The Parable of the Wicked Sharecroppers is found in all three synoptic Gospels: Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; and Luke 20:9-19. It has variously been called The Wicked Husbandmen (Trench), The Parable of the Tenants (New International Version), and God’s Vineyard (Beck).
The Story
He [Jesus] went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a
vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At
harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him
some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent
him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they
beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a
third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
"Then the owner of the vineyard said, `What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. `This is
the heir,’ they said. `Let’s kill him, and the inheritance
will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed
him.
"What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."
When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
"`The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone?’
Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to
arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable
against them, But they were afraid of the people. (Luke 20:9-19, New
International Version).
This is the second parable that Jesus gave in response to Jewish
leaders’ questions. "Tell us by what authority you are doing
these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?" (Luke 20:2,
New International Version). The chief priests, scribes and elders made
up the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of the Jewish nation. In their
minds, they had the authority to control the Temple, not Jesus.
(Turnbull, Gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE,
by Ralph Earle, p. 89).
Jesus tells the crowd, which included the Jewish leaders, this parable.
The arrangement of a landowner with sharecroppers or tenants was
understood both by the people then and by people now.
The hedge was a thick-set thorn hedge, planted to keep out wild pigs
and thieves. The winepress was two troughs hollowed out of rock or made
of brick, one higher than the other. Grapes were pressed in the higher
part and the juice ran to the lower end. The tower was a watchtower and
a place of lodging for those working in the vineyard. (Barclay, DAILY
STUDY BIBLE SERIES, MATTHEW, p. ?).
The Interpretation
Barclay comments on this parable:
In interpreting a parable it is normally a first principle that every
parable has only one point, and that point has to be seized, and that
details are not to be stressed. .... But in the case of this parable it
is different. ...the details do have meaning. (Barclay, DAILY STUDY
BIBLE SERIES, MATTHEW, p. ?).
The characters and symbols of the story and the persons and things that they represent in reality are:
1. Owner of the Vineyard God
2. Three Servants Jewish Prophets
3. Owner’s Son Jesus the Messiah
4. Tenants (Sharecroppers) Jewish Leaders
5. Others Gentile Church
6. The Capstone Jesus the Messiah
7. The Vineyard The Kingdom of God
8. Builders Jewish Leaders
9. Fruit of the Vineyard Heart Repentance
Earle gives an excellent outline of the story and
interpretation (Turnbull, Gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE
GOSPEL OF LUKE, by Ralph Earle, pp. 90-91).
Below is his outline with other content along with mine:
1. THE SERVANTS. The vineyard owner sent three servants to the
sharecroppers: The first they beat and sent away, empty-handed. The
second they beat, insulted, and sent away empty-handed. The third, they
wounded and threw out of the vineyard. The servants were prophets that
God sent to the Jewish leaders. Jewish tradition states that the
Prophet Jeremiah was stoned by the exiles in Egypt and Isaiah was sawn
in two by king Manasseh. (Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF OUR LORD, p.
71).
2. THE SON. God finally sent his Son to the religious leaders. "Let us
kill the heir and the inheritance will be ours" is not only morally
wrong, but logically flawed. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus
to retain their temporal hold on power for self-aggrandisement and to
gain more wealth. They, of all people, should know that no one can
fight God and win. However, they persisted and had Jesus crucified.
3. THE SUBSTITUTION. He will "kill those tenants and give the vineyard
to others." (v. 16). This prophecy was partially fulfilled in the
destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It will be completely fulfilled in
the Second Coming of Christ. Paul explains the passing of the vineyard
to the Gentiles in Romans 11. Please note that there is a Remnant of
Israel and that Israel has not been forsaken by God.
Jesus identifies himself as the "stone the builders rejected" that
became the "capstone" of the new church. (Turnbull, Gen. ed.,
PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, by Ralph Earle, p.
89). Barclay notes that that Jesus quoted from a composite of three Old
Testament prophecies: Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; and Daniel 2:34-35,
44-45. (Barclay, DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES, MATTHEW, p. ?).
Trench further comments:
The reason why He leaves for a moment the image of the vineyard, is
because of its inadequacy to set forth one important part of the truth,
that the malice of the Pharisees should not defeat the purpose of
God,--that the Son should yet be Heir. THIS is distinctly declared by
the respected stone becoming the head of the corner, on which the
builders stumbled and fell, and were broken, and which if they set
themselves against it to the end, would fall upon them, and crush and
destroy them utterly. THEY fall on the stone, who are offended at
Christ in His low estate (Isaiah viii. 14; Luke ii. 34); of this sin
His hearers were already guilty. He warns them against a worse sin
which they were on the point of committing, and which would be followed
by a heavier punishment; they on whom the stone falls, are they who
deliberately set themselves in opposition against the
Lord—knowing who He is. They shall not merely fall and be broken,
for one might, although suffering some harm, recover himself,--but on
them the stone shall fall and grind them to powder [This refers to the
judgment day for all unbelievers]. (Trench, NOTES ON THE PARABLES OF
OUR LORD, pp. 73-74).
Earle concludes:
This is the way it is for those who reject Jesus Christ and wish to
hold on to themselves. They seek to save themselves and are lost
forever. To find the best and highest in life one has to accept
God’s way and do his will. (Turnbull, Gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE
NEW TESTAMENT, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, by Ralph Earle, p. 91).
Central Truth
IT IS FUTILE TO FIGHT GOD. IT IS LOGICAL TO JOIN GOD.
Conclusion
The wisest decision one can make is to accept Christ as Lord and
Savior. The most foolish decision one can make is to reject Christ as
Lord and Savior. Let us present the truth in love.
END