Mark 12:1-81And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. 2And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. 5And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. 6Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. 7But those husbandmen 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. (Mark 12:1‑8)
“AND HE began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a place for the wine vat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.”
Three types of Israel run through the Scriptures: the vineyard—the olive tree—and the fig tree. In the preceding chapter we saw the fig tree withered up (a type of Israel, without fruit for God, being nationally set aside). Here it is the vineyard—Israel failing not only in its trust, but bringing no fruit to God, while totally rejecting all His grace and finally killing His only Son.
Note that in the parable a vineyard is planted (Israel established in the land); a hedge is put about it (God’s wall of separation from the world); a place is built to receive the fruit (a priesthood and provision for worship); and a tower is erected (protection from their enemies). What a picture of God’s ways with His earthly people! Then this lovely vineyard was committed to husband-men (those entrusted with the care and godly exercise of Israel). Yet when He sends a servant to receive fruit therefrom, he is beaten and sent away empty. This is repeated over and over again—every age of Israel increasingly rejecting the love and grace of God and refusing, or killing, His servants. Last of all, He sends forth His only Son saying, “They will reverence My Son.” But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took Him, and killed Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard.”
Surely this is what Stephen referred to in his stirring plea, after the Lord’s death and resurrection, when he said to the rulers: “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murders: who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.” Acts 7:51-5351Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. (Acts 7:51‑53). It was for this faithfulness that Stephen became the first Christian martyr, for the Jews would still have no part of such teaching.
How amazing the grace and patience of God! But finally the despising and killing of His Son brought on that people a judgment which is not yet finished. Dreadful days are yet ahead for the nation of Israel, and individually for those who will not turn to the Lord as Saviour while the way of salvation is still open.
But now let us ask: Are we—whether Jew or Gentile—better than those of these bygone years? Has the period of nearly 2000 years since Jesus spoke this parable produced a change in our hearts toward that “only Son” whom God has sent into the world for us? No, our natural hearts, “deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” are not improved one bit and we must confess, except for God’s grace preventing us, we would join in that shout: “Away with Him.” But when we hear that, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16), do we not want to accept that wonderful love and truly believe on Him, to gain that promised life eternal? What amazing and divine love is this! May our hearts truly respond and say, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”
ML-02/02/1964