Luke 20:9-18

Applebury's Comments

The Parable of the Husbandmen
Scripture

Luke 20:9-18 And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time. 10 And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11 And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12 And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth. 13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him. 14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 15 And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16 He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17 But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written.

The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner?

18 Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

Comments

And he began to speak unto the people.He was teaching the people when the priests and elders interrupted Him with their question about His right to do these things. He silenced them by the question He asked and, according to Matthew, followed up His victory with the parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32). Then, according to Matthew, He introduced the parable of The Husbandmen by saying, Hear another parable, (Matthew 21:33). The parable was spoken to the people, but the scribes and priests also heard it and were aware of the fact that He was talking about them.

Vineyard. husbandmen.The vineyard represents God's people, Israel. The husbandmen are the leaderselders, priests, scribes. They were responsible for the harvestfruit of righteousness in the lives of the people.

And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant.The first was sent away empty; a second was beaten and shamefully treated and sent away empty also; a third was wounded and thrown out of the vineyard.

All this represents God's efforts throughout the years from the beginning of the kingdom at Sinai to the days of Jesus to get the leaders of the Jews to direct the people of the nation in the ways of righteousness.

I will send my beloved son.This is such a clear reference to Jesus the Son of God that comment is unnecessary. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and many others had tried to get the nation to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). John the Baptist had warned them of the necessity of producing the fruits of repentance. Then the Father sent His Son into the world, but they that were his own received him not (John 1:11; John 20:21; Galatians 4:4).

This is the heir; let us kill him.Jesus was aware of their murderous plot, and they knew it. But that didn-'t stop them for they were determined to destroy Him and take over completely. They were acting as if the vineyard was theirs and that Jesus was an intruder who was threatening their position and nation (John 11:48).

Jesus had foretold His death at the hands of the leaders of the Jews on several occasions. In this parable, He represents it as an accomplished fact. His question was, What therefore will the Lord of the vineyard do unto them?

He will come and destroy these husbandmen.The answer came from the people, since it is unlikely that the priests and scribes would give such an answer. According to Matthew, Jesus said, Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it (Matthew 21:43). So the vineyard represents the kingdom of God, the nation of Israel. Some assume that the nation to which it is to be given will be made up of Gentiles. But it will be composed of believers in Christ whether Jews or Gentiles (Ephesians 2:16; Galatians 3:26-28; Colossians 3:10-11). That nation is the spiritual kingdom of Christ, the church (Colossians 1:13).

Are we producing the fruits of it? See Colossians 1:6-12.

And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.Perhaps this was the reaction of the people to the whole story: God forbid that the beloved Son should be killed and that the deed lead to the destruction of the husbandmen. The whole senseless plot of the priests and scribes was abhorrent to the people. How strange that in a short time they could be led to cry out, Let Him be crucified, and become parties to this awful deed (Acts 2:23)!

What then is this that is written.The quotation is from Psalms 118:22-23. To those who were saying that this thing was too awful to be true, Jesus asked, What then is the meaning of this which is written in the Psalms? The builders rejected the stone that is made the head of the corner. See also Isaiah 28:16; Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7.

Everyone that falleth on that stone.Christ is that stone. To those who oppose Him, He is a stone in their pathway over which they stumble. When that Stone falls on them they will be pulverized and blown away like dust.