The Wicked Vine-dressers
Mike Johnson
The Bible indicates that Jesus taught a great deal by parables. He would take something the people were familiar with and compare it to a spiritual truth to educate them. In His parables, Jesus discussed such things as planting seeds, baking bread, finding a hidden treasure, going fishing, and losing sheep. He brought up everyday occurrences to instruct the people about the kingdom. The “Parable of the Wicked Husbandman” is a parable taught by Jesus in which He tries to get the people to see themselves. This parable is in three places in the Bible (Mt. 21:33-43, Mk. 12:1-12, Lk. 20:9-18). We will be looking primarily at Matthew’s account.
The Parable
Matthew 21:33 tells us, “. . . There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.” The verse shows that the landowner prepared the vineyard; he planted it and then put a hedge (wall- NASB) around it. Walls around vineyards were commonly made of thick thorn bushes, or the owner could construct them out of wood or stone. The householder then dug a wine press and built the tower. Towers were prevalent in the vineyards of that time.
In his commentary on Matthew, Albert Barnes points out, “In some Eastern countries at present, these towers are often 80 feet high and 30 feet square.” Finally, verse 33 points out that the landowner leased out his vineyard. The people who rented the vineyard would make their rent payment by giving the owner a portion of the fruit.
In verses 34-39, we read of problems that developed as the renters of the vineyard refused to pay the rent. The owner sent a servant to collect, and the renters beat him; he sent another whom they killed, and a third person sent was stoned. They treated others sent in the same way. Finally, the owner decided to send his son, thinking they would respect him. (Mark’s account indicates it was his only son, and he is referred to as “beloved.”) The owner thought he would be respected, but, instead, they killed him, thinking they could acquire the son’s inheritance.
Application
The symbols of this parable seem very clear. The landowner represents God; the vineyard can be paralleled to the privileges of the Jewish nation, while the vinedressers symbolize the Jews. The Jews were God’s chosen people but frequently rebelled against God. God sent the prophets to warn them, but they were often treated with contempt. For example, Jeremiah was stoned, Amos was murdered, and Isaiah was sawn asunder. Later, John was beheaded.
In the parable, the mistreatment of the servants represents the abuse directed toward the prophets of God throughout the years. Notably, the son sent to collect the rent symbolizes Christ. God lovingly sent His only Son to die for all. Christ, who was without sin and innocent, shed his blood for us. John 3:16 reveals, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Cross-Examination
After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the chief priests and elders a question. The question was, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They replied that the owner should destroy them and rent the vineyard to other vinedressers. Again, as in the Parable of the Two Sons, these people condemned themselves by their answer. Jesus addresses them further in verses 42-44. They realized that Jesus was rebuking them, but instead of repenting, sadly, they wanted to kill Him (45-46).
Many today hear the gospel message about God sending His Son to die for their sins and have a similar reaction. Instead of becoming Christians, they react with anger or indifference. Such people are acting like these unreasonable tenants.