Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

The Owner of the Vineyard
Read Mark 12:1-17

What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Mark 12:9

The vine, along with the fig tree, was a meaningful national symbol for Israel. At the very temple where Jesus stood, there was a richly carved grapevine. This grapevine was sculpted around the door which opened into the holy place. Jesus used this symbol to illustrate God’s kindness to mankind. This vineyard represented Israel and the vinedressers represented the religious leaders of Israel.

The picture Jesus paints is a story illustrating the revelation of God’s kindness. The Lord is the owner of the vineyard. The vineyard is Israel and the vine-growers, who are stewards of the vineyard, are the religious leaders who reject the Lord. But the Lord comes to them again and again, through His representatives. Though the religious leaders’ hearts were hard, God comes again and again, extending His offer of peace.

These servants are the prophets who came to Israel in the name of the Lord with the word of God. But the religious leaders rejected the prophets. They mistreated, beat and killed them. They rejected the Lord, the owner of the vineyard because they wanted the vineyard for themselves. Finally God sent his Son, but instead of welcoming Him they killed Him too. Even so, the kindness and mercy of God was plainly evident. And as He came to them, so He comes to us again and again. The mercies of God are new every morning.

Do we understand God’s kindness? Do we understand that the kindness of God is meant to lead us to repentance? Or do we presume upon the patience of the Lord and the kindness of God? How do we respond to the claims of Christ on our lives?

Pray that we will not take His kindness for granted, but that we will give thanks for His kindness.