Vines, judgement & faithfulness
Readings: Matthew 21. 33-46 & Isaiah 5. 1-7
What are we to make of all this talk of vines and vineyards?
Well it’s no accident that we have this passage from Isaiah paired with our Gospel today as Jesus is very clearly referencing it, the opening of his parable is almost identical to the opening of Isaiah 5. He’s using a style of teaching popular with the Rabbi’s called a ‘haggadic midrash’ whereby the teacher takes a Biblical passage, expounds it with a parable and then concludes with another Biblical text. It’s worth remembering, as we so easily forget, that at this point there is only the Old Testament and Jesus and the apostles make extensive use of it in their preaching and teaching.
In that passage from Isaiah he identifies the vineyard as the house of Israel, there’s no reason to interpret Jesus’ use of the imagery any different.
God has planted his people in the land, like a vine in a vineyard, he has guarded and defended them, made clear in the walls and watchtower. He has done all that he can for them, and now he waits for the fruit to grow. And Jesus expands this imagery by describing how, to ensure it does grow, he rents it to some tenant farmers to tend the vine, prune it, care for it.
As Jesus continues the parable it becomes clear that these tenant farmers are a picture of the leadership of God’s people. Specifically here, the Pharisees and chief priests. God has partnered with them in his work of producing fruit from this people. God has entrusted them with the work of ensuring these people are properly led, properly taught, properly cared for. That sin is pruned away, that they are trained up in righteousness as you would train a vine along a trellis.
And what do we find when the harvest should be ready to collect? These tenants, these leaders will not hand it over, they rebel. Perhaps there’s no fruit to collect. The imagery of these servants of the master of the vineyard coming to collect the fruit is referencing the prophets of old, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Micah, and all the rest who come to guide the nation back onto the right track, who come to ensure that the vine is healthy, that it is producing fruit.
And what do we find, time and time again throughout the Old Testament, the prophets are beaten, imprisoned, killed. The leaders of God’s people, more often than not, are distracted by their own selfish aims, shoring up their own power, doing as they please. Put in place to ensure God’s people, his vine, is well cared for they all too often go their own way and lead the people astray with them.
So what does God do? What does the master of the vineyard do to ensure he receives the fruit he has hoped for? He sends his Son, his only Son, to collect the fruit. Surely they will listen to my Son he says.
Now, it’s worth remembering at this point that parables aren’t perfect allegories, there are aspects which are, as I’ve been outlining, but there’s no need to force every detail to fit the meaning behind it. God isn’t surprised when they reject his Son, he isn’t surprised with what happens, he doesn’t send his Son expecting a warm welcome and is taken aback by the violence that ensues.
Nevertheless, he sends his Son. And what do these tenants think? There is no respect for this man, no care, instead they realise that if they kill him, the vineyard will be theirs, at last they will be able to do as they wish. And they take him, throw him out of the vineyard, and kill him. Just as, in a few short days, the leaders of God’s people will take Jesus, throw him out of the city, and crucify him.
And what will the owner of the vineyard do when he comes? The answer is obvious isn’t it. He’ll hold them to account, they’ll receive the punishment they deserve. How could he not when they have treated his servants and his Son so despicably. God will not be mocked. He will not allow the leaders of his people to go on leading the people astray forever. He will not allow his faithful servants to be killed whilst he turns a blind eye. If anything he gives those who are determined to go their own way just enough room to utterly condemn themselves.
Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and chief priests, the elders too if you read back. He tells them this parable and they themselves speak of the judgement which must befall these tenants, he speaks of what they will do to him in a few days, and they demand that these people must be condemned, and then they realise he is speaking about them, they’ve condemn themselves. And how do they react?
To my mind this encounter has very much a flavour of the prophet Nathan coming to David when in his lust he has slept with another man’s wife, Bathsheba, and then had him killed to hide his sin and take her for himself. And Nathan comes and tells the story of a man with a great flock of sheep, who goes and steals a small ewe lamb from a man who had only that. And David is enraged and demands the man be killed, and Nathan replies, you are the man. How does David respond? In sorrow, in repentance, he’s cut to the heart, he recognises his sin immediately and turns from it. Even in moments like these we can see why David is referred to as a man after God’s own heart.
And yet in this passage, these men, these leaders, hear this parable being told, demand the death of the wicked tenants, and are then told, you are the tenants. And do they repent? Are they cut to the heart? No. They push deeper into their sin looking for ways to get rid of the one who has spoken against them. They will not turn, they are utterly lost. And so God will judge them, he will take the Kingdom from these leaders. They will be utterly lost. Jesus has become a stumbling block for them, they will not build upon him and instead are dashed against him and crushed.
And yet Jesus concludes this piece of teaching with hope.
Isaiah speaks of how the vineyard will be torn down, the failure to produce fruit will mean the people will go into exile. The hope in Isaiah comes later in the book. But Jesus here speaks of how, whilst the tenants are thrown out, the vineyard will remain. God will judge the leadership who have done such damage, but his vineyard will remain, will endure. That God will give it to a people who will produce fruit. God loves his vineyard, his people, it is his special possession, and so he tends it. He entrusts it to those who will care for it as he does, will train it in righteousness as a vine along a trellis, prune its sins away, ensure that God receives the fruit that he is due. Even when God’s people are unfaithful, God remains faithful.
So what are we to make of this? Jesus says, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. As a people called by God, Gentiles grafted into his people, the vine of Israel, we are to produce fruit. A life truly lived for God, a life empowered with his Spirit, will be a life which seeks to turn from our sins and follow in his ways, will be a life which produces fruit, the fruits of righteousness, holiness, the fruits of the Spirit. God has called us in order that we produce fruit.
And God will not allow his people to be led astray forever. There always have been, and always will be, those within the church who are in it for themselves, their own glory, their own power, their own reputation. People who will freely lead the Church astray in order to shore up their own positions. Who teach and preach what suits them, rather than the word of God. God will not abandon his church to them forever. If he did not hesitate to bring judgement upon the leaders of those he first called, the people of Israel, how much more will he not hesitate to bring it upon those who have been grafted in and yet go astray.
So, my brothers and sisters, do not fear. The one who has called you is faithful, he will do all that he can to ensure that you produce the fruit of holiness, repentance and righteousness of life. He has planted you, tended to you, waters you. Partnering with those he has entrusted with leadership amongst his people. But he also will not hesitate to act against those who refuse to bring him such fruit. Leaders and people who go their own ways, reject his messengers, his Son, and encourage others to do the same. For God is calling a people to himself, his vineyard will endure, his Kingdom will endure, from this time forth and forevermore.
Amen.