The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Text: Matthew 21:33-46

Reflection and Question: Everyone listening immediately got the point of Jesus’ parable about the wicked servants who even killed the owner’s son. Of course the chief priests and the Pharisees understood this indictment against them and sought to arrest Jesus after this. But today, who exactly the wicked tenants are is not quite as clear-cut. It is tempting to point fingers at who is the chief priest or Pharisee in our time, partly in order to avoid the hard work of seeing how we are participants in the taking over of the vineyard, too. When have you sought to control the vineyard, ignoring God and God’s Son?

Prayer: Jesus, our Teacher and Guide, we know the kingdom of God will be given to a people that produce the fruit of that kingdom, as You say. May we bear good fruit, pleasing to You. May we tend Your vineyard with respect and humility. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).