The Parable of the Wicked

The Synoptic Gospels all record Jesus’ parable of the vineyard tenants. A landowner built a vineyard and leased it to some tenants. When it was time for the harvest, he sent his servants to collect the fruit. However, the tenants mistreated, beat, and even killed many of the servants the landowner sent. Finally, they killed the landowner’s son in order to seize the vineyard for themselves.

This parable is very similar to the story of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:2. The chief priests, scribes, and elders immediately understood that the landowner was God, as described in Isaiah 5. The “tenants” represent the Jewish religious leaders. They recognized the identity of the Son of God but rejected Him, intending to kill Him so they could take possession of the inheritance. According to Jewish law, if a landowner did not reside on his property, tenants could claim ownership of the land they farmed (Talmud, Baba Bathra, 35b, 40b). If the ownership of the land was unclear, anyone who had used the land for three years could claim it for themselves in the absence of an heir (Mishnah, Baba Bathra 3:1).

The chief priests, scribes, and elders understood Jesus’ words but had no heart for repentance. They realized that the parable was spoken against them and wanted to seize Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away. Previously, the “Pharisees and the Herodians” had conspired to destroy Jesus. Now, it was the “chief priests, scribes, and elders”—the entire Sanhedrin—plotting together to eliminate Jesus, uniting in their opposition to God.

(Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version Bible and Comprehensive Biblical Interpretation)