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Matthew 21:33-46

The rulers in Jerusalem had challenged Jesus concerning the authority by which He was conducting
Himself, trying to maneuver Him into a trap. But Jesus out-maneuvered the rulers, and by that very
authority which was in Him, Jesus gained the upper hand in the encounter.

Then Jesus asked the rulers for their opinion regarding a parable He told - through which the rulers
unwittingly wound up incriminating themselves - as those who say, but do not do the will of their Father,
God - religious hypocrites.

But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He then proceeded to tell two more parables. Like the first parable,
the next two are directed at the rulers, but also pertain to anyone who chose to follow the rulers. We’ll be
looking at the second parable today and next week, and the third parable the following week.

We’ll begin in verse 33.

21:33a Let’s remind ourselves of the setting for this parable, when Jesus was telling it. He was in the Court
of the Gentiles, where the rulers had challenged Him - the chief priests and the elders.

Looking down to verse 45, we see that some Pharisees were listening in on the parables, as well - the
religious rulers who had quite a bit of influence over the Jews. There was also the crowd that Jesus had
been teaching, before the religious rulers had interrupted Him; we know these people were still present,
since the religious rulers were apparently held in check out of their fear of them.

As Jesus began to tell this parable describing a landowner and his vineyard, it would immediately have
brought to Jewish minds a particular passage in the OT, found in Isaiah - because it begins in a similar
fashion. We’re going to take a look at this first, in Isaiah chapter 5.

Remember that most of Isaiah’s prophecies pertain to the southern kingdom of Judah. Isaiah begins the
prophecy speaking about his “Well-beloved”. That’s the LORD - Isaiah’s Beloved; the One whom Isaiah
loves, with whole-hearted devotion.

[Isaiah 5:1-7]

5:1 Isaiah’s Well-beloved is the LORD. And what have we learned is the LORD’s vineyard, in Scripture? The
vineyard is a symbol in the OT for the nation Israel.

Isaiah spoke of the LORD having this vineyard on a very fruitful hill. This refers to the land of Canaan. It is
in the fertile crescent, a very rich land. Through this land, the LORD had made a good provision for His
nation; for His vineyard, to grow - the conditions were very favorable.

The vineyard was situated on a hill - there’s the LORD’s nation, elevated above the other nations, in the
privileges the LORD graciously bestowed upon His people (Rm 9:3-5).

Isaiah then spoke of how the LORD prepared the land, for His nation.

5:2 The LORD dug up and removed the inhabitants of the land - the Canaanites. The LORD had given the
Canaanites four hundred years to repent of their iniquities, but they were stony-hearted towards the LORD;
they clung to their vile pagan practices. So the LORD judged them; He cleared them from the land, to make
room for His nation.
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What did the LORD then plant in the vineyard? The choicest vine. The idea is that this stock was optimal, to
produce good fruit. This stock reflects God’s Word concerning His Messiah. Through the Law and the
Prophets, Israel was to take root in her Messiah by faith, and bear the fruit of born-again sons, for God’s
kingdom.

And the LORD not only made provision for the bearing of fruit; He built a tower in the midst of the vineyard.
These towers served as observation posts, for the sake of watching over and protecting the vineyard. The
tower represents Jerusalem, with its king, its counselors, and its priests - Israel’s rulers, who were to watch
over the people and protect them from their enemies.

Finally, we read that the LORD built a winepress in His vineyard. This word in English is misleading. The
Hebrew word actually does not refer to the place where the grapes are pressed, but where the juice is
collected; a wine vat.

The mention of a wine vat shows the anticipation of the LORD; that having prepared and equipped His
vineyard so perfectly, it would now bring forth good grapes, filled with juice - which would become wine.
Wine is a symbol of joy, in the Scriptures. The LORD anticipated the joy of having sons, for His Kingdom.

But what instead did the vineyard bring forth? Wild grapes. The Hebrew word communicates the idea of
bad fruit; the fruit was completely worthless.

