In the parable of the tenants, the temptation faced by the workers is still faced by many churches today. The tenants wanted the vineyard for themselves. They wanted complete control of what did not belong to them. They desired to build their own kingdom, not someone else’s. They had been working the vineyard for years in the owner’s absence. It provided them with a living and allowed them to be part of something bigger than themselves. It was a grace given to them, but they were not satisfied.
One day, the owner sent one of his employees to collect some fruit from the vineyard, but they had concluded that the fruit was theirs since they worked the vineyard. So, they took the owner’s employee, beat him, and sent him away with nothing.
The owner sent another employee, and they did the same. He sent a third, and they killed him. This was the pattern. The owner sent many more; some they killed, and some they beat. Anyone representing the owner was a threat to them because these ambassadors reminded the tenants that they were accountable to someone else. They were not free to do whatever they wanted.
Eventually, the owner sent his son and said, “They will respect my son.” But they did not. They saw this as an opportunity because the son would eventually inherit the land they wanted for themselves. Therefore, they thought, “If we kill him, the inheritance will be ours,” but they were dead wrong. What will the owner do? He will destroy the tenants who did this to his servants and son and give the inheritance to others (Mark 12:1-12).
When Jesus told the story, he was talking to Jerusalem’s religious leaders: the chief priests, scribes, and elders. The Lord had blessed them and allowed them to be part of his spiritual work, but this was not good enough for them. They did not want to be under the authority of God. They wanted to be the authority. They want it to be autonomous rulers.
Though we know this parable is about the religious leaders attacking the prophets and the apostles and eventually crucifying Jesus, the temptation these religious leaders faced to build their own Kingdom and abide by their own rules continues to face many church leaders today.
Many elders, deacons, pastors, and even congregants have begun to play fast and loose with the scriptures. They attack and dismiss the writings of the prophets and the apostles because they will not align with their views on sexuality, gender, and a whole host of other points. Their desire to be loved by the world is greater than their desire to honor God.
To escape Christ’s own teachings, they downplay his word and remake him in their own image. But the stone they are rejecting is the chief cornerstone. He will eventually come and remove them from his garden, destroy them, and give the vineyard to others. If we lead the church by trying to build our own Kingdom instead of recognizing the owner, we are in great peril.
Only those who realize the inheritance belongs to Christ will be co-heirs with him. We must not rewrite the scriptures to have our way. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The testimony Jesus gave us through the prophets and the apostles is sure, making wise the simple. His precepts are not to be rejected. They are right, rejoicing the heart (Psalm 19:7-8).
Those who reject Christ in his words seek an inheritance of their own, but they will not find it apart from his truth. His word is to be desired more than gold. It is sweeter than honey from the honeycomb. By his commands, We are warned of the coming destruction for those who depart his ways, and in keeping them, there is great reward (Psalm 19:-10-11).
-D. Eaton
The Fight of Faith 