the vineyard, the owner sent a servant to receive his share. But the keepers were dishonest men who wanted all for themselves, and they treated the servant roughly and would not give him any share of the fruit.
The owner sent another servant, whom they treated still more roughly, threw stones at him, and gave him no fruit. Yet the owner was very patient with those keepers and sent other servants to them, but the keepers became even more cruel, and they hurt and killed them.
The owner had one son whom he said the keepers would be sure to treat well, and he was sent to the vineyard. But when the keepers saw that the son had come, instead of giving him his father’s share, they said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.” They killed that son and threw him from the vineyard.
The Hidden Meaning
This was a sad story, or parable, and it had a sad meaning hidden in it. The men to whom Jesus told it were leaders of the people of Israel at that time. Their nation was called “a vine” for the Lord. He had led them from slavery and “planted” them in the good land of Canaan (Israel). He had protected them from enemies, as the watchman did the vineyard. He had chosen men to be leaders of the people, as “keepers.” The “fruit” the Lord wanted in return was the love and joy of the people. He sent men called prophets to tell them His words, but the leaders had treated them cruelly and would not listen to His words. They were like the rough keepers of the vineyard.
At last God sent His beloved Son to tell His messages to the people to see if they would give Him honor.
We know the Son who came to tell His Father’s words was Jesus, and the men who would not welcome Him or believe His words were the most wicked of all the “keepers.” Those men who listened to His parable were even then trying to find a way to take Him when the people would not know it. They, as the builders, rejected Him as the stone, but God will give Him the place of honor, as the cornerstone of the building (Psa. 118:22-2322The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. (Psalm 118:22‑23)).
Further Meditation
1. Why did the Lord Jesus often speak in parables?
2. What other warnings did the Lord give to these leaders of the people?