The Parables of Jesus

The Parable of the Evil Farmers

Matthew 21:33-45 ^NLT

Matthew 21:33

“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower.”

            This parable is the 2^nd of 3 speaking out against the tyrannical religious leaders of the day.  The main characters in the parable were the landowner, the vineyard itself, the tenant farmers, the servants of the landowner, the son, and the other tenants. The tenant farmers were the Jewish religious leaders. The servants of the landowner were the prophets and priests who remained loyal to God, preaching his word to Israel. Just as the tenant farmers murdered the servants to came to collect the landowners share of the crops, so the religious leaders had the faithful prophets and priests murdered. Anyone and anything that they saw as a threat to their rule of the people had to be eliminated. Just as the tenant farmers murdered the landowner’s son, so the religious leaders of the day had God’s Son, Jesus, murdered. Since Pilate washed his hands (literally) of the blood of Jesus, this put the responsibility of his death squarely on the religious leaders. This responsibility they gladly took not realizing that Jesus truly was the awaited Messiah, a blight that would bring punishment to them for generations to come.

            Since the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus and had him put to death, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah, this opened the door to the gentiles, or non-Jews. The Pharisees & Sadducees error in judgment blessed all of creation, in that not only was Israel God’s chosen children, but all non-Jews in his creation could now avail themselves to the redemptive work of Christ. 

The telling sign that the religious leaders knew Jesus was speaking against them in this parable was found in verse 45 when it says: “When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.” They were the blind leading the blind. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In his name & for his glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: Life Application Study Bible.