As Isaiah continues, he now voices the words of the LORD Himself, concerning the matter.

5:3-4 What is the answer to the first question; what more could the LORD have done? The answer is,
nothing. The LORD could not have done anything more for Israel, than He had already done, to bring forth
the good fruit of sons of God.

And what about the second question? So why did the vineyard bring forth wild grapes; worthless fruit?
Wild grapes allude to the sons of Adam, in their lawlessness; sons of disobedience. Israel had never taken
root in the choicest vine, her Messiah, through faith in Him; so she grew wild, like all the other nations. So
all that Israel could bring forth were men in the flesh, which are worthless to the LORD; they fail to fulfill
His purpose, for men.

The LORD called on His people to judge the matter - specifically, Jerusalem and the men of Judah. It is
likely that the northern kingdom of Israel had already been taken captive, by this time (5:13). How could
the people deny what the LORD said? So since both Israel and now Judah had failed to fulfill the LORD’s
purposes for them, the LORD pronounces His judgment.

5:5-7 Hedges and walls were placed around vineyards to protect them from invasions by wild animals and
from thieves. Isaiah prophesied that the LORD would remove His hedge of protection from Judah, and they
would be laid waste by their enemies.

The idea of an uncultivated land taken over by weeds foretells of Judah’s exile in Babylon, when the land
will be left desolate and unpopulated. The withholding of rain from the land mirrors the lifeless condition
of the nation.

So the vineyard - Israel - was laid waste by the LORD, for a fruitless vineyard served no purpose.

[Return to Matthew 21]

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So as we look at the first sentence of this parable that Jesus taught, we can clearly see the parallelism to
what we just read in Isaiah chapter 5 - and so could the Jews present, rulers and people alike. And they
would have remembered what it signified - the LORD’s righteous judgment of His fruitless nation.

But no sooner had Jesus set the scene, than His parable took a left turn, and went in a new direction - with
the action turning to some vinedressers, that the landowner leased his vineyard to. Let’s read through the
whole parable, now.

21:33-39 This parable is also recorded in the gospels of Mark (Mk 12:1-12) and Luke (Lk 20:9-19). Jesus
began the parable, speaking of a certain landowner. This landowner must have been a wealthy man,
because a newly planted vineyard could not be expected to produce fruit for at least four years. The
landowner must therefore have been a man of means, to afford to wait so long before this vineyard began to
produce its fruit.

Jesus portrayed this landowner as the one who did all the work necessary, to assure that the vineyard would
be productive. A wealthy landowner would have had servants do the work, but the wording of Jesus
conveyed the sense of the landowner’s personal involvement.

The landowner planted it; he set a hedge around it, and built a watchtower in it - to protect the vineyard
from the wild animals and thieves, that would try to rob the vineyard of its fruit.

So as we have seen, through the imagery, Jesus linked the parable to Isaiah’s prophecy, to establish that His
parable would pertain to the LORD’s vineyard, Israel. But then Jesus moved away from the prophecy,
because His parable was not really so much about the vineyard, as about those who were caring for it.

These were vinedressers - tenant farmers, to whom the landowner had leased his vineyard. These
vinedressers were hired to care for the vineyard - cultivating it, watching over it - until such time as it
would produce its fruit. And about how long would that take? At least four years. And in the meantime,
the landowner went into a far country - far, far away.

It would seem, after such a lengthy absence, that the vinedressers no longer viewed themselves as merely
the men that the landowner had hired. The landowner had gone so far away; for such a long period of time;
he really didn’t seem to be involved, anymore - he was completely out of the picture.

After all, it was the vinedressers who made the day-to-day decisions, regarding the vineyard! The
vinedressers no longer considered the fruit of the vineyard as merely their responsibility; they had come to
see it as their possession. Perhaps the landowner had forgotten all about his vineyard!

But the landowner had not forgotten; and as vintage time approached - the time when a harvest was to be
expected, from his vineyard - the landowner sent servants to the vinedressers he had hired - to obtain the
fruit from his vineyard.

