Wicked Tenants
Preaching
Preaching The Parables
Series III, Cycle A
1. Text
"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. [34] When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. [35] But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. [37] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [38] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' [39] So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. [40] Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" [41] They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." [42] Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? [43] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
Speaking to the temple leaders, Jesus tells the parable about the landowner who plants a vineyard, puts a fence around it, digs a wine press in it, and builds a watchtower. Then he leases it to tenants and goes to another country.
Second Point Of Action
At harvest he sends his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. The tenants seize his slaves. They beat one, kill another, and stone another.
Third Point Of Action
He sends other slaves, more than the first; and they treat them in the same way.
Fourth Point Of Action
Thinking they would respect his son, he sends him next. Figuring they could inherit the son's inheritance, the tenants kill him.
Fifth Point Of Action
Jesus asks the temple leaders what they think the owner of the vineyard will do to those tenants when he comes.
Sixth Point Of Action
They tell him the owner will "put those wretches to a miserable death," then lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.
Seventh Point Of Action
Jesus asks if they have never read from Psalm 118. "The stone that the builders rejected / has become the chief cornerstone. / This is the Lord's doing; / it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:22-23).
Eighth Point Of Action
Jesus says a "therefore." The kingdom of God will be taken away from the unproductive scribes and temple leaders and given to a people that produce the fruits of the kingdom.
3. Spadework
Cornerstone
What is this cornerstone? In our life, what are the two intersecting walls united by the cornerstone that becomes the origin of a building? Could these two walls be the given positive and negative dimensions within a person's life? Both are necessary, not that both are desirable but because they are a given reality of humanity. Part of the definition of being human is the juxtaposition of these two elements of human nature. The cornerstone of our faith has the capacity to balance bad with good, to introduce healing to degradation. The cornerstone is fundamental to hope. The cornerstone is the understructure, the requisite first building block of strength.
In the case of the wicked tenants, one message suggests that the whole structural wreck of such wicked persons still is able to be shored up to receive a new cornerstone. Even the life of the meanest person can be reworked once someone recognizes that person has possibility.
When Job quieted his desperate railing at God long enough for God to get in a word, God countered his tirade with God's own railing, the "Where were you when ..." verses of Job 38. Among them are the following: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding" (Job 38:4) and "On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?" (Job 38:6).
For Isaiah, the cornerstone that God laid in Zion is "a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 'One who trusts will not panic' " (Isaiah 28:16). Further, God "will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet" (Isaiah 28:17a).
Produce
To produce is to bring forth or yield, to bring into being by physical or mental effort. The Bible contains 66 references to "produce" plus four instances of "product." Production begins with God: "I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit" (Leviticus 26:4) and "All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the choice produce that they give to the Lord, I have given to you" (Numbers 18:12).
God promises blessing "in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate." (See Deuteronomy 16:15.) No absentee landlords here, the prophet Jeremiah suggests to the exiles that persons be present where they farm: "Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce" (Jeremiah 19:5).
Consider these Synoptic references to produce: "The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head" (Mark 4:28) and "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).
Until one follows the arrow of the metaphor, the equation of the absentee landowner with the absentee spirit of genuine caring among the temple elders, the parable does not seem fair. The landowner went through all the motions but was not himself productive. The landowner, who did everything right short of personal supervision to ensure a yield of produce, lost everything to the tenant, who produced according to the contract but had no conscience. Once again in parable, God surprises by recognizing possibility in the least likely candidate.
Fruits Of The Kingdom
"Fruit" occurs 149 times with "fruits" appearing 44 times. However, the term "fruits of the kingdom" is unique to this parable. The passage, "You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16), points to result. Nothing productive comes from empty words or mechanical action.
Rejected
In the present parable, Jesus quotes the Psalmist: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22). What is it about rejection? Jesus was rejected. People are rejected for the wrong reasons. They may also be rejected for the right reasons. "Reject" suggests wastebasketing and deleting, the discarding of someone or something as unsatisfactory, defective, or useless.
The Israelites who left Egypt rejected God (see Numbers 11:20) and the word of God (1 Samuel 15:26) and God rejected them (1 Samuel 15:26). See also 2 Kings 17:16 and 20, Psalm 78:59, and Jeremiah 7:29. God rejects the ungodly. (See Psalm 53:5.) Those who reject God "are going backward" (Jeremiah 15:6).
