The Parable of the Vineyard
Mark 12:1-12 :: He began to speak to them in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the winepress, built a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country. When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. They took him, beat him, and sent him away empty. Again, he sent another servant to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. Again he sent another; and they killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those farmers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' They took him, killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers, and will give the vineyard to others. Haven't you even read this Scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord, It is marvelous in our eyes'?" They tried to seize him, but they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable against them. They left him, and went away.
In this parable (also recorded in Matthew 21 and Luke 20), we have imagery of Yahweh, His people, His teachers, His prophets, and His Son. The landowner who planted the vineyard, set the hedge, dug the winepress, and built the watchtower, represents Yahweh the Father.
The tenant farmers that He lent the vineyard out to, represent Yahweh's people Israel, but specifically the leaders and teachers among the people of Israel. The leaders in Israel were to work the vineyard (the people of Israel), and produce fruit from the vineyard. You can see this by comparing Matthew 21:23 with Matthew 21:45. Once the chief priests and Pharisee elders heard this parable, they knew that he had spoken it about them, the leaders.
The servants that the landowner sent to the farmers (to collect the fruit) represent Yahweh's prophets (2 Kings 9:7; 17:13, 23; Jeremiah 7:25; 25:4). Each time the landowner would send one of His servants, the farmers would beat, wound, or even kill him. They would not receive the servants that were sent to collect the harvest.
After this we read that the landowner had one son, and this son is called his beloved. The landowner finally decided to send his only son to the tenant farmers. The landowner said, "They will reverence and respect my son." (Matthew 21:37; Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13) But what happened? The farmers killed the son, scheming among themselves, "This is the heir of the vineyard. Let's kill him so we can have his inheritance." They killed him and threw him out of the vineyard like trash. This beloved, only son represents Yeshua. Yeshua goes on to explain (Matthew 21:42; Psalm 118:22-23) that he is the chief stone of the corner that the builders (the chief priests and Pharisee elders) rejected. Yeshua is the stone that came from Yahweh.[1] Yahweh sent Yeshua, just like the parable depicted, but the "tenant farmers" did not receive him.
This parable is beautiful in showing that Yahweh has one beloved Son. It is true that the farmers that He leased the vineyard to (Israelites) were His children. It is also true that His servants, the prophets of Israel, could be called His children. However, none of these were like Yeshua. Yeshua is Yahweh's one and only Son. He is unique. He is special.
When the parable says that the landowner has one son, his beloved, it is echoing what Yahweh said about Yeshua at his baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration. Yeshua is Yahweh's beloved Son (John 3:35).
Yahweh loves Yeshua. They have a strong relationship as Father and Son. Yahweh gives all things into Yeshua's hand. We must believe this to have eternal life. We must believe that Yahweh is Yeshua's Father, and Yeshua is Yahweh's Son.
John 17:1-3 :: Yeshua said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua [the] Christ.
In this parable (also recorded in Matthew 21 and Luke 20), we have imagery of Yahweh, His people, His teachers, His prophets, and His Son. The landowner who planted the vineyard, set the hedge, dug the winepress, and built the watchtower, represents Yahweh the Father.
The tenant farmers that He lent the vineyard out to, represent Yahweh's people Israel, but specifically the leaders and teachers among the people of Israel. The leaders in Israel were to work the vineyard (the people of Israel), and produce fruit from the vineyard. You can see this by comparing Matthew 21:23 with Matthew 21:45. Once the chief priests and Pharisee elders heard this parable, they knew that he had spoken it about them, the leaders.
The servants that the landowner sent to the farmers (to collect the fruit) represent Yahweh's prophets (2 Kings 9:7; 17:13, 23; Jeremiah 7:25; 25:4). Each time the landowner would send one of His servants, the farmers would beat, wound, or even kill him. They would not receive the servants that were sent to collect the harvest.
After this we read that the landowner had one son, and this son is called his beloved. The landowner finally decided to send his only son to the tenant farmers. The landowner said, "They will reverence and respect my son." (Matthew 21:37; Mark 12:6; Luke 20:13) But what happened? The farmers killed the son, scheming among themselves, "This is the heir of the vineyard. Let's kill him so we can have his inheritance." They killed him and threw him out of the vineyard like trash. This beloved, only son represents Yeshua. Yeshua goes on to explain (Matthew 21:42; Psalm 118:22-23) that he is the chief stone of the corner that the builders (the chief priests and Pharisee elders) rejected. Yeshua is the stone that came from Yahweh.[1] Yahweh sent Yeshua, just like the parable depicted, but the "tenant farmers" did not receive him.
This parable is beautiful in showing that Yahweh has one beloved Son. It is true that the farmers that He leased the vineyard to (Israelites) were His children. It is also true that His servants, the prophets of Israel, could be called His children. However, none of these were like Yeshua. Yeshua is Yahweh's one and only Son. He is unique. He is special.
When the parable says that the landowner has one son, his beloved, it is echoing what Yahweh said about Yeshua at his baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration. Yeshua is Yahweh's beloved Son (John 3:35).
Yahweh loves Yeshua. They have a strong relationship as Father and Son. Yahweh gives all things into Yeshua's hand. We must believe this to have eternal life. We must believe that Yahweh is Yeshua's Father, and Yeshua is Yahweh's Son.
John 17:1-3 :: Yeshua said these things, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you; even as you gave him authority over all flesh, he will give eternal life to all whom you have given him. This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Yeshua [the] Christ.
End Notes
[1] The cornerstone was a stone at the base corner of a building. It connected two walls, holding them securely together. Everything was pulled square from that cornerstone, and everything was dependent upon that cornerstone. Yeshua, the Son of the Landowner (Yahweh), is the cornerstone, but the builders (the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisee elders) rejected the cornerstone. Matthew 21:42 says "this came from Yahweh" (quoting Psalm 118:23). Yahweh is the one who laid that stone, meaning Yahweh is the one who sent Yeshua, and more so than all of Yahweh's servants the prophets. Yahweh sent them too, and yes, they are part of the foundation, as even the apostles are (Ephesians 2:20), but Yeshua is the chief stone of the corner, coming directly from Yahweh. He is the stone that Daniel (2:34, 45) prophesies of, that comes off of the mountain without the hand of a man. We might say he is a "chip off the ol' block."