These servants were trusted slaves, who held important responsibilities, in wealthy households. They were
representing their master’s interests, to the vinedressers - communicating the master’s words; and
requesting what was due to the master.

It was then that the flawed thinking of these vinedressers became manifest, in their wicked actions, against
the servants. Both Mark and Luke show the servants as being sent one after the other, to the vinedressers,
with each one being mistreated - or killed. If the servants survived the encounter, in every case they went
away empty-handed.
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This emphasizes the audacity of the vinedressers, who with calculated defiance, deny the owner what is
due to him, refusing to acknowledge his claim, on the fruit of the vineyard. They intend their actions as an
open challenge to the landowner - presuming that their show of force will carry the day, and that the
landowner will choose to remain distant, and uninvolved.

But Jesus shows the landowner to be not such a one as them. First, we observe that this landowner did not
immediately react against the defiant vinedressers - he endured the loss of his servants.

This is contrary to the societal norm, of that day. Landowners had the power, both socially and legally, to
enforce their will on their tenants. But this landowner didn’t do that; he is stunningly, unusually,
benevolent.

Instead, the landowner sent someone who would definitively represent his authority to the vinedressers; his
son. Mark and Luke indicate that this is the landowner’s only son; his beloved son.

And Jesus indicated what the landowner was thinking, in sending his son: that the vinedressers would
respect him; that they would honor the son, just as they would if the landowner himself were present.

Now, what do you think that those who were listening to Jesus’ parable would have thought, about that?
They would have thought, ‘If those vinedressers did what they did to the landowner’s servants, they’re not
going to respect the landowner’s son, either’ - right? They would have thought the landowner naïve, to
believe that they would respect his son - benevolent; but naïve.

But as Jesus continued, it was even worse than His listeners could have imagined. Not only did the
vinedressers not respect the son; in recognizing that the landowner had sent his son, they quickly
recognized that it was within their power to take advantage of the situation - and reap a great gain, for
themselves.

This only son would be the heir, of his father - and stood to inherit all of his lands - including this vineyard.
The vinedressers think that if they kill the son, they can have his inheritance for themselves. Then the
vineyard will be theirs - which is how they viewed the vineyard, anyway.

Is it true, that in killing the son, they would have the son’s inheritance? Maybe if the landowner never
returned. It wouldn’t be legally theirs, but they could conceivably retain it in their possession. All they had
to do was to get rid of the son.

So they did just that; casting the son out of the vineyard, and then murdering him. It was a heinous act,
with which Jesus brought His parable to an abrupt end. Then Jesus asked the rulers who were listening a
question, about it.

21:40-41 Notice that Jesus left no doubt that this would bring upon these vinedressers a visit from the
owner of the vineyard, himself; he would unquestionably return, now.

Jesus asked the rulers to put themselves in the position of the landowner; what would he do, to his tenants?
If you will remember, in Isaiah’s prophecy, the LORD asked the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of
Judah to judge between Him and His vineyard; the rulers here are being asked to judge between the
landowner and his tenants. What is the right thing to do?
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The answer of the rulers is telling. It is clear that they were caught up in the story, as Jesus intended His
listeners to be; caught up in the injustice of the situation, against this benevolent landowner. The rulers
were so caught up in it, that they didn’t notice that they were actually represented in the story.

The rulers’ judgment of the situation is right. As longsuffering as the landowner has been, he must now
deal with his defiant tenants, who have murdered, not just his servants, but his son - his only beloved son.

Justice was crying out to be served. And the justice that the rulers recommended was retributive, in nature -
these wicked killers must be put to death - destroyed. And then the landowner would be able to lease his
vineyard to good tenants, who would deal with the landowner rightly - giving him what was his due, from
his vineyard.

We wonder how long it took before it dawned on the rulers that the vinedressers in the parable represented
them. They were the tenant farmers, whom the LORD had appointed to care for His vineyard - the nation
Israel. They were the ones, who were to cultivate the nation, in the truth. They were the ones who were to
guard the nation from things that would make it unfruitful.