Jesus was rejected: "He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account" (Isaiah 53:3). In the present parable, Christ asks if the scribes and priests in the temple have never read that scripture. (See Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17.)
He then drew the correlation between that scripture and himself, saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22). See also Mark 8:31 and Luke 17:24-25.
Wretched Tenants
We see the crime and recognize our greedy selves in the wicked tenants. The point is not so much the crime but unproductivity versus productivity. Christ's stronghold on our capacity to change disallows hesitation. This is mercy of the highest order because Christ saw through and beyond what is despicable about the tenants to recognize that they had been faithful in the absence of the landowner. Apparently their faithfulness and subsequent productivity overrode their sinful nature.
At first, it may have been that in the absence of the landowner they were unwilling to yield the produce to the landowner's slaves who had been unproductive. By the time they had killed the next batch of slaves, they were beyond check. Worse yet, by the time the son appeared, mob psychology had taken over. Superceding any possible piece of righteous action, greed took command. Still, Christ focuses on giving the gifts of the kingdom of God to the productive ones, not wasting them on those who are unproductive.
4. Parallel Scripture
In Parables
All three parallels state at the beginning that this is a parable. "Listen to another parable" (Matthew 21:33); "Then he began to speak to them in parables" (Mark 12:1); and "He began to tell the people this parable" (Luke 20:9).
The Landowner
Matthew refers to the principal as "the landowner." The storytellers of Luke and Mark refer to him as "a man." (See Luke 20:9 and Mark 12:1.)
The action sequence in Matthew: planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and went to another country. (See v. 33.)
The Markan sequence includes planting a vineyard, putting a fence around it, digging a pit for the wine press, building a watchtower, leasing it to tenants, and going to another country. (See Mark 12:1.)
With only three points of action, the Lukan sequence is uncharacteristically terse for Luke: He planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and went to another country "for a long time." (See Luke 20:9.)
Harvest
Matthew says when harvest time had come, the landowner sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. He does not indicate how much the landowner intended to collect. (See v. 34.) Mark says he sent one slave to the tenants when the season came. The writer of Mark says the man intended "to collect his share of the produce." (See Mark 12:2.) Luke says he sent one slave when the season came. He sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him "his share of the produce." (See Luke 20:10.)
Action Of Tenants
Matthew says the tenants seized his slaves, beating one, killing another, and stoning another. They repeated this action when the landowner sent additional slaves. "Finally," the landowner sent "his son." He said, "They will respect my son." (See vv. 35-37.)
In Mark's version, the slaves were sent one at a time. The first was beaten and sent away empty-handed. The second was beaten over the head and insulted. They killed the third. They did this with many others until the man "finally" sent the one he had left, "still one other, a beloved son," whom he said they would respect. (See Mark 12:2-3.)
According to Luke, they beat and sent away empty-handed the first slave. The second they also beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. The third they wounded and threw out. In Luke's version, readers enter the landowner's mind as he asks "What shall I do?" and decides to send his "beloved son" thinking "perhaps" they will respect him. (See Luke 20:10-13.)
Son's Inheritance
In Matthew, the tenants say to themselves, "This is the heir; come let us kill him and get his inheritance" (v. 38). Mark does not say anything about their discussing the issue among themselves. He uses the same wording except that he says "and the inheritance will be ours" (Mark 12:7). Luke says they discussed it among themselves. His wording also is close to that of Matthew and Mark except for the omission of "come" and using "so that the inheritance may be ours." (See Luke 12:14.)
Son's Murder
In Matthew, they seize him and throw him out of the vineyard and then kill him. (See v. 39.) They seize and kill him, according to Mark, and then throw him out of the vineyard. (See Mark 12:8.) Luke omits seizing the son and says only that they "threw him out of the vineyard and killed him" (Luke 20:15).
Jesus' Commentary
In all three parallels, Jesus asks the hearers what the owner of the vineyard will do. In Matthew, he prefaces this with "Now when the owner of the vineyard comes." Matthew then says, "What will he do to those tenants?" (v. 40). Mark says, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do?" (Mark 12:9) while Luke adds "to them" (Luke 20:15).
