Matthew 21:33–46
The Bible4Jesus.com Podcast
About this episode
We come now to a passage that is nothing less than a direct, frontal assault on the corrupt leadership of first-century Israel. In response, Jesus does not give them a simple answer. Instead, He tells them a series of parables, and the one before us today is the most explosive of them all. They are designed to conceal the truth from those who are hardened in their rebellion, and to reveal it with stunning clarity to those with ears to hear. A parable is a kind of spiritual intelligence test. For the proud and the self-righteous, it is a riddle they cannot solve. For the humble, it is a window into the very heart of God's purposes. In this parable of the wicked vine-growers, Jesus is holding up a mirror to the leaders of Israel, and the reflection is not flattering.