by David Brenneman
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet." Matthew 21:33-46.
The arrogance of these Jewish leaders is incredible. Beginning back in even Zechariah's days and all throughout the quiet years between the Old and New Testaments the Pharisees and Sadducees were misleading the people to their own benefit.
A very good take away of this is tied to what Paul wrote about it.
"But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Romans 11:17-27.
Pride is a slow creeping disease.
Pride doesn't move in ways easily discernable in the moment. There are times when it strikes like a serpent, other times it takes generations.
To read of the Kings in the books of Chronicles you see a lot of pride.
In this day in Israel, Jesus spoke the parable, however it was the Father who revealed the true meaning to them. Understanding came from the Father towards the Disciples so it is consistent to think this is what happened here.
As Paul was writing...consider this ourselves. Not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Nobody in the Church has arrived either. Several on the mega-church front have given the world this impression.
Jesus on at least one occasion told the Jewish leaders to do the deeds of Abraham. They indeed proved they loved the darkness rather than the Light.
This world wants your mind set on your work of your hands. Wants your mind to dwell anywhere but in the Word of God. Wants your limited storage space in your mind to be packed with useless facts and information rather that what will grow you in Christ.
The Church is to be "a people, producing the fruit of it".
The Church should be producing fruit of the vine we were grafted into. He is the vine we are the branches. Jesus said in reference to this that apart from Jesus we can do nothing.
The very deeds done in our bodies for Christ Jesus are the only things that eternally matter. Another temptation of Satan is to get Believer's to devalue their contributions to the Kingdom of God. To devalue their time so as to cause disinterest among the body of Christ in growing in Christ.
To even do as the Pharisees and Sadducees did with creating things to do and believe that having absolutely nothing to do with growing in Christ. Causing stumbling blocks to those who do believe as well as keeping others from the saving knowledge of God in Christ. Just as these Jewish leaders did.
Believer's are under the careful watch of the enemy of God. The Scriptures say that he accuses the Brethren night and day. He brings accusations against YOU before Jesus. Yes Y O U.
Every single Believer has an important part of the Kingdom of God in Christ Jesus. We really do.
We were taught to pray "thy kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven". Well the kingdom of God was given to the Churches. As part of the body of Christ...we all have a part to fulfill.
We pray for the return of Jesus Christ. Satan's absolutely not wanting this and is doing everything in his power to delay it.
Those of the Church are either helping him or obeying God.
Looking at the lives of Nicodemus and others that same statement applied to the Jewish leaders.
Have you asked Jesus what He wants of you today? If indeed you are saved there is something for you to be doing. Might be great or something small. But inactivity isn't a part of the true Christ-follower.
Take time today to look at the motivation of your heart. Serving Jesus or serving you. Growing in the branches for which you are a part of or looking to be pruned for lack of engagement.
The Church needs to be the Church that the Father intended it to be.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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