But they were appointed by the LORD, as caretakers; they were not the owner of the vineyard. Yet that is
how most of the rulers of the nation Israel had always perceived themselves - the kings, counselors, priests.
They took the nation in the direction that they wanted it to go; and they exploited its prosperity, for their
own gain.

The LORD sent prophet after prophet, to warn Israel’s rulers - a warning, that Israel’s purpose was to bring
forth fruit for the LORD. And what happened to those prophets? According to Jewish tradition, many of
them were beaten, and stoned, and killed. Isaiah is said to have been sawed asunder (Heb 11:37).

In Scripture we read of Zechariah son of Jehoiada being stoned to death (2 Chr 24:17-22). The prophet
Urijah was also killed (Jer 26:20-23). And of course, John the Baptist had been most recently beheaded.
The LORD sent His servants, the prophets; and the rulers of Israel rejected the message, and killed the
messengers.

But in the fullness of time, God sent His Son - His only beloved Son, Jesus. He was sent to His own
people, the nation Israel. And now, just a few days hence, these rulers of Israel will fulfill the prophetic
words, spoken by Jesus in parable form here - and they will put Him to death. Jesus will be executed
outside of Jerusalem - cast out of the vineyard, and killed.

There are some vital things to be gleaned from the parable. For one thing, the vinedressers recognized the
son, when they saw him - and they knew him to be the heir of his father, the landowner; the rightful owner.

What does this say, about the rulers, listening to Jesus that day? That they knew exactly who Jesus is.
They knew Jesus is the Son of God; they knew Jesus is the heir of His Father. Jesus is the LORD’s Anointed;
the One who will inherit the kingdom of God (Ps 2:2, 6-8).

These rulers knew that Jesus is precisely whom the people were proclaiming Him to be - the Messiah of
Israel. They knew; but they would not acknowledge it; not to Him, not to the people - and they would
above all, not submit to Him.

Instead, the rulers intended to eliminate Him. And Jesus was letting the rulers know that He was aware that
they know who He is; and He was aware of what they intend to do to Him.
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Another important thing to note is how Jesus portrayed the landowner - as benevolent, but naïve. Who
does the landowner represent? God the Father. Is God naïve? No; God knows everything, and He has the
right estimate of each thing.

What Jesus was showing was how the rulers viewed God - He’s distant; He’s not on the scene; He’s not
involved, with the day-to-day activities on earth. And the rulers viewed God as naïve; as someone they
could hoodwink, and manipulate, according to their will.

In fact, many people still view God in this same way. They don’t know God, do they? Omniscient -
knowing every thought and motive of every heart. Omnipotent - completely able to see to it that His will is
done. And He is always, everywhere present; yet intensely personal; intimate. God doesn’t miss a thing.

Like the vinedressers, the rulers mistake God’s longsuffering for disinterest. And they are under the
illusion they can hold onto their position, over the nation. But the rulers were just hired hands. Their
position was merely allowed to them by the permission of God - and God could change who held that
position at any time.

And God had done that, many a time, through the history of the nation Israel. But that is not what we find
in the judgment prophetically pronounced by Jesus on the rulers, of His day. We find the sending of the
Son, and His rejection, is to be a pivotal turning-point, in Israel’s history.

After the rulers had unwittingly incriminated themselves - once again - Jesus then addressed them, with His
verdict.

21:42-44 In verse 42, we find two verses from Psalm 118 (v. 22-23). It would have been completely
familiar to every Jew, as Psalm 118 was part of the Hallel - the Praise, that was sung to God, especially
during Passover season - at this very time.

So when Jesus asked, “Have you never read in the Scriptures?”, He did not mean this literally. He was
asking the rulers, “Don’t you understand this, from the Scriptures?”