In Matthew, the temple leaders respond that they would "put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at harvest time" (v. 41). According to Luke, Jesus' question was rhetorical as he answers, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Luke reports that when the temple people heard this, they said, " 'Heaven forbid!' " (Luke 20:16). Mark uses the same words except he says the tenants.
Psalm 118:22-23
Matthew quotes from this Psalm. The writer of Mark introduces the quoted scripture, saying "Have you not read this scripture" (Mark 12:10), whereas the writer of Matthew says "Have you never read in the scriptures" (v. 42). The writer of Luke also addresses the people in the temple but couches the passage within another question, "What then does this text mean?" (Luke 20:17).
Mark quotes only the first part of the passage: " 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;' " while Matthew finishes the sentence: " 'this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.' " Luke also quotes through "cornerstone" then adds the Isaiah 8:14-15 passage. (See Luke 20:17-18.)
In verse 44, beyond the assigned text, Matthew quotes the Isaiah verse. Matthew says "The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." Luke includes this Isaiah passage with the Psalm. Luke says "Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls" (Luke 20:18).
Later, in the first Epistle of Peter, the writer paraphrases slightly, saying the stone has become "the very head of the church" (1 Peter 2:7). The writer integrates this passage with the preface, "To you then who believe, [God] is precious; but for those who do not believe." He adds, "and 'A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.' " (See Isaiah 8:14-15.) The writer of 1 Peter explains, "They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do" (1 Peter 2:8).
Response Of Temple Leaders
Also later, Matthew comments. Matthew says "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized" (v. 45) while Mark says "When they realized" (Mark 12:12). Luke says "When the scribes and chief priests realized" (Luke 20:19).
Matthew says "that he was speaking about them" (v. 45). Mark and Luke say "that he had told this parable against them" (Mark 12:12 and Luke 20:19).
Matthew and Mark say "they wanted to arrest him" (v. 46 and Mark 12:12) while Luke says "they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour" (Luke 20:19).
Matthew says "but they feared the crowds because they regarded him as a prophet." Mark says "the crowd." Luke says "they feared the people."
Matthew ends, "When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away" (22:22). Mark ends, "So they left him and went away" (Mark 12:12). Luke concludes, "So they watched him and sent spies ..." (Luke 20:20).
5. Chat Room
Vineyard Owner: Well, I guess I should have stuck around to protect my interests. As a landowner, I had enough respect to feel comfortable leaving the country after making necessary preparations.
Tenant Farmer: We did the work, why should we not have the fruit? Who knew when he would return or if he would come back? He took everyone with him -- all his slaves, even his beloved son. He went to another country. He was gone a long time.
Vineyard Owner: I took care to protect my vineyard with a fence, a watchtower, and tenants I thought I could trust to tend the vineyard. How could I know for certain that everything would go well until I could return? I took the risk.
Town Gate Bystander: Certainly one who took as much care in preparing and protecting the vineyard would have screened prospective tenants with equal concern.
Vineyard Owner: The tenants knew me. When I left, I was respected. Surely if I were too old and vulnerable in their minds, my son was at his prime. They would respect him. I presumed that I had their respect. I learned that presumed respect is only conjecture. I can neither predict nor imagine how another person will act in my absence. I chose to act on trust. Here, that trust failed.
Tenant Farmer: Sure, we took responsibility for doing the work properly. At first we did it for him -- to honor the agreement. As the time passed and he did not return, we did it for ourselves. It was not something we talked about. Like killing the slaves, one by one, an understanding just developed among us. The vineyard had become ours. We had kept things going, nurtured and pruned the vines. He and his family did not deserve it. When they all came back, well, it just happened. So what?
Town Gate Bystander: What is the color of meanness? The color of pushing a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. The tenants had no conscience.
Vineyard Owner: At least they did not exercise conscience. Listening to what is right takes strength. To ignore it always and continually is a choice. Everything gets out of hand once greed takes over. The tenants pushed aside any scruple they might have had.
Town Gate Bystander: When you risk and treat others as you would want them to treat you but they do not, what does that do to you? Why did you not repay their meanness with your own? They killed your slaves. They killed your son.
