Matthew 21:33-46

Matthew 21: 33 - 46

This stinging parable comes the day after the cleansing of the temple. While the religious leadership did not see the fig tree whither the disciples did. They saw the curse of fruitlessness and heard the first parable of the sons sent to work in the vineyard and now another vineyard parable. The common theme is fruitfulness. The establishment of a vineyard is a capital-intensive project with at least several years between first investment and first return. No reason is given why the tenant farmers decided not to fulfill their obligation. There is plenty of speculation all of which is equally pointless. Very simply they were unfruitful and unproductive. The why or the excuse is not important.

The hearers would have recognized the characters and the story. They recognize God as the vineyard owner, themselves as tenant farmers and the dispatched servants as the prophets. The Son we know is Jesus, but this would have been striking for those listening to the story. Here for the first time Jesus, in a veiled reference, publicly identifies Himself as a Son of God. The authority to purify the temple and the questions of "by what authority" He did these things is answered. At His trial Jesus would be asked if He is the Son of God, that question may have originated in this parable.

What is to become of the wicked tenant farmers? The intensity of the answer does not appear in the English text. Speaking of themselves they describe the tenant farmers (themselves) as completely depleted and will come to a completely deplorable end. At this point we must stop and ask again, “What was the fundamental problem?” It was a faith or religion that was devoid of fruit. This judgment is for any that have faith that is unproductive, myself included. This can be a mirror moment where we see ourselves in the characters of Scripture.

“Lord, never allow me to assume that ritual is the same thing as fruitfulness. Amen"