The Parable of the Wicked Vine Dressers Mark 12:1–12
Here is an audio link for today’s post.
Before we embark upon Jesus’ Parable of the wicked Vine Dressers, let’s look back to Mark 11 to see where He has been? What is leading up to this parable?
Jesus had just made His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Do you remember the reception that He received from the people? The people happily honored Him. These were the ordinary and oppressed. They thought He was about to send Rome packing, and that He was coming to establish a kingdom on Earth that would free them from all tyranny.
That didn’t happen. Not like they thought.
Another group of people who were there that day were the religious leaders. Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes. They were present to watch, always slithering in the background. They were watching for an opportunity to arrest Him.
After the Triumphal Entry these wicked men questioned the Savior. You can read about this in Mark 11:27-33
But on this day, Jesus will fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah 5.
Imagine being at the Southern Stairs, the Temple’s public entrance. People are milling around watching and listening. Maybe they are anticipating the inevitable; the moment when Jesus’ pious enemies would fall into their own trap.
Jesus did not hold back when He addressed corrupt hypocritical Jews. Their hearts were already hardened, like a stone.
But telling the truth about the devastation of sin is a kindness that leads tender, open hearts to repentance. That’s what the ministry of Jesus was all about.
Here are the characters in today’s parable:
- Landowner-God
- Vineyard-Israel
- Tenants/farmers-Jewish religious leaders
- Servants-prophets who remained faithful and preached God’s Word
- The Son-Jesus
- Other tenants-Gentiles
Listen as Jesus exposes the Jews:
“A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.
At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them. But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
Again, he sent another servant to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed.
He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally, he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So, they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
The Son is God’s Beloved. But they killed Him anyway. You see, these men claimed to honor God. But they killed His servants and finally they killed His Son. (Mark 9:7) (Matthew 3:17)
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others.”
Mark 12:1-9
The religious leaders were hypocrites who claimed to honor God. But the murdered the prophets, oppressed the children of Israel, and eventually they killed God’s Beloved Son. The religious leaders were condemned. The Gospel was offered to the other tenants (Gentiles).
The religious leaders knew that this parable was directed at them.
And so, Jesus concludes the parable with this prophecy from Psalm 118:22-23
Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came about from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?” They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So, they left him and went away.
Do you know Jesus? Or, like the wicked religious leaders in the parable, have you rejected Him?
If you don’t know Him, why not simply ask Him into your heart? Confess that you are a sinner in need of His grace. Turn away from your sinful lifestyle. The Bible says, “Believe on the Lord and you will be saved…” Acts 16:31
If you are born-again, what are you doing in your life, with Jesus?
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Statement of Faith