Vineyard Owner: I could have easily killed them all. I would have been acting on my anger and my grief. An eye for an eye only perpetuates trouble. How one responds is a matter of choosing how one will live, what one uses as a guide.
Town Gate Bystander: Do you mean to say you would hire these tenants again?
Vineyard Owner: Look at the whole picture. They did their job. They took care of the vineyard. The goal was production of a harvest. Consider the time required to grow a productive vineyard. Fruit develops on two-year-old vines. These vines must be pruned severely and allowed to grow and produce before a harvest of sufficient proportion can yield support for all involved.
Town Gate Bystander: I identify easily with the temple people who want severe punishment for the wicked tenants. I am under so much pressure. Anyone who cheats me can cause quick activation of the dark side that wants to kill in rage. I keep thinking, how could your tenants possibly gain when they were such culprits? I keep responding, Christ, you have to be kidding. How can the stone that the builders rejected become the cornerstone? It was rejected. It was no good.
Vineyard Owner: God perceives things differently. God sees hope in people where most of us cannot. God is in the business of forgiveness and offering the second chance.
Town Gate Bystander: Then only that you are productive is what matters?
Vineyard Owner: When God recognizes what is valuable about you and you in turn become aware of that, your life will change regardless of your past.
Tenant Farmer: Can you imagine how I felt when my landowner returned both with a forgiving heart and an invitation to continue the lease?
Town Gate Bystander: I cannot imagine his doing that. I certainly cannot fathom giving you another chance. That would be sheer folly.
Tenant Farmer: The man recognized my faithfulness to the possibility of a productive vineyard. He knew the work it took. I cannot comprehend the magnitude of this man's heart. I thought he did not care about anything but his own interests when he did not come back for so long a time. I was wrong. Could it be that when God looks at us, rather than looking only at what is despicable, God starts with what is good?
Vineyard Owner: Could it be that God works through the very person of one whom others disapprove to set a cornerstone? This cornerstone is as firming to the integrity of a building as hope is to the shaping of a person's life.
"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. [34] When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. [35] But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. [36] Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. [37] Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' [38] But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' [39] So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. [40] Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" [41] They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." [42] Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? [43] Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom."
2. What's Happening?
First Point Of Action
Speaking to the temple leaders, Jesus tells the parable about the landowner who plants a vineyard, puts a fence around it, digs a wine press in it, and builds a watchtower. Then he leases it to tenants and goes to another country.
Second Point Of Action
At harvest he sends his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. The tenants seize his slaves. They beat one, kill another, and stone another.
Third Point Of Action
He sends other slaves, more than the first; and they treat them in the same way.
Fourth Point Of Action
Thinking they would respect his son, he sends him next. Figuring they could inherit the son's inheritance, the tenants kill him.
Fifth Point Of Action
Jesus asks the temple leaders what they think the owner of the vineyard will do to those tenants when he comes.
Sixth Point Of Action
They tell him the owner will "put those wretches to a miserable death," then lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.
Seventh Point Of Action
Jesus asks if they have never read from Psalm 118. "The stone that the builders rejected / has become the chief cornerstone. / This is the Lord's doing; / it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:22-23).
Eighth Point Of Action
Jesus says a "therefore." The kingdom of God will be taken away from the unproductive scribes and temple leaders and given to a people that produce the fruits of the kingdom.
3. Spadework
Cornerstone
What is this cornerstone? In our life, what are the two intersecting walls united by the cornerstone that becomes the origin of a building? Could these two walls be the given positive and negative dimensions within a person's life? Both are necessary, not that both are desirable but because they are a given reality of humanity. Part of the definition of being human is the juxtaposition of these two elements of human nature. The cornerstone of our faith has the capacity to balance bad with good, to introduce healing to degradation. The cornerstone is fundamental to hope. The cornerstone is the understructure, the requisite first building block of strength.
In the case of the wicked tenants, one message suggests that the whole structural wreck of such wicked persons still is able to be shored up to receive a new cornerstone. Even the life of the meanest person can be reworked once someone recognizes that person has possibility.
When Job quieted his desperate railing at God long enough for God to get in a word, God countered his tirade with God's own railing, the "Where were you when ..." verses of Job 38. Among them are the following: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding" (Job 38:4) and "On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone?" (Job 38:6).
