Luke 20:9-19
In the context of rising opposition, Jesus did not back away from truth and reality. In the parable of the
vine-growers He gives us a picture of Israel's decline. After planting a vineyard, a man rents it to
workers while he goes away on a journey. At harvest he sends a slave to give him some of the fruit
[rent]. Not only do they reject the first slave, but a series of slaves all being mistreated and wounded.
The Jewish leaders knew Jesus was speaking about them. Finally, “The owner of the vineyard said,
‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’” (13). But the vine-growers
were not content with renting, so they reasoned to kill the son so land could be theirs. When we
confuse our role as renters and view what God has entrusted to us as ours [owners], then we are in
danger of loosing it all. If we think we are in charge, we attempt to usurp God’s place and have adopted
an anti-Christ spirit.