Bible: King James version
Matthew Chapter 21, verses 33-46
Vineyard Parable:
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a wine-press 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 comes, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and 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 marvelous 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.
ANSWER KEY:
Householder: God, Vineyard: Religion[Judaism], Husbandmen: Pharisees, Servants: Prophets, Son: Jesus, Heir: Head of the Church[Judaism], Inheritance: The followers of Judaism, Cast Him out of vineyard: Denied Him and His roll in the Religion [As a result of the Pharisee’s treachery. The “vineyard,” will be let out to other husbandmen.][Reference:41], Other husbandmen: The Gentiles.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. [44] In other words: whosoever shall fall[kill] that stone[Jesus] shall be severed from the vineyard, religion; but on whomsoever, the stone[Jesus] shall fall[kill] on, they will be destroyed[lake of fire].
The Vineyard parable [using the answer key]
33 Hear another parable: [God, which created His Religion, Judaism], and hedged it round about [Protected it], and [dug] a wine-press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to [Pharisees], and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, He sent His [Prophets] to the [Pharisees], that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the [Pharisees] took His [Prophets], and beat one and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, He sent other [Prophets] more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all He sent unto them My son [Jesus], saying, They will reverence My son [Jesus]. 38 But when the [Pharisees] saw [Jesus], they said among themselves, This is the [Head of the Church]; come, let us kill Him, and let us seize on [The followers, of Judaism]. 39 And they caught Him, and [Denied Him and His roll in the Religion], and slew Him. 40 When the Lord therefore of the [Religion] comes, what will He do unto those [Pharisees]? 41 They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and let out [His Religion, Judaism, unto The Gentiles], 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 [Pharisees] rejected, the same [has become] the head of the corner [Head of the church]: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous 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.
Let’s reason together:
God didn’t give up His religion or His role in His religion because some people denied Him. He didn’t raise the white flag and give up His religion Judaism and start Christianity. The 1st testament foreshadowed the coming of Jesus [the Christ]. Jesus is the Savior of us all and the Head of His Church Judaism. The Roman Empire had no right to change the name of the Jews to Christians. This occurred somewhere between 300-400 years A.D. before the start of the Roman Catholic Church. The Rome Empire didn’t believe in Christ or follow Christ in any way when they made this decision. In fact, not too long after this decision, the Roman Empire began persecuting the followers of Christ.
During the reign of Claudius Caesar which was somewhere between 10-50 years after the death of Jesus Christ. The Romans began to call the Jews that believed in Jesus, “Christians,” [Acts 11:26]. After the death of Christ; His followers were known as Jews during the 10-50 years before the Romans changing the name. Paul was called a Christian by King Agrippa; in accordance with the Roman decree. But Paul didn’t use the term Christian to describe himself. Paul taught us that we are not Jews by flesh but by faith.
Ask yourself:
• Would you let someone who doesn’t believe in God define who you are and make up a name for your religion?
• What if it was the government?
• Would you stand by what your God called you to be?
• Would you bear that cross?
Isaiah Chapter 5 [a different parable regarding His vineyard]
Now will I sing to My well-beloved a song of My beloved touching His vineyard. My well-beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2 And He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between Me and My vineyard. 4 What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor dug; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant: and He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
In verses 1-4, God chose and placed His vineyard with the children of Israel, and protected them, and taught them. He placed the Ark and its Mercy Seat in the midst of them along with His Law. He watched over, and corrected them, that His vineyard would bring good grapes, obedient children. But it brought forth wild grapes, disobedient children. God gave them the instruction and correction they needed to be good, but they still chose to be disobedient. Verse 5, As a result, God is going to remove His protection, and troubles will follow. Verse 6, they will be lacking in His spiritual guidance. Verse 7, God is making it clear that He is referring to the children of Israel [the disobedient ones].
Remember:
Following after the flesh brings death, don’t do it to fit in, stand up for what God wants. God can turn any stone into a descendant of Abraham, the flesh is meaningless! Men’s theological degrees are worthless, burn them; If they were worth anything the mistaken identity of Jesus followers would have been fixed a long time ago. The Holy Ghost is our teacher and He is priceless, embrace Him. Obey God in all things.
