The Parable of the Tenants
Jesus tells this parable as a direct answer to the questions the Jewish religious leaders are asking themselves at the end of the last scene (Luke 20:5-8); specifically, the question of Jesus’ authority? If they had any doubts that he was calling himself God, those doubts were all erased with this tale. It is quite clear by their reaction at the end of the scene that Jesus would not have to explain this one; yeah, they “got it!” (Luke 20:19).
In the parable, the land owner is God, the tenants farmers represent Israel (specifically, the religious leaders of Israel) and the messengers were the prophets of the Old Testament. Moreover, the most important figure in the story is the vineyard owner’s son: symbolic of Jesus himself.
In the OT God is often portrayed as the vineyard owner of Israel (e.g., Psalm 80:8-13; Hosea 10:1), and the prophets were rejected and even killed in many ways by the Jewish people (e.g., Jeremiah 26:7-11; 2 Chronicles 24:21). But what is new, is the Vineyard owner’s son. And the implication was not lost on the hearers, the answer to their question of Jesus’ authority (Luke 20:1-2) is the “son figure” in the parable, he was Jesus. Jesus is clearly making the assertion that he is God. And they didn’t miss the connection, or the point.
He (Jesus) was sent by God and was acting on the Father’s authority, and their rejection of him is a rejection of God.
Unfortunately we will not have the time to finish our blogging journey through Luke’s gospel. This parable is a fitting conclusion to our collaborative study in the Theophilus blog. This poignant parable is a vivid reminder of Luke’s consistent message to Theophilus: that Jesus is God and he has come into the world to “seek and to save” (Luke 19:10).
There are so many application directions this could go, but I’ll finish with this one for all of us: don’t be like these religious leaders, don’t reject the work of God, get on board with what God is doing and figure out where you can contribute. Theophilus needed to hear this, as do we.
Thus, we should heed the reminder that Wright gives us in “Luke for Everyone”: we must declare by our life and words, that this way “has already triumphed in Jesus, that the renewed vineyard is bearing fruit, that the new Temple is being built, with the cornerstone already in place” (239).
You picked up the idea that I like videos (I love using YouTube), well this video by my friend Andrew Peterson is an excellent reminder of the awesome message Theophilus, and we, are entrusted with, "believe it and proclaim it":
(Andrew is an incredibly gifted singer and song writer; I encourage you to check out his work at: Andrew Peterson.)
Blessings
Bill H
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing the great song and application. It a good lesson to think about at Christmas that God in the flesh does demand something of us. Belief and action.
Post a Comment