Luke 20:1-26
One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” 3 He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me:4 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” 5 They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
9 He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10 When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12 And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Heaven forbid!” 17 But he looked at them and said, “What then does this text mean:
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” 19 When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.
The Question about Paying Taxes
20 So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”23 But he perceived their craftiness and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?” They said, “The emperor’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.
What Does the Passage say?
V. 1- 8 The Jewish leaders wanted to confront Jesus, in front of the crowd. They were afraid of losing control and fame. They ask Jesus what authority that was given to him. Instead of answering to this trick question, Jesus asks, ‘which authority did John the Baptist have?’ The Jewish leaders could not respond to this question, and backs off.
V. 9-18 Then Jesus tells the people a parable, targeting not only the Jewish leaders but also ourselves. He tells the story of how the tenants reject to pay the owner of the vineyard, the share of their harvest. They reject all servants, who are sent by the landlord. When the Lord sent his only son, they not only rejected him but also killed him. The Lord had no choice but to drive them out of the land.
V. 19-26 The Jewish leaders are trying to trick Jesus once more. They disguise as followers and ask Jesus questions, which will collide with the rule of the Roman Empire. Jesus, with much wisdom, answers in a way that leaves them with amazement.
What Does it Mean to Me/ Us?
In the parable of the vineyard, we have to remember that the tenants had a mission. They were to grow crops for the Lord, not for themselves. In the same way, we are here on earth for a mission. We are here to build the kingdom of God, not our own. However, we tend to think, living in this world is all about ourselves. We focus our entire attention on building our own kingdom, instead of God’s kingdom. Even as a pastor, if I am building my own kingdom, in the name of God, I am no different from the tenants.
God sends God’s prophets, God’s servants, to awaken us. However, many times, instead of listening to their cry and turning ourselves back to our purpose, we reject them. One thing the people of Ninevites did right was to repent to the call of Jonah.
The Lord sends his only son, but people reject him. Even though the rejection was needed for the sacrificial love to be fulfilled, we see the difference in how people respond to that love.
There are ones, who see the love of the Lord through the sacrifice, and continue to love the Lord and serve the kingdom. There are others, who are captured by the greed and illusion of building their own kingdom, and reject the love.
Which group describes us better?
Prayer
Lord, we are living in this world with a mission to build your Kingdom. However, so many times, we forget the reason why we are here. We consider our lives owned by ourselves, instead of being a tenant of your grace. Awaken us to see the truth and follow it. Be with us. In Christ name we pray, AMEN.
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