For Isaiah, the cornerstone that God laid in Zion is "a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 'One who trusts will not panic' " (Isaiah 28:16). Further, God "will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet" (Isaiah 28:17a).
Produce
To produce is to bring forth or yield, to bring into being by physical or mental effort. The Bible contains 66 references to "produce" plus four instances of "product." Production begins with God: "I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit" (Leviticus 26:4) and "All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the choice produce that they give to the Lord, I have given to you" (Numbers 18:12).
God promises blessing "in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate." (See Deuteronomy 16:15.) No absentee landlords here, the prophet Jeremiah suggests to the exiles that persons be present where they farm: "Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce" (Jeremiah 19:5).
Consider these Synoptic references to produce: "The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head" (Mark 4:28) and "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks" (Luke 6:45).
Until one follows the arrow of the metaphor, the equation of the absentee landowner with the absentee spirit of genuine caring among the temple elders, the parable does not seem fair. The landowner went through all the motions but was not himself productive. The landowner, who did everything right short of personal supervision to ensure a yield of produce, lost everything to the tenant, who produced according to the contract but had no conscience. Once again in parable, God surprises by recognizing possibility in the least likely candidate.
Fruits Of The Kingdom
"Fruit" occurs 149 times with "fruits" appearing 44 times. However, the term "fruits of the kingdom" is unique to this parable. The passage, "You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:16), points to result. Nothing productive comes from empty words or mechanical action.
Rejected
In the present parable, Jesus quotes the Psalmist: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalm 118:22). What is it about rejection? Jesus was rejected. People are rejected for the wrong reasons. They may also be rejected for the right reasons. "Reject" suggests wastebasketing and deleting, the discarding of someone or something as unsatisfactory, defective, or useless.
The Israelites who left Egypt rejected God (see Numbers 11:20) and the word of God (1 Samuel 15:26) and God rejected them (1 Samuel 15:26). See also 2 Kings 17:16 and 20, Psalm 78:59, and Jeremiah 7:29. God rejects the ungodly. (See Psalm 53:5.) Those who reject God "are going backward" (Jeremiah 15:6).
Jesus was rejected: "He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account" (Isaiah 53:3). In the present parable, Christ asks if the scribes and priests in the temple have never read that scripture. (See Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17.)
He then drew the correlation between that scripture and himself, saying, "The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised" (Luke 9:22). See also Mark 8:31 and Luke 17:24-25.
Wretched Tenants
We see the crime and recognize our greedy selves in the wicked tenants. The point is not so much the crime but unproductivity versus productivity. Christ's stronghold on our capacity to change disallows hesitation. This is mercy of the highest order because Christ saw through and beyond what is despicable about the tenants to recognize that they had been faithful in the absence of the landowner. Apparently their faithfulness and subsequent productivity overrode their sinful nature.
At first, it may have been that in the absence of the landowner they were unwilling to yield the produce to the landowner's slaves who had been unproductive. By the time they had killed the next batch of slaves, they were beyond check. Worse yet, by the time the son appeared, mob psychology had taken over. Superceding any possible piece of righteous action, greed took command. Still, Christ focuses on giving the gifts of the kingdom of God to the productive ones, not wasting them on those who are unproductive.
4. Parallel Scripture
In Parables
All three parallels state at the beginning that this is a parable. "Listen to another parable" (Matthew 21:33); "Then he began to speak to them in parables" (Mark 12:1); and "He began to tell the people this parable" (Luke 20:9).
The Landowner
Matthew refers to the principal as "the landowner." The storytellers of Luke and Mark refer to him as "a man." (See Luke 20:9 and Mark 12:1.)
The action sequence in Matthew: planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants, and went to another country. (See v. 33.)
The Markan sequence includes planting a vineyard, putting a fence around it, digging a pit for the wine press, building a watchtower, leasing it to tenants, and going to another country. (See Mark 12:1.)
With only three points of action, the Lukan sequence is uncharacteristically terse for Luke: He planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and went to another country "for a long time." (See Luke 20:9.)
