“And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away” (Mark 12:12)
To avoid falling into the question traps that the priests, scribes, and elders liked to lay for Him, Jesus spoke in parables. He presented the parable of the vineyard and the evil workers (see Mark 12:1—9). The religious leaders immediately recognized the story quoted in Isaiah 3:1, 2: “My well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.
Jesus added new details, though. Isaiah emphasized that it was due to a fault in the vineyard that it would not produce fruit, which symbolizes the people of Israel. Jesus focused on the workers in the vineyard, who represented the religious leaders. Those very leaders were in His audience and they realized that Jesus was referring to their defective work as spiritual guides of God’s people, by betraying the rights of the owner of the vineyard. Jesus presented Himself as the heir of the vineyard, the Son of God.
Matthew clarifies that the listeners answered Jesus’s question about appropriate punishment: ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons (Matthew 21:41). They answered correctly, and by doing so they condemned themselves. ‘ Later in the chapter, Jesus explained that the cornerstone had come, and that they had rejected it (see Matthew 21:42). The kingdom of God was right there, being rejected by the spiritual builders, as seen in both illustrations.
The leaders fear terribly offended. They couldn’t stand more insults from this itinerant prophet; they were the only ones who were “qualified” to judge, and Jesus had been exposing them publically. They would have loved to arrest Him immediately, but they were afraid of the multitude. The words of Jesus had powerfully impacted the people, and together with the attitude of the temple leaders, no doubt was left about who the evil workers were.
In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid it Himself.
He called it ‘a sure foundation.’ The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all.
With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a ‘tried stone.’ Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints.
He has borne every test.
He has endured the pressure of Adam’s guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil.
He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil.
He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner.
In Christ the guilty heart foundation.
All who make Him has found relief. He is the sure their dependence rest in perfect security.”— The Desire of Ages, ch. 65, p. 598.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Esteban Cortes
