In “The Parable of the Vineyard from the Perspective of the Plan of Redemption<\/mark>“, we will explore the deeper meaning of this parable told by Jesus and how it directly connects to God\u2019s plan of salvation. I will examine the story of a man who plants a vineyard and sends out his servants, who are rejected until he sends his son, and how this narrative references the treatment of the prophets and, ultimately, of God\u2019s own Son, Jesus. Throughout the text, we will uncover the lessons this parable reveals about God\u2019s relationship with the people of Israel and its impact on the plan of redemption for humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the ways Jesus conveyed His lessons and teachings was through parables. The parables were not always fully understood by His listeners, and only some were given the understanding of them. Others, more attentive listeners, fully understood their meanings. Sometimes, it was necessary to question Jesus about what He meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In today’s study, we will analyze the “Parable of the Vineyard and the Inheritance<\/mark>” (Luke 20:9-16). However, I propose that we examine this from a perspective that goes beyond the original purpose for which the parable was spoken by Christ. Before we delve into the details, let us read the account narrated by Christ:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luke 20:9-16 – “And he began to tell this parable<\/strong> to the people: A certain man<\/strong> planted a vineyard<\/strong>, and let it out to husbandmen<\/strong>, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant<\/strong> to the husbandmen<\/strong>, that they should give him of the fruits of the vineyard: and the husbandmen<\/strong> beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant<\/strong>: and they beat<\/strong> him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third<\/strong>: and they beat him also, and cast him out<\/strong>. And the lord of the vineyard<\/strong> said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son<\/strong>: perhaps when they see him they will respect him. But when the husbandmen<\/strong> saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him<\/strong>, that the inheritance may be ours. And they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him<\/strong>. What then will the lord of the vineyard<\/strong> do to them ? He will come and destroy these tenants and give the vineyard to others<\/strong>. When they heard this, they said, ‘Not so!’<\/mark>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n First, let’s look at the characters presented in this parable. We can identify four characters, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To summarize the parable, it presents a story of a man (the owner of the vineyard) who owned a vineyard and left it in the care of some men (the farmers). Over time, being far from his vineyard, he sent some men (the servants) to harvest the fruits produced. However, the farmers who were left to care for the vineyard beat and sent away all the servants of the owner of the vineyard who were sent to them. This event was repeated three times, until the owner of the vineyard decided to send his own son (his beloved son), thinking that at least he would be respected. But unfortunately, the son was treated worse than the servants and was ultimately killed by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understand that the parable was a parallel to events that had been occurring for many centuries before. For a long time, the Lord God had sent prophets and messengers to warn and rebuke the attitudes of His people. However, these people, instead of receiving the messages with good intent, rejected the prophets and dismissed the messages they received. This truth had been spoken on another occasion by Christ. Let us read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 23:37 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you<\/strong>! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!<\/mark>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Likewise, this truth was recorded in the book of Chronicles during the Old Testament:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 – “And the Lord, the God<\/strong> of their fathers, spoke continually to them by his messengers<\/strong>, because he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God<\/strong>, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people until there was no remedy<\/mark>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The parable narrated by Christ was nothing more than the reality that had happened over the centuries to the people of Israel. In the first part of the parable, it can be illustrated by the following flow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n God -> His messengers, the prophets -> Israel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The parallel in this parable does not stop at sending God\u2019s servants to Israel. Jesus continues the story by mentioning that God would even send His own Son, His beloved Son, so that they would hear Him. However, they would not listen to His Son\u2019s words and would even condemn Him to death. In fact, Christ spoke these words while He was alive, but He knew the end that awaited Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In any case, we can see that this parable was analogous to the Plan of Redemption. Indeed, God sent many prophets and messengers to the people of Israel, and finally, He sent His beloved Son for the redemption of the human race. The nation of Israel, however, rejected Jesus and condemned Him to death. The apostle Paul reinforces this thought in the introduction to the letter to the Hebrews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hebrews 1:1 – “God,<\/strong> who at sundry times and in divers manners spake <\/strong>in time past <\/strong>unto the fathers <\/strong>by the prophets<\/strong>, hath in these last days spoken unto us <\/strong>by his Son<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/mark>“<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n God -> His Son -> Israel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, we can see that each character in the parable had a parallel with reality. Notice this by comparing the following table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The original purpose of this parable was to show the people of Israel how they had treated the messengers God had sent over the centuries, and ultimately what would happen to them after they rejected the Son He had sent. This is evident from the words at the end of the parable, which say: “What then will the lord of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others<\/mark>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Parable of the Vineyard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Parallel with the History of Israel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Parallel to the Plan of Redemption<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Parable<\/strong><\/td> Reality<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> The owner of the vineyard<\/strong><\/td> The God of Israel<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> The vineyard<\/strong><\/td> Israel<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> The farmers<\/td> The people of God<\/td><\/tr> The servants<\/td> The prophets of God<\/td><\/tr> The beloved son<\/strong><\/td> The only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n