Matthew chapter 21 contains a parable Jesus told. Now, some parables are intended to conceal the truth from certain groups while revealing it to others. But too often, we go into a parable thinking it’s meant for someone else, only to realize it was actually for us. This particular parable is a little different though. In this case, the intent of the parable is to reveal judgment to the religious leaders of the day, including the scribes, Pharisees, elders, chief priests, and pastors, who were the guiding religious forces—and enforcers—of the time.
The purpose of Jesus, however, was to teach, instruct, and draw people closer to God’s throne. The conflict came because religious leaders such as the Pharisees were causing confusion and division among the people and pushing them further away from God. So, Jesus took every opportunity to address the issue. In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus was interacting with the Pharisees in the temple. He started by chasing out the money changers and driving out those who were using God’s house to benefit themselves. Then, he taught the truth and healed people. However, the religious leaders didn’t like it because Jesus was taking away their limelight and position of authority. Jesus brought the focus back on God the Father and the Holy Spirit, where it always should have been.
In the temple, the religious leaders approached Jesus and questioned him about the authority he had to do these things. Essentially, they were asking, “Who do you think you are?” Instead of answering them directly, Jesus told them a parable about two sons.
The Parable of the Two Sons
A father asked his two sons to go out into the vineyard to work. The first son initially said no, but later decided to do the work that his father asked him to do in the vineyard. The second son immediately said he would do it, but never made his way to the vineyard to actually do the work. Then Jesus asked a simple question to the elders: “Which of these sons obeyed the will of his father?” The answer was clear—the one who actually did the will of his father. The Pharisees thought they were doing well, but Jesus was walking them through a scenario that would reveal the corruption in their own hearts. He wanted the Pharisees to see that they are the sons who always say yes, but never do what they’re supposed to do.
The Parable of the Tenants
After this, Jesus tells a second parable in Matthew 21:33–46. Because they clearly did not grasp the meaning of the first parable, he tried again by sharing another parable. This parable Jesus told was about a landowner who bought a plot of land with the intention of planting a vineyard. He put up a wall, dug a hole for a wine press, and built a tower for security. The landowner hired tenants to work the land and produce fruit. When the harvest came, the landowner sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. Unfortunately, the tenants mistreated and killed the servants. Upon hearing of this, the landowner showed extreme patience and sent more servants, who were also mistreated and killed. Finally, the landowner sent his beloved son, thinking the tenants would respect him. But they killed him instead, thinking they would get the inheritance themselves. The wicked tenants represented the Pharisees, who were failing to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God.
During this time, Jesus also asked a question to the leaders, Pharisees, and scribes listening. He asked what they thought the landowner should do with the wicked tenants who didn’t listen to him, killed his servants, and then his son. The Pharisees answered that the landowner should give the land to new renters who will pay him the proceeds at the proper season and do to the wicked tenants as they deserve. However, they did not realize that they were condemning themselves with their answer because that is exactly what God would do to them as wicked tenants of God’s vineyard, which is Israel. Jesus quoted Psalms 118:22-23 which says that the stone the builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. He also said the kingdom of God should be taken away from them and given to the people eager to produce good fruit. This refers to the gospel being sent to the Gentiles and not just the nation of Israel. The parable ends with the chief priests getting upset at Jesus for making an example out of them in front of the people, and they start thinking of ways to seize and kill him. Despite this, the people already saw Jesus as a great teacher and a prophet, so they couldn’t do anything to him.
Religion Does Not Replace Relationship
There is an important application we can draw from this parable: being busy with religious activities and having a heritage of faith do not make you personally righteous. True righteousness only comes from knowing Christ and it results in faithfulness. In this parable, God is the landowner, and the servants are the prophets in the Old Testament who the leaders of Israel did not listen to. The Pharisees and elders represent the wicked tenants who were not good stewards of God’s vineyard, which, in this context, refers to the nation of Israel. Although you may not have the same responsibility as the Pharisees, you’re where God has placed you with things you’re responsible for, so there’s still an application to be drawn from this parable.
A Warning Against Legalism
The Pharisees and elders, the religious leaders of Jesus’s day, missed the heart of the gospel and turned it into a legalistic set of rules designed to earn you a place in heaven. Many people under their leadership exchanged true faith in the Gospel and a relationship with God for religion and legalism. The Pharisees had great zeal for their nation, but it became misguided and oppressive.
Many religious leaders, then and now, are blind to the truth of the gospel. They ignore God’s messengers and end up worshiping false idols and seizing the land of God for themselves. However, God always restores order to His kingdom when it goes astray—because it is Hiskingdom. He reigns over His land in heaven and on Earth, and He reigns through His people. If His people choose not to follow His way, He will find other people to produce fruit for His glory. The Pharisees and the chief priests were ultimately destroyed by the very foundation that should have provided stability under their feet, as seen at the end of this parable.
