The Teachings of Jesus - A Parable of the Vineyard

Text: Luke 20:1-19

The Occasion

Jesus was being questioned regarding His authority.

The Sanhedrin were seeking to entrap Him.

A Parable about a Vineyard

An owner hires some new servants to tend his vineyard. When the time for harvest arrives, he sends three of his regular servants or slaves to receive his portion. In each circumstance the slave is beaten, mistreated and given nothing for the owner.

The owner then sends his son to receive his portion, believing that they will respect his authority.

The caretakers seize the opportunity to kill the heir, believing that then they would inherit the vineyard.

Jesus asks, “What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?”

“He will come and destroy the vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.”

The Reaction of the Sanhedrin

“May it never be!”

The concern of the Sanhedrin is that the vineyard would ever be given to anyone else.

The Lesson

Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.

The Choice

Jesus offers a binary choice (there are only 2 choices):

Believe His testimony, His miracles, His teachings, His works, and forsaking all else – follow Him. Or reject Him, and all He claims to be true.

Their Response

“The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.”

Our Application

It is still a binary choice

You may refuse to accept His authority over your life and choices, expecting that you can live your life as you please and still be accepted and blessed.

Or you may submit yourself to the Lordship and rule of Christ in your life.

The Reality of Our Decision

Everyone will meet the Rock of Jesus Christ.

You can fall upon Him and be broken to pieces because of your sin, trusting that He restores us to usefulness and accepts us as children.

Or, He can fall on you and you will be crushed and scattered like dust.

Sour Grapes

There are those who refuse to be broken by Jesus Christ. They refuse to submit to His authority. They want to receive His benefits without obedience, His

blessings without devotion, His life without their death.

THIS OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE