Jesus was talking about them with this parable and they knew it. And yet, paradoxically, they did exactly what the bad men did in this parable.
The parable of the tenants is about a man who carefully builds a vineyard. Then he puts servants in charge while he is away. When harvest comes, he sends his servants to collect the fruit. But instead of welcoming the servant and honoring him, they beat him. The next servant comes and they struck him on the head. Another one they killed. Finally the man sends his only son, believing they will at the very least, honor him.
Nope. They kill him too.
It’s clear what this message is about. Jesus is talking about the Father who is the owner of this world. He sends the prophets to gather the fruit, but those who were supposed to welcome them rejected and killed them. Then the Father sent his Son, Jesus. But they would kill him as well.
So the owner came back, killed those who were evil, and put in charge others who would tend his garden. This is a picture of two things: Judgment in hell and also the Gentiles being given the vineyard, or them incuded into the covenant.
Then Jesus says this is the fulfillment of the Scripture.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (v. 11; cf Ps 118:22,23).
There are so many layers on instruction going on here. Keep in mind throughout that this is a parable. The Scriptures say this clearly. It is meant to teach. As such not every single detail of a parable is meant for something. Bu there are some definite big pictures here.
First, why did the farmers kill the servants of the master when the master sent his servants to collect the harvest? They were going to get paid. Was it greed alone?
For sure, there was greed involved. But there was more to it.
If we think back through the prophets, time and time again when God had to send them, it was because Israel had become so evil that he had to do something about it. When the prophets came, it was often a rebuke for their sin and a call to repentance. A message people didn’t want to hear then nor do they want it now.
It was the same here. Jesus’ first words were “repent, for the kingdom of God is near.” They didn’t want to hear the word repentance. They had convinced themselves that what they were doing wasn’t bad and somehow they managed to justify their sin.
Second, the vineyard is not ours to do with as we choose. God will indeed bless us but God is not our servants, we are his. We belong to him. He gets to do with his vineyard whatever he wants.
I think we often forget this and think that somehow it is God’s duty and obligation to serve us. It’s not. It’s our duty and obligation to serve him. He is not our servants. We are his.
Third, Jesus is clearly saying he is going to give the vineyard to “others.” This meant the Gentiles. And that infuriated the Jews. The promises and blessings were meant for them alone they believed.
Fourth, yes, it says he killed them. This is a warning of the eternal state. God is not vindictive. But they had done evil and were not repentant. They were to get their just judgment.
Jesus is saying that if there is not repentance, the religious leaders also would get their just judgment. That would be Hell and it would be bad.
Fifth, there is hope and redemption in this. Not so much for those who will kill the Son, but for the Scripture that speaks of the resurrection. The one they rejected (and killed) will become the captstone (the stone that holds it all together).
Not only that but it is a glorious work of the Lord and marvelous in our eyes. God’s plans will not be thwarted even by those who kill his Son. Their will be resurrection and new life.
It’s interesting when I read this in the book of Acts. A very similar message was preached in Acts 2. But look at he difference in response.
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
When they heard the message, and were basically told the same thing–you killed the Son, they asked what they needed to do. So Peter told them plainly. And that’s why they did. They repented. And turned to the LORD.
But here in Mark 12 we read the opposite response.
12 Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
They didn’t repent. They hardened their heart. And in doing so they fulfilled exactly what Jesus said would happen. They would kill the Son.
The message is still the same with us. The earth is the LORD’s. It doesn’t belong to us. He is not our servant, we are His. To do what he says. Not what we think is right.
And when Jesus comes to us to repent, we have two paths. We can repent and put our faith in him. Or we can harden our hearts just like they did here.
God will have his way regardless. Jesus did rise from the dead.
But what will happen with us is up to us.
It is based on how we respond to Jesus.
The choice is ours.