PARABLE OF THE TENANTS
Today’s reading includes the Parable of the Tenants that is found in Mark 12:1 – 12. In the previous section (Mark 11:27 – 33), the Jewish religious leaders had challenged Jesus’ authority. Jesus answered their no-win question with one of His own: Was the baptism (authority) of John from heaven or from man? After they refused to answer Him, He responded with this parable of impending judgment.
In this parable, the owner of the vineyard represents God. The vineyard is Israel. The tenants of the vineyard are the Jewish religious leaders. The vineyard owner’s servants represent God’s prophets. And the son is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was saying to the religious leaders that just as the owner of the vineyard destroyed the tenants in the parable because they rejected the owner’s servants and then his son, so God would destroy Israel’s religious leaders because they rejected His prophets and His Son! In verse 12, we read their response. They understood that Jesus spoke this parable against them and sought for a way to arrest Him. BUT they also feared the people, so they left Him alone.
In verse 12, Jesus says that the owner of the vineyard will give the vineyard to others… So, who are these “others”? It refers to the mostly Gentile church that came into being after Pentecost!
And it refers to His church today; us! If you have trusted in Christ to be your Lord and Savior, then there is no impending judgment awaiting you. Instead, we have a place in heaven reserved for us. Praise the Lord!
In this parable, the owner of the vineyard represents God. The vineyard is Israel. The tenants of the vineyard are the Jewish religious leaders. The vineyard owner’s servants represent God’s prophets. And the son is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was saying to the religious leaders that just as the owner of the vineyard destroyed the tenants in the parable because they rejected the owner’s servants and then his son, so God would destroy Israel’s religious leaders because they rejected His prophets and His Son! In verse 12, we read their response. They understood that Jesus spoke this parable against them and sought for a way to arrest Him. BUT they also feared the people, so they left Him alone.
In verse 12, Jesus says that the owner of the vineyard will give the vineyard to others… So, who are these “others”? It refers to the mostly Gentile church that came into being after Pentecost!
And it refers to His church today; us! If you have trusted in Christ to be your Lord and Savior, then there is no impending judgment awaiting you. Instead, we have a place in heaven reserved for us. Praise the Lord!
by Paul Schmidt, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!CLEAR PROMISES
No Comments