Harvest
Matthew says when harvest time had come, the landowner sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. He does not indicate how much the landowner intended to collect. (See v. 34.) Mark says he sent one slave to the tenants when the season came. The writer of Mark says the man intended "to collect his share of the produce." (See Mark 12:2.) Luke says he sent one slave when the season came. He sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him "his share of the produce." (See Luke 20:10.)
Action Of Tenants
Matthew says the tenants seized his slaves, beating one, killing another, and stoning another. They repeated this action when the landowner sent additional slaves. "Finally," the landowner sent "his son." He said, "They will respect my son." (See vv. 35-37.)
In Mark's version, the slaves were sent one at a time. The first was beaten and sent away empty-handed. The second was beaten over the head and insulted. They killed the third. They did this with many others until the man "finally" sent the one he had left, "still one other, a beloved son," whom he said they would respect. (See Mark 12:2-3.)
According to Luke, they beat and sent away empty-handed the first slave. The second they also beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. The third they wounded and threw out. In Luke's version, readers enter the landowner's mind as he asks "What shall I do?" and decides to send his "beloved son" thinking "perhaps" they will respect him. (See Luke 20:10-13.)
Son's Inheritance
In Matthew, the tenants say to themselves, "This is the heir; come let us kill him and get his inheritance" (v. 38). Mark does not say anything about their discussing the issue among themselves. He uses the same wording except that he says "and the inheritance will be ours" (Mark 12:7). Luke says they discussed it among themselves. His wording also is close to that of Matthew and Mark except for the omission of "come" and using "so that the inheritance may be ours." (See Luke 12:14.)
Son's Murder
In Matthew, they seize him and throw him out of the vineyard and then kill him. (See v. 39.) They seize and kill him, according to Mark, and then throw him out of the vineyard. (See Mark 12:8.) Luke omits seizing the son and says only that they "threw him out of the vineyard and killed him" (Luke 20:15).
Jesus' Commentary
In all three parallels, Jesus asks the hearers what the owner of the vineyard will do. In Matthew, he prefaces this with "Now when the owner of the vineyard comes." Matthew then says, "What will he do to those tenants?" (v. 40). Mark says, "What then will the owner of the vineyard do?" (Mark 12:9) while Luke adds "to them" (Luke 20:15).
In Matthew, the temple leaders respond that they would "put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at harvest time" (v. 41). According to Luke, Jesus' question was rhetorical as he answers, "He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others." Luke reports that when the temple people heard this, they said, " 'Heaven forbid!' " (Luke 20:16). Mark uses the same words except he says the tenants.
Psalm 118:22-23
Matthew quotes from this Psalm. The writer of Mark introduces the quoted scripture, saying "Have you not read this scripture" (Mark 12:10), whereas the writer of Matthew says "Have you never read in the scriptures" (v. 42). The writer of Luke also addresses the people in the temple but couches the passage within another question, "What then does this text mean?" (Luke 20:17).
Mark quotes only the first part of the passage: " 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;' " while Matthew finishes the sentence: " 'this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes.' " Luke also quotes through "cornerstone" then adds the Isaiah 8:14-15 passage. (See Luke 20:17-18.)
In verse 44, beyond the assigned text, Matthew quotes the Isaiah verse. Matthew says "The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." Luke includes this Isaiah passage with the Psalm. Luke says "Anyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls" (Luke 20:18).
Later, in the first Epistle of Peter, the writer paraphrases slightly, saying the stone has become "the very head of the church" (1 Peter 2:7). The writer integrates this passage with the preface, "To you then who believe, [God] is precious; but for those who do not believe." He adds, "and 'A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.' " (See Isaiah 8:14-15.) The writer of 1 Peter explains, "They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do" (1 Peter 2:8).
Response Of Temple Leaders
Also later, Matthew comments. Matthew says "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized" (v. 45) while Mark says "When they realized" (Mark 12:12). Luke says "When the scribes and chief priests realized" (Luke 20:19).
Matthew says "that he was speaking about them" (v. 45). Mark and Luke say "that he had told this parable against them" (Mark 12:12 and Luke 20:19).
Matthew and Mark say "they wanted to arrest him" (v. 46 and Mark 12:12) while Luke says "they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour" (Luke 20:19).
