For today’s lesson Jesus turns to the type of agriculture called viticulture, in Luke 20 9-16. The farmer set out what seems to be a perfect vineyard, and then when going to a distant country for an extended time placed it in the care of others with the apparent understanding that he would receive a certain portion of the produce. At vintage time he sent servants to receive his portion of the harvest but the tenants instead mistreated, stoned, and according to Mark’s account even killed some of them. The farmer then sent his son expecting him to be respected however the wicked husbandmen desiring to usurp the vineyard plotted against him and killed him. When the owner came he terminated the contract and gave the vineyard into the hands of others. The song of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7 shows us that the vineyard is Israel whom God had chosen; then in Isaiah 44:1-2, He sent them all His “servants the prophets” but hey failed to incline their ear and listen, Jeremiah 35:15, often stoning and killing them Luke 13:34. Now God sent Jesus His Son but they plotted to kill Him failing to meet God’s desire, so He Himself would terminate the contract, placing the vineyard into the hands of others. The good news is that this “opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” Acts 14:27, and a new Nation was born, The Church, made up of both Jews and Gentiles creating “in Himself one new man from the two…” Ephesians 2:15. But there is a somber warning with this also; never assume that just because you are “loved by God (and) that he has chosen you” 1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV, that you can live to serve your carnal desires and the flesh, and continue to receive His blessings! “…if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either” Romans 11:21. Purpose to “glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” 1 Corinthians 6:20.
God’s viticulture
By Rose Hill
God desires many blessings to us to bring,
So about His love for us we can sing.
But because we are chosen of Him today,
Doesn’t mean we can walk in our own way.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.