Hey guys,
I want to share a musing I have been chewing on with the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.
Scripture references: Matt 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19
Now... I am going to say this right up front... this is a bit "out there"... If you aren't seeing it - that's OK.
So... For my intro....
Let's start this one off with a bit of a riddle...
WHY did Jesus speak in Parables?
Go back to Matt 13:10-17
Contrary to popular opinon - The Parables Jesus gave are NOT meant to Enlighten - but rather to Obscure. Parables are to HIDE meaning so it's not obvious... so that ".....Hearing they may not hear and seeing they may not see, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" Matt 13:15 b.
Parables are meant to conceal and obscure truths that may not be revealed other places....
On to the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.
This parable was given near the End of Jesus earthly ministry.
It was given Publicly in the Temple - directly to the Temple Leadership and leaders of the Pharisees sect.
Immediately preceding it, we see Jesus' second "Cleansing of the temple" and the attendant angry response of the Roman Appointed temple leadership - which had received the "Official License" by the Roman Senate to sell sacrificial material IN the temple courtyards.
A ruler builds a Vinyard and plants a vine - then leases it out to tenant vinedressers. At vintage time - the Vinedressers refuse to pay their annual lease price to the Owner. He sends servants who are mistreated and killed. Finally he sends his son - who is also killed by the wicked vinedressers - who hope to take possession of the land and vinyard for themselves... Jesus then posits the question "What will the Ruler do to those wicked vinedressers" - and the temple leaders answered .....
And then - the Chief Priests and Scribes sought to lay hands on Jesus because they understood the parable to be about them....
BUT... Was it really? Remember - Parables are to OBSCURE meaning - not to clarify....
To be continued...
I want to share a musing I have been chewing on with the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.
Scripture references: Matt 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12, Luke 20:9-19
Now... I am going to say this right up front... this is a bit "out there"... If you aren't seeing it - that's OK.
So... For my intro....
Let's start this one off with a bit of a riddle...
WHY did Jesus speak in Parables?
Go back to Matt 13:10-17
Contrary to popular opinon - The Parables Jesus gave are NOT meant to Enlighten - but rather to Obscure. Parables are to HIDE meaning so it's not obvious... so that ".....Hearing they may not hear and seeing they may not see, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them" Matt 13:15 b.
Parables are meant to conceal and obscure truths that may not be revealed other places....
On to the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers.
This parable was given near the End of Jesus earthly ministry.
It was given Publicly in the Temple - directly to the Temple Leadership and leaders of the Pharisees sect.
Immediately preceding it, we see Jesus' second "Cleansing of the temple" and the attendant angry response of the Roman Appointed temple leadership - which had received the "Official License" by the Roman Senate to sell sacrificial material IN the temple courtyards.
A ruler builds a Vinyard and plants a vine - then leases it out to tenant vinedressers. At vintage time - the Vinedressers refuse to pay their annual lease price to the Owner. He sends servants who are mistreated and killed. Finally he sends his son - who is also killed by the wicked vinedressers - who hope to take possession of the land and vinyard for themselves... Jesus then posits the question "What will the Ruler do to those wicked vinedressers" - and the temple leaders answered .....
And then - the Chief Priests and Scribes sought to lay hands on Jesus because they understood the parable to be about them....
BUT... Was it really? Remember - Parables are to OBSCURE meaning - not to clarify....
To be continued...