What Does The Parable of the Tenants mean, in Your Opinion?

[Cassandra]

I think this parable tells an important story concerning the history of Israel . I'd like to know what you think and what you think Jesus meant by verse 43.

Matt 21:33-46

"33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet."

 

[Hidden In Him]

I think this parable tells an important story concerning the history of Israel . I'd like to know what you think and what you think Jesus meant by verse 43.

Matt 21:33-46

"33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:

34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.

35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.

36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet."

Correct. The householder is God, the vineyard is His kingdom, the husbandmen are the Jewish leadership, God's servants are the prophets, many of whom the Jewish leadership killed or cast out, the son is Jesus, Heir to God's kingdom, the destruction of the husbandmen took place in 70AD with the conquest of Jerusalem, and the new husbandmen are the apostles, who became the new leadership of spiritual Israel when the church became His kingdom in place of the earthly Israel.

 

[Pythagorean12]

Parable of the Tenants The landowner – represents God The vineyard – His Kingdom The tenants – specifically Israel’s religious leaders and all who reject Him The servants – God’s prophets and faithful believers The beloved son – Jesus Christ
Parable of the Tenants

 

[Hidden In Him]

Parable of the Tenants The landowner – represents God The vineyard – His Kingdom The tenants – specifically Israel’s religious leaders and all who reject Him The servants – God’s prophets and faithful believers The beloved son – Jesus Christ
Parable of the Tenants

Well that's what I said. :)

The interesting part is when you get into asking how this parable applies to our situation today, and in what ways.

 

[marks]

Correct. The householder is God, the vineyard is His kingdom, the husbandmen are the Jewish leadership, God's servants are the prophets, many of whom the Jewish leadership killed or cast out, the son is Jesus, Heir to God's kingdom, the destruction of the husbandmen took place in 70AD with the conquest of Jerusalem, and the new husbandmen are the apostles, who became the new leadership of spiritual Israel

This I agree with completely!

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

This I agree with completely!

Much love!

So how about my mention in Post #4 of how to apply the parable to our situation today. Any thoughts?

 

[marks]

So how about my mention in Post #4 of how to apply the parable to our situation today. Any thoughts?

Considering it's primary meaning being what it is, as we've said, applications abound, there are many things we can take away from our meditations of this parable.

The faithful witnesses are rejected, so don't be surprised to be rejected for your faithful witness.

The evil have no understanding, and act according to their own delusion.

The self-righteous can see the truth, and not care.

The more you look, the more you see . . .

Much love!

 

[marks]

38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.

Revelation 12:17 KJV
17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

@Hidden In Him

It's what the evil do.

And I think it's what the world rulers are in the process of doing. That they are trying to dominate the world, but they will be suddenly thrown down, without remedy, and the beast will rise in their place, according to God's design.

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

@Hidden In Him

It's what the evil do.

And I think it's what the world rulers are in the process of doing. That they are trying to dominate the world, but they will be suddenly thrown down, without remedy, and the beast will rise in their place, according to God's design.

Much love!

You don't relate the Jewish leadership of their time to the false church of our time? I mean, at present. I do agree they will eventually kill the prophets and the saints again, according to Revelation 17-18, but my question is, what parallels do you see now?

 

[marks]

42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

From "ethnei", according to Strong's, this is a non-Jewish nation. The KJV translates this mostly as "gentiles", next as "nations", and "nation", "heathen", and "people".

What I think this parable means is that the ones Jesus spoke to had continued in the ways of their fathers, and would try to seize the vineyard, and for this, it would be taken away, and give to a nation, singular. Why that is singular, this is an interesting question to think about.

Much love!

 

[marks]

You don't relate the Jewish leadership of their time to the false church of our time? I mean, at present. I do agree they will eventually kill the prophets and the saints again, according to Revelation 17-18, but my question is, what parallels do you see now?

Those who reject Jesus then and now? Yes, I do see the parallels, and certainly those in positions of power, if you will.

Are you thinking in terms of the false church being the husbandmen, and the faithful church the nation that the vineyard will be given to?

Much love!

