Read
Renters of a Vineyard
(Matthew 21.33-46; Mark 12.1-12)
9 Jesus told the people this story:
A man once planted a vineyard and rented it out. Then he left the country for a long time. 10When it was time to harvest the crop, he sent a servant to ask the renters for his share of the grapes. But they beat up the servant and sent him away without anything. 11So the owner sent another servant. The renters also beat him up. They insulted him terribly and sent him away without a thing. 12The owner sent a third servant. He was also beaten terribly and thrown out of the vineyard.
13The owner then said to himself, “What am I going to do? I know what. I'll send my son, the one I love so much. They will surely respect him!”
14When the renters saw the owner's son, they said to one another, “Someday he will own the vineyard. Let's kill him! Then we can have it all for ourselves.” 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Jesus asked, “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? 16I'll tell you what. He will come and kill those renters and let someone else have his vineyard.”
When the people heard this, they said, “This must never happen!”
17 But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what do the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘The stone the builders tossed aside is now the most important stone of all’? 18Anyone who stumbles over this stone will get hurt, and anyone it falls on will be smashed to pieces.”
19The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses knew that Jesus was talking about them when he was telling this story. They wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the people.
Reflect
There’s a joke of a future scientist who approaches God with the claim that he can make a human. He challenges God to a contest on who can make the best one. God agrees. The scientist bends down to scoop some dust to make his person. “No, no,” God says. “You go and make your own dust.”
It’s a comical reminder that there is nothing in this world that is not our Creator’s: not the dust of the earth or anything on it. The Jewish religious leaders, who Jesus was talking to, and also about, when he told this vineyard parable, didn’t get this. They thought they were the owners of religious truth and they were prepared to do anything, including murder, to keep what they felt was theirs.
It’s easy to see their folly. But what about us? Are our jobs and homes and talents and bank accounts and relationships and whatever else is on our list, really ours? Or rather, like that vineyard, are these things simply given as gifts for us to steward?
Our culture says that our value comes from what we own. It’s ours (if not the bank’s). So it’s easy to get fixated on what we possess or who we know or what job we have. Jesus says no, this is just another form of idolatry, if not stealing. Whether you’re placed in a small corner store or a large corner office or a distant corner of the world, the bigger point is how you handle what you’ve been given. Given by God.
This parable reminds us that when The Boss returns, it will all be sorted out. In the meantime, we’re left with our instructions: to serve in our particular vineyard with dignity, for the broader community, and for God’s glory.
Respond
Loving Heavenly Father: Like any child, I like to clutch onto things and say “Mine!” But in my heart of hearts I know nothing is really mine, not even that heartbeat that is in my chest. It all comes from you. Thank you for giving me whatever I have. And help me to use it for you.
Thomas Froese
Thomas Froese is a storyteller and veteran journalist of 30 years. The Canadian author and columnist writes about news, travel and life, often from his experiences in the Arab World and Africa, where he lived for 15 years and where he still returns to teach literature. His work, which has garnered numerous honours, has appeared often in the Hamilton Spectator. Thomas also writes about fatherhood and family life. Find him at www.thomasfroese.com