How Does the Parable of the Tenants Apply to Us?
The people in this parable were crushed by the stone of Christ, which was supposed to hold their lives together. Although this application is for them, there are three observations that also apply to us today.
First, we should not mistake religious busyness or faith heritage for righteous faithfulness. Although the Pharisees were zealous and worked hard to provide for and protect their people, they created a system of beliefs that was made up, their own, and not required by God. They became convinced that Israel was their people and their land, and tried to seize control. This is false and still exists today in a corrupt, legalistic system of Judaism. They believed they could be good enough to earn righteousness and that their faith heritage would give them a special position or provision from God. However, the law was given to us to show our imperfections and our need for a savior. They missed the savior, even though he was standing before them, and if we do the same, we will be cast into outer darkness.
Secondly, the Bible says all our good deeds and self-righteousness are like filthy rags before God. We have a Savior who bought and paid for us with His blood on the cross, who redeems us and gives us righteousness through repentance and faith. Our own righteousness is not enough, since it’s stained by sin. Only Christ can stand with us before God and give us the righteousness He deserves.
Lastly, we need to understand that Christ is the only way to salvation. We cannot sneak into heaven because our parents or grandparents were Christians. We need to personally repent and profess faith in Jesus Christ, who was buried and resurrected from the dead. The Pharisees missed this essential point. So despite generations of sacrifice and service, they were told, “away from me, I never knew you.” If Christ is not your Savior and Lord, the same fate awaits you.
Jesus is the Cornerstone of Our Faith
Believing in Jesus grants you His righteousness and allows you entry into heaven. And producing good fruit results from the expression of your love for Him. The fruit that flows from the foundation is illustrated in two ways:
- Agriculturally, by fruit being produced from a vine through the branches.
- A house’s foundation, which, if built correctly, will prevent the house from falling.
Jesus brings these illustrations together to emphasize that, without him as the foundation, the fruit produced will be full of greed and pride—in other words, rotten. Instead, Jesus must be the cornerstone of your faith, with two different types of stones—the keystone and the capstone—illustrating His importance. The keystone is placed first in a building’s foundation, while the capstone holds archways together. Jesus is both the foundation upon which you are built and the capstone that holds you together.
The judgment for the Pharisees is that they will trip and fall on the cornerstone that should be their foundation and be crushed. The capstone that should have held them together through faith in Christ will fall on them and grind them to dust. The Pharisees missed this. Yet the warning for us is the same. Remember this equation: Jesus plus nothing equals everything. The Pharisees wanted to add things like the law, Sabbath, and special days, but it wasn’t necessary. You can live a whole life of religious activity, but apart from Christ, it will mean nothing. Good fruit comes from having Jesus as the foundation and capstone of your life.
Do Not Let Greed Take Hold of Your Heart
Greed is a real struggle that can blind you to the truth and cause you to take more than what is rightfully yours. Greed can cause you to ignore the wisdom of others and God’s Word. It can lead to the belief that all you’ve earned in life has been by your own ability. However, everything ever earned monetarily and every position of power ever held was given by God, and you are just stewards of it. Greed tells people to chase things for satisfaction and joy, but it does the opposite, leaving you discontent and wanting more.
Greed is the lie that says you need more money all the time, causing you to work long hours and neglect the most important things in your life, such as family and faith. This is not worth it! Greed will leave you empty-handed and lead to moral failure, which is a current epidemic in the ministry. Greed can cause you to cheat on your taxes or your wife. It’s a wicked thing. The love of money, the quest for power and influence, and lusting after someone—or something—are all types of greed.
Pastor Matt Carter compares greed to a hook used in fishing, where Satan leaves the hook out there until he can cause the most damage in your life and career. He sets the hook when you have the most influence and the time is right, causing the most amount of damage. However, we don’t serve a God of condemnation, so this is a warning: if the hook is set and you fall into mortal sin, there is still mercy.
Next Steps
God is gracious and merciful, and He will restore your relationship with Him. All you have to do is ask. Stepping back to look at things from a 30,000-foot view, it’s critical to remove the hook before it causes further damage. It’s hard to resist temptation, so it’s important to have an accountability partner for things like pornography, the love of money, and a desire for power. Pray that God will help you identify your hooks and ask for His help in removing them. Ask His help to lead you to the right person to keep you accountable. Christianity is more than just a religion; it’s a relationship with Christ, and all righteousness comes from that abiding relationship. He is the vine, the foundation, and the capstone that holds all of life together.
