Word@Work Luke295 - Luke 20:11-15a
Published: Thu, 02/17/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
ULTIMATE REBELLION
Luke 20:11-15a He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. (NIV)
In Jesus' parable of the tenant farmers, we have reached the part of the story where a number of the owner's servants were denied access to the vineyard and its produce. Finally, the owner sent his son. However, the tenants carried their rebellion to the limit and killed the heir, assuming that they would have the ownership of the vineyard. Jesus was speaking prophetically, just a few days before His crucifixion, and exposing the motives of Israel's religious leaders, who were selfishly determined to retain their own religious position and power. In order to do that, they were resolute in their decision to kill Jesus.
This parable intentionally pivots on the 'son' - who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus described Himself as being greatly loved by the Father but hated by the priests and religious leaders who had no respect for Him. They did not understand that He carried the full authority of Father God and that one day they would be accountable to Him: but He did not fit into their thinking. To eliminate the Son, they believed, was to eliminate every threat to their personal ambitions. As we shall find out tomorrow, they had no idea of the disaster that would befall them and their religious ambitions.
Alas, it is still the way for many religious folk today. Some focus on how they can achieve entry to God's kingdom through purity and holiness: others use their religion to achieve their own ambition. Either way, if they reject the Lord Jesus Christ they do two terrible things to themselves: they cut themselves off from His salvation, plunging themselves into the horrors of a godless eternity; and they ignite the jealous anger of Father God. The Father's love for His Son is so intense that rejecting Him, automatically rejects them from God's presence. That is true irrespective of the sincerity of what people believe or the zealous piety with which they practise their religion. In short, reject Jesus and be rejected by Father God. Conversely, receive Jesus and be welcomed into God's presence! This is the essential message of the gospel (www.crosscheck.org.uk) which every believer needs to be able to explain and share; because so many are religiously deluding themselves ... and they need to know the truth.
Prayer: Dear Father God. Thank You that Jesus was not surprised by the cross; He knew it was all part of the plan and the reason for His incarnation. Nevertheless, His cruel treatment was shameful, and I am sorry for my sins: my contribution to His suffering. Please help me to stay on track with Jesus, to love and honour Him and to welcome Him as a part of my every day life, seeking to respect His sacrifice and being thankful for His grace. Please burn into my heart the importance of sharing the gospel clearly, so that my friends and colleagues can know the truth about Jesus - even those who have been most disrespectful of Him and most abusive to His followers. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
In Jesus' parable of the tenant farmers, we have reached the part of the story where a number of the owner's servants were denied access to the vineyard and its produce. Finally, the owner sent his son. However, the tenants carried their rebellion to the limit and killed the heir, assuming that they would have the ownership of the vineyard. Jesus was speaking prophetically, just a few days before His crucifixion, and exposing the motives of Israel's religious leaders, who were selfishly determined to retain their own religious position and power. In order to do that, they were resolute in their decision to kill Jesus.
This parable intentionally pivots on the 'son' - who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus described Himself as being greatly loved by the Father but hated by the priests and religious leaders who had no respect for Him. They did not understand that He carried the full authority of Father God and that one day they would be accountable to Him: but He did not fit into their thinking. To eliminate the Son, they believed, was to eliminate every threat to their personal ambitions. As we shall find out tomorrow, they had no idea of the disaster that would befall them and their religious ambitions.
Alas, it is still the way for many religious folk today. Some focus on how they can achieve entry to God's kingdom through purity and holiness: others use their religion to achieve their own ambition. Either way, if they reject the Lord Jesus Christ they do two terrible things to themselves: they cut themselves off from His salvation, plunging themselves into the horrors of a godless eternity; and they ignite the jealous anger of Father God. The Father's love for His Son is so intense that rejecting Him, automatically rejects them from God's presence. That is true irrespective of the sincerity of what people believe or the zealous piety with which they practise their religion. In short, reject Jesus and be rejected by Father God. Conversely, receive Jesus and be welcomed into God's presence! This is the essential message of the gospel (www.crosscheck.org.uk) which every believer needs to be able to explain and share; because so many are religiously deluding themselves ... and they need to know the truth.
Prayer: Dear Father God. Thank You that Jesus was not surprised by the cross; He knew it was all part of the plan and the reason for His incarnation. Nevertheless, His cruel treatment was shameful, and I am sorry for my sins: my contribution to His suffering. Please help me to stay on track with Jesus, to love and honour Him and to welcome Him as a part of my every day life, seeking to respect His sacrifice and being thankful for His grace. Please burn into my heart the importance of sharing the gospel clearly, so that my friends and colleagues can know the truth about Jesus - even those who have been most disrespectful of Him and most abusive to His followers. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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