Mon.’s Devo - The Parable of the Vineyard

Read Luke 20:9-20 The Pharisees have just challenged Jesus’ authority so Jesus gives them a parable. It is of a man who planted a vineyard and hired husbandmen to work it while he went on an extended trip to a far away place. After a while, the owner sent a servant to get its fruit. The husbandmen beat the servant and refused to give him anything. The owner sent two more who received the same treatment. Finally, he decided to sent his beloved son for surely they will reverence him. When the husbandmen saw the son they plotted to kill him so that then they would be the owners. Jesus then asked them what they thought the owner would do? He answered himself that would destroy the husbandmen and give the vineyard to others. When the people heard it they were appalled. Then Jesus went on to say that the stone which the builders rejected had become the corner stone and if you rely on it, you will be broken in a good way, but if it falls on you, you will be completely destroyed. The chief priests and scribes perceived that he was referring to them so they decided it was time to secretly get rid of him for good. Back to the first parable: the owner is God and the vineyard is the Jewish people. The servants were the priests, judges and the prophets that God sent through the years to bring Israel back to him. Finally, God was sending his son to gather fruit from his vineyard - to see if there were any believing Jews. They, like the husbandmen in the parable would take Jesus and kill him. The ones who recognized Jesus as the Messiah would be the ones that the stone broke. The ones who killed him would be the ones that the stone ground to powder. Lord, help us to recognize you in whatever form you show up in today.