And He began to speak to them by parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a fence about it, and dug a wine-vat, and built a tower, and he let it out to vinedressers, and went away. And at the season he sent a servant to the vinedressers, so that he might receive from the vinedressers the fruit of the vineyard. And taking him, they beat him and sent him away empty. And again he sent to them another servant. And stoning that one, they struck him in the head, and sent him away, insulting him. And again he sent another. And they killed him, and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore, still having one son, his own beloved, he also sent him to them last of all, saying, They will respect my son. But those vinedressers said among themselves, This is the heir! Come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and will give the vineyard to others. And have you not read this scripture “The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner: 11 this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? And they sought to seize him, but feared the crowd. For they knew that He spoke the parable against them. And leaving Him, they went away. Mark 12:1-12 (Read Matthew 21:33-46)
This parable of Jesus was spoken as a warning to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The people of Israel were God’s planting, His vineyard. God had redeemed them and made them His own people. The chief priests, scribes and elders were like the wicked husbandmen in this parable. They were entrusted with the task of caring for God’s people by teaching them from the Word of God and leading them in worship.
But when God sent His servants, the prophets, to call the people to repentance and faith in their Messiah, the prophets and their message were rejected. Some were even mistreated and killed. God sent John the Baptist to prepare His people for the coming of the Messiah. John called upon all to repent and be baptized that they might receive forgiveness from the Lord, but the religious leaders of the Jews rejected John and his baptism (cf. Luke 7:29-30).
Finally, God sent His own beloved Son; but He and His Word were rejected of them too. Their Christ they handed over to Pilate to be crucified.
The religious leaders of the Jews were to be building the kingdom of God by rightly teaching the Word of God and preparing the people for the coming of their Messiah and Savior; but they laid aside and rejected the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ. Instead of pointing people to their Savior, they rejected and killed the very Son of God! Unless they repented, they faced eternal destruction and torment in hell for their rejection of Christ Jesus (cf. John 3:18,36; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). Because these leaders of God’s people rejected Christ, God put others in charge of His flock, faithful shepherds who would feed God’s flock with the pure Word of God (cf. Jer. 23:1-4).
Pastors today can take admonition from this parable of Jesus too! They are to faithfully proclaim the doctrine of the apostles and prophets – the true Word of God – and they are to faithfully hold up Christ and His redemptive work as the central teaching and cornerstone of the Christian faith. Christian congregations, too, must take great care to build upon Christ and His Word, lest they forsake the only true foundation and set aside the Chief Cornerstone, which is Christ their Savior.
Bring those into Thy fold who still to Thee are strangers; guard those who are within against offense and dangers. Press onward with Thy Word till pastor and his fold through faith in Thee, O Christ, Thy glory shall behold. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #485, Verse 7)