A parable is a comparison between two things that should be seen as similar. Jesus speaks a parable about a vineyard and the tenants. The summary of the parable is that a man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for a winepress and built a tower. He leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, the owner sent servants, one at a time, to collect some fruit. The tenants beat and killed the servants. The owner then sent his son, and the servants killed him too, believing that they would get the inheritance. Instead, the owner destroyed the tenants and gave the vineyard to others. Jesus then quoted Psalm 118 in verse 10, “Have you not read this Scripture; The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

Planter – God

Vineyard – Israel

Tenant Farmers – the religious leaders

Servants – Old Testament prophets

The Beloved Son – Jesus

Those hearing this parable would have been very familiar with this scenario and the rules along with it. They would have also caught the ideas:

Peter would have been there when Jesus told this parable and quoted Psalm 118. He later quoted the same passage in Acts 4:5-12.

They did not reject Jesus because of the lack of evidence, they rejected Jesus simply because they didn’t want to receive Him.

Let’s not let the story and person of Jesus become too familiar. Jesus is the greatest gift in the history of mankind. He is MARVELOUS. His story is MARVELOUS. Marvel at His loving-kindness for you.

As we reflect today, here are a few questions to discuss: