Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Parables » Of the vineyard
Vineyard » Parables of
"Listen to another parable: "A man who was a householder planted a vineyard, fenced it about, dug a wine vat in it, built a tower, then rented it to vine-dressers and went abroad. When the time of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the vine-dressers to get his fruit. And the vine-dressers seized his slaves, flogged one, killed another, and stoned a third. read more.
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season."
Again he sent other slaves, a larger number than at first, and they treated them in the same way. And last he sent his son to them; 'Surely they will respect my son,' he said. But when the vine-dressers saw his son, they said to themselves: "'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.' "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?" "He will utterly destroy those wretches," they answered, "and will entrust his vineyard to other vine-dressers, who will pay back the fruits to him in their season."
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. "And when he had agreed with the workmen for two shillings a day, he sent them into his vineyard. "About nine o'clock he went out and noticed some other workmen standing idle in the market-place; read more.
"and he said to them, "'Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever is just I will pay you.' "So they went. Again at noon, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same thing. "When he went out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "'Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?' "'Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "He said to them, 'Do you also go into the vineyard.' "And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "'Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.' "When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received two shillings apiece; "and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings. "And as they took it they began to grumble against the master of the house. "'Those last men,' they said, 'have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.' "In reply he said to one of them. 'My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings? "Take your wage and begone! I chose to give to this last man the same as to you. "Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?' "So the last shall be first, and the first, last."
"and he said to them, "'Do you also go into the vineyard, and whatever is just I will pay you.' "So they went. Again at noon, and about three o'clock, he went out and did the same thing. "When he went out about five o'clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, "'Why have you been standing here idle, all the day long?' "'Because no one has hired us,' they replied. "He said to them, 'Do you also go into the vineyard.' "And when evening came, the Lord of the vineyard said to his steward, "'Call the workmen and pay them their wages, beginning with the last hired and ending with the first.' "When those came who had begun at five o'clock, they received two shillings apiece; "and when the first came they supposed that they would get more, but they also received each two shillings. "And as they took it they began to grumble against the master of the house. "'Those last men,' they said, 'have toiled only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the burning heat of the day.' "In reply he said to one of them. 'My friend, I am doing no wrong. Did you not agree with me for two shillings? "Take your wage and begone! I chose to give to this last man the same as to you. "Have I not the right to do what I choose with my own property? Or is your eye evil because I am generous?' "So the last shall be first, and the first, last."
Then he gave them this parable. "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to look for fruit on it, but found none. So he said to the gardener. "'See, for years I have come looking for fruit on this tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why should it actually cumber the ground?' "But the gardener answered him. 'Lord, let it alone this year also, till I have dug around it, and fertilized it. read more.
"If after that it bears fruit, well and good; but if not you shall cut it down.'"
"If after that it bears fruit, well and good; but if not you shall cut it down.'"
"But give me your judgment. There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said to him, "'Son, go work today in my vineyard!' "'I will go, sir,' he answered; yet he did not go. "Then he went to the second, and said the same thing to him. "'I will not,' he answered; but afterward he changed his mind and went. read more.
"Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!
"Which of these two did the will of his father?" "The last," they replied. "I tell you truly," said Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and harlots are going into the kingdom of heaven before you!
Vineyards » Illustrative » Of the jewish church
When he had entered the Temple courts, and was teaching, the high priests and elders of the people came to him and asked him, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
Verse Concepts