Matthew says "but they feared the crowds because they regarded him as a prophet." Mark says "the crowd." Luke says "they feared the people."
Matthew ends, "When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away" (22:22). Mark ends, "So they left him and went away" (Mark 12:12). Luke concludes, "So they watched him and sent spies ..." (Luke 20:20).
5. Chat Room
Vineyard Owner: Well, I guess I should have stuck around to protect my interests. As a landowner, I had enough respect to feel comfortable leaving the country after making necessary preparations.
Tenant Farmer: We did the work, why should we not have the fruit? Who knew when he would return or if he would come back? He took everyone with him -- all his slaves, even his beloved son. He went to another country. He was gone a long time.
Vineyard Owner: I took care to protect my vineyard with a fence, a watchtower, and tenants I thought I could trust to tend the vineyard. How could I know for certain that everything would go well until I could return? I took the risk.
Town Gate Bystander: Certainly one who took as much care in preparing and protecting the vineyard would have screened prospective tenants with equal concern.
Vineyard Owner: The tenants knew me. When I left, I was respected. Surely if I were too old and vulnerable in their minds, my son was at his prime. They would respect him. I presumed that I had their respect. I learned that presumed respect is only conjecture. I can neither predict nor imagine how another person will act in my absence. I chose to act on trust. Here, that trust failed.
Tenant Farmer: Sure, we took responsibility for doing the work properly. At first we did it for him -- to honor the agreement. As the time passed and he did not return, we did it for ourselves. It was not something we talked about. Like killing the slaves, one by one, an understanding just developed among us. The vineyard had become ours. We had kept things going, nurtured and pruned the vines. He and his family did not deserve it. When they all came back, well, it just happened. So what?
Town Gate Bystander: What is the color of meanness? The color of pushing a crown of thorns on Jesus' head. The tenants had no conscience.
Vineyard Owner: At least they did not exercise conscience. Listening to what is right takes strength. To ignore it always and continually is a choice. Everything gets out of hand once greed takes over. The tenants pushed aside any scruple they might have had.
Town Gate Bystander: When you risk and treat others as you would want them to treat you but they do not, what does that do to you? Why did you not repay their meanness with your own? They killed your slaves. They killed your son.
Vineyard Owner: I could have easily killed them all. I would have been acting on my anger and my grief. An eye for an eye only perpetuates trouble. How one responds is a matter of choosing how one will live, what one uses as a guide.
Town Gate Bystander: Do you mean to say you would hire these tenants again?
Vineyard Owner: Look at the whole picture. They did their job. They took care of the vineyard. The goal was production of a harvest. Consider the time required to grow a productive vineyard. Fruit develops on two-year-old vines. These vines must be pruned severely and allowed to grow and produce before a harvest of sufficient proportion can yield support for all involved.
Town Gate Bystander: I identify easily with the temple people who want severe punishment for the wicked tenants. I am under so much pressure. Anyone who cheats me can cause quick activation of the dark side that wants to kill in rage. I keep thinking, how could your tenants possibly gain when they were such culprits? I keep responding, Christ, you have to be kidding. How can the stone that the builders rejected become the cornerstone? It was rejected. It was no good.
Vineyard Owner: God perceives things differently. God sees hope in people where most of us cannot. God is in the business of forgiveness and offering the second chance.
Town Gate Bystander: Then only that you are productive is what matters?
Vineyard Owner: When God recognizes what is valuable about you and you in turn become aware of that, your life will change regardless of your past.
Tenant Farmer: Can you imagine how I felt when my landowner returned both with a forgiving heart and an invitation to continue the lease?
Town Gate Bystander: I cannot imagine his doing that. I certainly cannot fathom giving you another chance. That would be sheer folly.
Tenant Farmer: The man recognized my faithfulness to the possibility of a productive vineyard. He knew the work it took. I cannot comprehend the magnitude of this man's heart. I thought he did not care about anything but his own interests when he did not come back for so long a time. I was wrong. Could it be that when God looks at us, rather than looking only at what is despicable, God starts with what is good?
Vineyard Owner: Could it be that God works through the very person of one whom others disapprove to set a cornerstone? This cornerstone is as firming to the integrity of a building as hope is to the shaping of a person's life.
