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Parable of the Vineyard owner and the Wicked Employees.

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Matthew 21:33-41 Mark 12:1-9 Luke 20:9-16
33Hear another parable. There was a certain householder who planted a vineyard and hedged it round about, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and rented it to vinedressers, and went into a far country. 34And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers to receive its fruits. 35And the vinedressers took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did the same to them. 37But last of all he sent his son to them, saying, They will respect my son. 38But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and get hold of his inheritance. 39And taking him, they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40Therefore when the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? 41They said to Him, Bad men! He will miserably destroy them and will rent out his vineyard to other vinedressers who will give him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, this One has become the head of the corner; this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43Therefore I say to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing out its fruits. 44And he who falls on this Stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45And when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they knew that He spoke of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
MKJV
1And He began to speak to them by parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a fence about it, and dug a wine-vat, and built a tower, and he let it out to vinedressers, and went away. 2And at the season he sent a servant to the vinedressers, so that he might receive from the vinedressers the fruit of the vineyard. 3And taking him, they beat him and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent to them another servant. And stoning that one, they struck him in the head, and sent him away, insulting him. 5And again he sent another. And they killed him, and many others, beating some and killing some. 6Therefore, still having one son, his own beloved, he also sent him to them last of all, saying, They will respect my son. 7But those vinedressers said among themselves, This is the heir! Come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours. 8And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 9Therefore what will the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and will give the vineyard to others. 10And have you not read this scripture The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner: 11this was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 12And they sought to seize him, but feared the crowd. For they knew that He spoke the parable against them. And leaving Him, they went away.
MKJV
9And He began to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard and let it out to vinedressers. And he went into a far country for a long time. 10And in season he sent a servant to the vinedressers, so that they should give him the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty. 11And again he sent another servant. And they also beat him and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12And again he sent a third. And they also wounded him and cast him out. 13And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that they will respect him when they see him. 14But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir! Come, let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours. 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then shall the lord of the vineyard do to them? 16He shall come and destroy these vinedressers and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard this, they said, Let it not be! 17And He looked at them and said, What then is this which is written, "The Stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the Head of the corner? 18Whoever shall fall on that Stone shall be broken, but on whomever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 19And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on Him the same hour. And they feared the people, for they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.
MKJV
Insights
  • The parable is analogous with God letting man reside on earth, sending, in due time prophets (of the Old Testament), and the Jewish religious leaders killing them.
  • In all three Gospels, this parable was aimed against the Pharisees and the religious teachers of the day.
  • In all three gospel accounts, Jesus quotes the scripture; The Stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the Head of the corner? This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?.
  • Even though we may fall over this stone {Christ}, (to a physical state of brokenness), we will yet be usable to Christ. But if we reject Christ, the judgment of Christ will fall on us and we will be destined for damnation.