“There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” Matthew 21:33-46

Those who heard Jesus share this parable understood it well. The hills of Galilee were full of vineyards, and it was common for owners to lease their estates to tenants. Although the Pharisees grasped the illustration, they felt offended by Jesus’ implication. They saw it as prophetic and a direct warning, because they knew that God regarded the Jewish nation as the ‘vineyard of the Lord.’ Isaiah 5:7

The message from Jesus was clear. You are not aligned with God’s plans. Although you believe you are acting effectively as religious leaders, you are wrong. You are mistreating faithful servants, and furthermore, you are rejecting me, the very son of the Vineyard owner. 

Jesus has graciously entrusted His kingdom to us to steward in His absence. Before leaving, He demonstrated how to tend it properly. His leadership approach is rooted in service, prioritizing relationships over rituals, and heart over intellect. Is it possible, however, that we are behaving like Pharisees?  

In Jesus’ absence, I’m given the freedom in Christ to run the vineyard any way I want.  The tenants in the parable could abuse, even kill, servants.  When the ‘son’ came, the one with ownership rights to the vineyard, they took his life because he threatened what they wanted for themselves.

As I govern my sphere of influence today, I am compelled by Christ to prioritize the heart over intellect, grace over performance, and relationship over religion. The Son is returning and will one day evaluate how well I cared for His sheep. Will the harvest look like what it might have been if Jesus had stayed to oversee it? That’s humbling to consider. 

How does this apply to me?  I will be quiet and be teachable, as Your Holy Spirit brings this home.  Amen