The Parable of the Vine-Growers | Mark 12:1–12
The chief priests, scribes, and elders have challenged Jesus
regarding His authority. He turns the challenge
back on them with this parable, the parable of the two sons (cf. Mt 21:28–32),
and the prophecy chief cornerstone. Here,
He depicts their stunning wickedness and contrasts it with the intentions of
God.
First, consider the patience of the landowner. Unlike some landowners, he provided them
everything they needed for the work and left them alone until harvest
time. When they violently refused to
pay, he tried again and again. His
patience might even be considered foolish, but he gives the farmers
every opportunity to make it right.
Second, consider the impenitence of the farmers. They escalate their violence, beating the
first slave, mortally wounding the second, and killing the third. They then contrive a plan to kill the
landowner’s son to take the vineyard. As
their commitment to sin grows, so does their rebellion and foolishness.
Third, consider the persistence of the Lord. Of course, the landowner represents the
longsuffering nature of the Father, continually granting space for
repentance. The leadership of Israel
should understand this, but even now, they’re plotting against Jesus. So, Jesus warns them God won’t only destroy
them and give the care of His vineyard to others (like the disciples), God will
lift up the slain Son to be the chief cornerstone of a new structure.
We don’t have to be scribes and priests to sometimes have
the same attitudes of the farmers. We
can resist the will of God—gathering false teachers unto ourselves while scoffing
at and despising God’s true servants in our hearts. We don’t have to engage in violence to have
murderous hate in our hearts—though, for some, their anger simmers just beneath
the surface.
May we all take heed.
Jesus says, “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces;
but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust” (Lk 20:18). If we find ourselves going against the
Cornerstone, we will be crushed—so may we repent of any sin and return to Him!
