Luke 20:9-19

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

1. Creation was done by God. He made the garden to which we and all of life were planted

Genesis 1:9

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

2. God’s people have been planted and nourished by God, this would eventually be the fruit to which would be profitable

Psalm 80:8

8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.

3. The farmers or tenants were the Leaders in Israel whom did not want to pay the rent

Luke 14:28

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Planting a vineyard on a hillside has to be a long-term investment. Initially there would be considerable outlay and expense. God invested so much in these Old Testament people – his covenants and promises, the feasts, the sacrifices and the law code, but God has also invested so much in you. What God did was to put people under wise leaders and to give them many encouragements to do his will. So they had prophets, and they had the Scriptures; they had priests and Levites who taught them God’s way so that they were without excuse for sinful behaviour, and these leaders became the very people who opposed his word. They led the people astray. They were naive at the stoning of the prophets. They preached ‘Peace!’ when there was contempt and hostility against God. What was happening in Jerusalem when Jesus walked into the Temple? The chief priests and elders and scribes who taught in the synagogues, the very men responsible for the nurture of the fruit of faith in Israel, were plotting to destroy their Messiah. 

4. The messengers sent to them were the Prophets

Jeremiah 7:25-27

25 Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

26 Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.

27 Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.

5) The son that was sent is Jesus Christ

So what happens next? Does he send them all into exile? Does he send fire from heaven and treat them all like Sodom and Gomorrah? No. The Lord speaks and he says, “Let’s go to them, my Son. You will be my representative, as if I were going right to them. 

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6) In order to receive the inheritance of the Kingdom of God you must receive Jesus love for you!

John 3:18

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.