The verse speaks of a stone - the cornerstone - a familiar motif, in the OT Scriptures. In verse 44, there are
two additional OT references to the stone. We’ll be looking at these verses - and others - more closely next
week, so we can better understand what Jesus meant here. But for now, let’s look at why Jesus introduced
this thought, at this time.

What does the cornerstone represent, in the OT? It is imagery for the Messiah of Israel - the Son of God.
This “stone” imagery differs completely from what Jesus was using in His parable - the son of a landowner.

So why would Jesus break with the imagery of His parable, here? Because He wished to make a new point
- one that couldn’t be made, with the imagery used in the parable. But it connects to the parable on a key
point. The point is rejection.

In the parable, the vinedressers rejected the son; in the Scripture quotation, the builders rejected the stone.
But then once the builders had done that, the stone became the chief cornerstone, meaning the head stone -
the tip-top, finishing stone of a building. Of what building? Of God’s building; His kingdom.

So while the builders’ rejection reflects the rulers’ killing of the Son, in His first coming; the lifting up of
the Cornerstone reflects the Son, raised from the dead, and set in place as the finishing stone of God’s
Kingdom - which will be in His Second Coming.
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The parable, a natural story, could only go so far as to portray the death of the Son, at the hands of the
rulers. But the Scripture quotation from Psalm 118 alludes to the supernatural resurrection of the Son from
the dead, and His establishment as the King. And it is the resurrection which will demonstrate God’s
vindication of His Son.

What Jesus was showing these rulers was that their actions against Him would be overruled by God
Himself - this will be the LORD’s doing. Whose eyes will it be marvelous in? Not the rulers’ eyes,
certainly! It will be marvelous in the eyes of those who will be ready to receive Jesus as their King - in His
Second Coming.

When Jesus pronounced His judgment on the rulers in verse 43, he said the kingdom of heaven will be
taken from them. In the past, there had been judgments on both the rulers and the nation - but they were
always temporary - the LORD permitted Israel to grow again in the land, with new rulers over the nation.

But the putting to death of the Son of God will be the culminating act of rebellion, on the part of the rulers -
and of the nation of that day, which will follow their lead. Following this heinous act, the LORD will visit
severe judgment on Israel - destroying those in authority, and scattering Israel into the sea of humanity -
where they will remain for about two thousand years.

But Jesus spoke also of the kingdom of God being given; not to other rulers, but to - what? To a nation - a
nation bearing the fruits of the kingdom - and what are those fruits? Sons; sons for God’s kingdom, from
His vineyard - Israel.

That nation still awaits its prophetic fulfillment - for that nation will be the regenerate remnant of Israel,
that will be forged through the fire of the Great Tribulation. It is this remnant that will perceive the
returning Cornerstone of Israel as marvelous - and readily receive Him as their King.

The other two references in verse 44 to the Stone - Israel’s Messiah - speak of those who will reject Him.
Where is the stone, in the first reference - “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken”? It’s on the
ground. There are the rulers, in Jesus’ day - and those who follow their lead - who will be broken in
judgment, as they stumble over Jesus, in unbelief.

How about the stone in the second reference - “On whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder”? The
stone is in the air, falling to the ground - Jesus in His Second Coming. The stone will crush those who are
unwilling to submit to Jesus, as King.

In either case - if a clay vessel falls on the stone, or the stone falls on the clay vessel - woe to the clay
vessel!

We continue in verse 45, with the reaction of the rulers.

21:45-46 The leaders were just infuriated with Jesus, when they realized their role, in His parable. No
doubt they felt exposed, for that was what was in their hearts - murderous intent. But for now, the fear of
the people continued to restrain the rulers from taking action against Jesus.

God, at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. He has in these
last days spoken to us by His Son - whom He has appointed heir of all things (Heb 1:1-2). Blessed are
those who have received the Son - for with them, He will gladly share His inheritance.
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Reading: Gen 28:10-22, 35:9-15, 49:22-26; Ex 17:1-7; Isaiah 8:12-15, 28:14-19; Dan 2:36-45; Psalm
118