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Matthew 21:33-46 NIV
The Parable of the Tenants
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
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As Christmas approaches, most people are busy buying gifts. If the supply chain experiences problems, it can cause a lot of trouble. Sometimes, the church adds burdens to many people because of the need to prepare for celebrations. What does Christmas really bring? What does it have to do with us? This passage provides the answer. Although this parable may not be easy for Gentiles to understand, the important thing is that it was intended for the scribes and priests to understand, and indeed, they did (verse 45). The Lord Jesus wisely used the parable of Psalm 118:22 to explain this parable. The builders of the house are the tenants. The stone that was rejected is the only begotten Son who was killed. The cornerstone is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those sent to collect the fruit are the prophets. This parable reveals the attributes of the Lord Jesus: grace, patience, love, and judgment. It also reveals the hardness of the human heart. The Lord Jesus knew clearly that He was going to be betrayed, humiliated, killed, and crucified. He chose to obey; He did not doubt His identity or the mission from the Heavenly Father. He courageously chose to go to the cross. Those with hardened hearts and unbelief, like the scribes and priests, knew that the Lord Jesus came from God and was the only begotten Son with full divinity. Yet, instead of immediately repenting, they wanted to kill the Lord Jesus. They chose to remain in eternal death and cursed hell. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is the stone from heaven that will strike those who, despite having all the evidence, choose to reject Him and have hardened hearts. The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is great news for those who believe, but for those who reject it, it marks the beginning of tragedy. This parable also reveals God's promise to temporarily replace the mission of the Israelites. He will give the responsibility of making the world know that Jesus is the promised Messiah to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:12-13). But God will certainly fulfill His promise, and in the last days, the Israelites will also be saved by recognizing the Lord Jesus (Romans 10, 11). The best way to prepare for celebrating Christmas is to lead people to know the Lord Jesus. Aligning with the promises of the Lord Jesus is the best gift to God. He came to seek and save the lost. Working with Him is the best Christmas gift. Let us prepare to celebrate Christmas together! Share the good news with others!
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