The Woman At The Well

“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper time.’ (Matt21:43)

This parable tells us much about Jesus and man.  Jesus, the landowner planted the vineyard (Israel), did all that was needed to make it produce good fruit (conversion), leased it to his tenants and went on a journey. The Pharisees recognized themselves in this parable, as Jesus intended.

On a deeper level, Jesus, the Creator, has given man all man needs to cultivate the earth, to produce a good harvest of souls-prophets, religious leaders.  God does not hover over the tenants; He has great patience.  He wants man to “till the soil,” to become the vines which entwine around other vines making a kingdom whereby God is honored.

By leasing the vineyard, one knows the time to produce fruit is limited-one day the landowner (God) will return to claim the fruits of his creation.  The relationship is landowner to servant.  Trusting man to cultivate the vineyard is God’s right and a servant’s duty.

Tilling the soil of the soul is hard work- the wine press reminds man that physical suffering is necessary.  Man sometimes regresses, he sleeps on the job, he gets weak; man gets angry at the landowner; he does not submit his will to the will of the landowner.  Man forgets the possibility of inheriting the vineyard, the kingdom; man forgets God is merciful; man does not remember every sinner has a future, a chance to change.

Vintage time arrives and the landowner sends agents to collect what the landowner is due.  As a landowner, he can expect his agents to be truthful, his tenants to be respectful and honest, open to receiving the truths of the landowner. 

Unfortunately, the tenants reject God’s agents; again the landowner sends others to collect the harvest due to him.  His patience is ignored.  Finally, the landowner’s son is sent; surely, “they will respect my son.” (Matt21:37) 

When God sends his son, the tenants bloody their hands; they become a mob, killing the son.   It was a deliberate act of rebellion and disobedience; it was sin.  “God sent his son not as bearer of a sentence of punishment against the guilty, but as the bearer of an offer of repentance.” (Pseudo- Chrysostom)

Does man feel no shame for what man did to Jesus Christ, the Son of God?  Does man think he is above God?  “Has man sunk so low, he is useless to God?”   (William Barclay)   Sorrow for man’s evil actions is necessary for repentance and none was shown.  Harsh judgment is inevitable.

Pharisees thought they were astute.  Jesus uses this parable to help them pass judgment on themselves.  The kingdom will pass on to others; the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed.   Justice will prevail.