 

[marks]

You don't relate the Jewish leadership of their time to the false church of our time? I mean, at present. I do agree they will eventually kill the prophets and the saints again, according to Revelation 17-18, but my question is, what parallels do you see now?

Like I said, I see many parallels, I wrote out a few, it's good food to meditate on! You seem to have something particular in mind . . . care to share?

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

Those who reject Jesus then and now? Yes, I do see the parallels, and certainly those in positions of power, if you will.

Are you thinking in terms of the false church being the husbandmen, and the faithful church the nation that the vineyard will be given to?

Yes, or more accurately, the present leadership (much of which is false) verses the coming leadership, which will be truly sent of God.

Like I said, I see many parallels, I wrote out a few, it's good food to meditate on! You seem to have something particular in mind . . . care to share?

Much love!

Mmmmm... yes and no. Much of what I believe is based off of modern prophecy, which I'm not sure you would receive. Just more curious about what parallels you think might apply.

 

[marks]

Yes, or more accurately, the present leadership (much of which is false) verses the coming leadership, which will be truly sent of God.

I'm curious, who do you see as "the present leadership"? Because I've come to know a number of "church leaders", very Godly, spiritual men.

Much love!

 

[marks]

Much of what I believe is based off of modern prophecy, which I'm not sure you would receive.

On this, as we've discussed before, I don't reject any prophecy, but I put a lot lot lot of weight on accurate fulfullments. Someone who is unproved, I'm "wait and see". And to be honest, I've not seen too many modern prophets with any real track record.

That is, aside from prophecy given within the body, in a "one another-ing" sense, or within a congregation. It seems to me this is the prophecy I see more commonly.

Much love!

 

[Cassandra]

I just think it tells the history of Israel. God puts a hedge of protection around them, and supplies their needs. He sends his prophets to them to correct them, and what happens?They beat and kill them . Jeremiah. Isaiah, Zechariah. Then He says "They will reverence My Son. That didn't happen either. He was killed.

I believe it means exactly what it says in verse 43. The vineyard is given to other husband men.

Israel is now comprised of the seed of Abraham :Gal 3:28, 29 and Romans 2:28. All those who love the Lord are Israel.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I'm curious, who do you see as "the present leadership"? Because I've come to know a number of "church leaders", very Godly, spiritual men.

Much love!

The liturgical cast that now endorses homosexuality, the moneyed crowd that now lives in multi-million dollar homes, and the faithless crowd who is still stuck in traditionalism and habitually rejects what the Spirit is now saying to the churches. In one way or another, much of the present leadership is subject to the enemy, and they all protect their own interests at the expense of the interests of God, having shut their ears to Him.

 

[marks]

The liturgical cast that now endorses homosexuality, the moneyed crowd that now lives in multi-million dollar homes, and the faithless crowd who is still stuck in traditionalism and habitually rejects what the Spirit is now saying to the churches. In one way or another, much of the present leadership is subject to the enemy, and they all protect their own interests at the expense of the interests of God, having shut their ears to Him.

So it sounds like you are describing what I call "Christendom", that is, the culture that is known as "Christian", while not really being related to the body of Christ.

I see the true church as treasure that has been re-hidden in the field, the field being the world, and the hiding place being inside "Christendom".

Much love!

 

[Hidden In Him]

I see the true church as treasure that has been re-hidden in the field, the field being the world, and the hiding place being inside "Christendom".

I suppose that's a fair enough application, although I would apply it more directly to the original parallel. The Old Testament saints were buried in the earth of the Underworld, and after dying on the cross He descended to preach to the gospel to them there. We are in essence all the church, but they were the original ones He sold all He had to purchase from the kingdom of darkness.

Now we are just dealing in spiritualizations, by playing off of the meaning of the original parable.

 

[marks]

I suppose that's a fair enough application, although I would apply it more directly to the original parallel. The Old Testament saints were buried in the earth of the Underworld, and after dying on the cross He descended to preach to the gospel to them there. We are in essence all the church, but they were the original ones He sold all He had to purchase from the kingdom of darkness.

Now we are just dealing in spiritualizations, by playing off of the meaning of the original parable.

Interesting take on that parable. But I don't want to stray from the thread . . .

Much love!