The Wicked Tenants

In his own interpretation of the parable, Jesus openly says that the kingdom of heaven will be taken away from the people who reject the Son of God.

Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching, Vol.4 - The Parables of Jesus, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

This parable is found in Matthew (21: 33-46), Mark (12: 1-12), and Luke (20: 9-19). Metropolitan Hilarion focusses primarily of the version offered in Mattew.

In the parable, the householder sent his servants to receive the fruits of his vineyards from the husbandmen who were brought in to tend the vineyards. The husbandman beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then the householder sent servants again, even more than the first time; but these also were dealt with in a like manner.

Finally, he sent his son, believing that he would be respected by the husbandmen. But, instead, they saw this as a way to secure the inheritance by killing the lone heir.

What will the lord of the vineyard do to these men, the killers of his son? Those listening, the chief priests and the elders of the people, replied:

Matthew 21: 41 “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Jesus then interpreted this parable:

Matthew 21: 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

In modern parlance, this idea is called replacement theology. Metropolitan Hilarion sees it a different way, also offering that this is how the early patristics understood it as well:

1 Corinthians 10: 18(a) Observe Israel after the flesh

Galatians 6: 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

There is an Israel of the flesh, and there is an Israel of God. The Church is the New Israel, God’s Israel. This is an integral part of Jesus’s teaching in this parable. While not replacement theology, the result is the same.

The specific words spoken by Jesus about the kingdom being taken away are not in the other two versions of this parable – in Mark and Luke. However, in each of these two versions, those to whom Jesus was speaking realized that He was speaking of them.

In this parable, the main character (the householder) – or lord of the vineyard – has only one son. The vineyard represents the nation of Israel, as is often the case when a vineyard is used in teaching. For example:

Isaiah 5: 7(a) For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant.

This prophecy in Isaiah, just as the parable told by Jesus, speaks of punishment that awaits the chosen nation for its lack of faith. This connection could not have been lost on those to whom Jesus was speaking.

The parable gives a picture of the entire relationship between God and His chosen people. God sent prophet after prophet, and these were ignored or even killed. Finally, He sends His only Son; the same fate awaits Him.

As if Jesus’s point wasn’t clear enough, once this series of parables is complete, Jesus speaks directly to the scribes and Pharisees who have shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. In Matthew 23, He describes them as hypocrites, with statement after statement of their hypocrisies. He summarizes:

Matthew 23: 31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

Conclusion

…the judgement of those who do not believe is expressed in the fact that they will lose the vineyard, while the blessing upon those who believe is expressed in the fact that they become the new tenants of the vineyard.

Soon after telling this parable, Jesus pointed to the walls of the temple saying not one stone will remain upon another.

His opponents will see that their regime and their temple will be destroyed, while his kingdom will be established.