Today’s Gospel:  Matthew 21:33-43

REFLECTION
This parable, in all probability, was the most outstanding message spoken by Jesus. A parable has been defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning, but sometimes all the meanings of the story are not easily discerned. There is only one way to explain this parable of the wicked husbandmen. What the Lord inferred was so clear that even the chief priests and Pharisees “perceived that he spake of them.” Every listener that day knew that the vineyard was Israel. God, through His servant Isaiah had made this perfectly clear. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes” (Isa. 5:3–4). The scene described by Jesus was perfectly normal even to the plotting against the son of the owner. Economical unrest was evident throughout Palestine, and disgruntled workers were angry with people who exercised authority over them. It was common practice for absentee owners to make an agreement with workers by whom the vineyards were rented. The rent or payment was nationally recognized, and could be made in any of three ways. First, the husbandmen could pay in cash the amount upon which the owner and the men had mutually agreed. Secondly, they could give a percentage of the annual crop, whatever that might be. Finally, if the owner were willing, they could rent the vineyard in exchange for a fixed amount of fruit. The remuneration was given after the harvest. It was also customary for the absentee owner to send his representative to collect dues. The parable was easily understood by all who listened to Jesus.

The passage already quoted from Isaiah indicated that God’s vineyard was the work place for “the inhabitants of Jerusalem and for the men of Judah.” When the Pharisees recognized that Jesus had spoken against them, they were associating themselves with the people mentioned by the prophet. The work of God’s vineyard had been entrusted to them, and the subsequent details of the story made this fact increasingly clear. Their actions were likened to the deeds of their forefathers who had stoned and killed the messengers sent by God. The prophets had been “... stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword... ” (see Heb. 11:37). Yet, however abhorrent those deeds had been, they were no worse than the actions of the Pharisees who were daily rejecting the Savior. The husbandmen in the parable had disregarded the commands of the owner, and had worked in the vineyard only to enrich themselves. This indictment was very serious, for it inferred the rulers of the nation had become hypocrites.
Isaiah had asked, “What more could have been done to my vineyard?” Jesus said the owner had “hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower... ” (Matt. 21:33). The hedge represented safety - it denied entry to marauding animals and robbers. The winepress represented success, for in it, the grapes would have been pressed beneath the feet of the winepressers. It was generally two basins carved in stone, or built of stones. The juice ran from the higher elevation to the lower basin where it was easily collected. The tower provided a lookout point from which the property could be seen, and during storms or nights, provided shelter for the workmen. The owner of the vineyard had gone to great lengths to supply every comfort for his employees. Similarly, God had spared no expense in providing everything needed by His chosen race. He had redeemed them from the bondage of Egypt; had preserved them throughout many generations, and although other nations had tried to annihilate the Hebrews, God had preserved them in all kinds of ways. That they could turn away from such a generous Benefactor was unthinkable.

“Again, he sent other servants more than the first... But last of all he sent unto them his son.” Here we are able to obtain one of the best word pictures ever painted. The sending of God’s prophets had covered a period of thousands of years, during which His patience and mercy had been inexhaustible. At any period in history, God could have abandoned His people, leaving them to perish; but instead, He taught them through suffering, helped them in difficulties, and forgave them whenever they asked for help. The laws of Moses suggested an austere God; the teaching of Jesus was completely different. He described God as a Father waiting to welcome a returning prodigal. Nevertheless, it is hard to comprehend the scope of God’s love, for in spite of the treatment afforded to the prophets, God decided to send His own Son finally. We might ask, Why did He do this when He already knew the fate awaiting Him? Possibly even John had the same problem when he wrote: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.”

“The husbandmen... beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.... ” It is difficult to assess the complete number of prophets sent by God to Israel, but we do know of the 16 whose writings are included in the Bible. We must remember that these did not include Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and John the Baptist. There were also many lesser-known men whose fiery denunciations shattered the complacency of their listeners. Throughout the entire age of the Old Testament God, with unfailing regularity and faithfulness, did His utmost to turn Israel from their wicked ways. He made of them a great nation; He allowed their enemies to overwhelm the nation; He gave blessings; He withheld blessings; God tried every measure known to Him, and yet the people remained unresponsive. Finally, as a last desperate measure God sent His Son, but as we now know, even that amazing gesture had little effect upon those who rejected the message sent from heaven. Had Isaiah been present to express an opinion, once again he would have said, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done it?”

A skeptic once tried to discredit the Word of God by asking a very pointed question. He recited some of the sufferings of Christ and then sneeringly asked, “Where was God when His Son needed Him most? What father would permit a beloved son to suffer such anguish and not lift a finger to help him?” A person standing near answered, “I know where God was at that moment. He ‘was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself’” (2 Cor. 5:19). It has often been claimed that when a mother sees her suffering child, the pain in her heart exceeds the pain in her child’s body. When David in mourning for Absolam said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam. 18:33), his anguish of soul greatly exceeded any suffering endured when his son was hanging from the branch of a tree.

“When the Lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?... He will miserably destroy those wicked men... ” When the Pharisees answered the Lord’s question they condemned themselves. If there be any meaning in the Savior’s parable, there must of necessity be a day of judgment when justice will be administered to those who rejected and killed God’s Son. That the vineyard has already been taken away from its ancient custodians or workmen has become obvious. Israel, the nation through which God sent His word to the world, has already been superseded by the Church, which is now responsible for God’s efforts to reach a sinful world. There remains one other area in which this text is of vital significance. Every man must be the guardian of his own vineyard! God has permitted us to live, and has placed within human breasts the capacity to respond and serve Him. He has every right to expect us to be faithful to our obligations. His word reminds us of the relationship which should exist between our souls and His loving heart. If we spurn His message, and reject His advances, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26–27).

Today’s Reading:  Phil 4:6-9

PRAYER
Lord, we welcome the Son, not reject him.  We are thankful for your bountiful blessings and promise to honor and thank you through your Son.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.