David Bahn – Reflections

Jesus’parables illustrate faith and life in sometimes outrageous ways. Certainly that’s the case with this parable of the vineyard. We can perhaps understand people rebelling against their oppressive leaders in some cases. We’ve seen it recently in Egypt and Libya. But to beat a collection agent, kill a bill collector, and stone yet another: that’s the stuff of CSI or a murder mystery! People who live that way live in another world, right?

In reality there are those who beat bill collectors and some who murder them. In a foolish attempt to dodge the bill, or simply to free themselves from a difficult situation people will take drastic measures. People like that, however, go to jail. They don’t dodge the bill.

That is what is truly so outlandish about this parable. Those who have been put in charge of the vineyard not only beat, kill and stone those sent to collect the fruit rightfully due the owner, they actually draw an outrageous conclusion about what will happen if they kill the owner’s son. They think that somehow they will gain his inheritance! What were they thinking?!?

The same question might be asked us whenever we depart from the path of life for any reason. Although we may stumble because of weakness, surely we do not ever conclude that we may take a walk on the wild side without suffering grave consequences. If that’s not the case, this parable is for you. We must put to death any idea that we will find life in rebellion against God. We must remember that his is the kingdom, power and glory forever.

Thankfully, too, we must remember that when we come to our senses and repent of our failures – whether those be of weakness or will – we have a Savior. And the One who was killed has also been raised from the dead. The stone rejected by us in our madness, has become the chief corner stone. And his gift is life and salvation.

To think that God will not get his due is foolish. To reject God’s call to fruitful living is tragic. To repent and believe in Jesus is the gift of God.

Matthew 21:33-46

“Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. ³⁴When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. ³⁵ And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶ Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. ³⁷Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ ³⁹And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ⁴⁰ When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

⁴²Jesus said to them,  “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

⁴³Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. ⁴⁴And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

⁴⁵When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.