Thematic Bible: Of the vineyard


Thematic Bible



Now will I sing my beloved friend a song of his vineyard. My beloved friend hath a vineyard in a very fruitful plenteous ground. This he hedged, this he walled round about, and planted it with goodly grapes. In the midst of it builded he a tower, and made a wine press therein. And afterward when he looked that it should bring him grapes, it brought forth thorns. I show you now my cause, O ye Citizens of Jerusalem and whole Judah: Judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. read more.
What more could have been done for it, that I have not done? Wherefore than hath it given thorns, where I looked to have had grapes of it? Well, now I shall tell you how I will do with my vineyard: I will take the hedge from it, that it may perish, and break down the wall, that it may be trodden under foot. I will lay it waste, that it shall neither be twisted nor cut, but bear thorns and briers. I will also forbid the clouds, that they shall not rain upon it. As for the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts, it is the house of Israel, and whole Judah his fair planting. Of these he looked for equity, but see there is wrong; for righteousness, lo, it is but misery.

At the same time shall men sing of the vineyard of Muscatel. I the LORD keep it, and water it in due season. I watch day and night, that no man break into it.


And he began to speak unto them in similitudes. "A certain man planted a vineyard, and compassed it with a hedge, and ordained a winepress, and built a tower in it, and let it out to hire unto husbandmen, and went into a strange country. And when the time was come, he sent to the tenants a servant that he might receive of the tenants of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him and beat him and sent him again empty. read more.
And moreover he sent unto them another servant, and at him they cast stones and brake his head, and sent him again all too reviled. And again he sent another, and him they killed: and many others, beating some, and killing some. "Yet had he one son whom he loved tenderly, him also sent he at the last unto them, saying, 'They will fear my son.' But the tenants said amongst themselves, 'This is the heir: come, let us kill him and the inheritance shall be ours.' And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall then the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and let out the vineyard to others. Have ye not read this scripture? 'The stone which the builders did refuse, is made the chief stone in the corner: This was done of the Lord, and is marvelous in our eyes.'" And they went about to take him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he spake that similitude against them. And they left him and went their way.

"Hearken another similitude. There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and made a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a strange country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive the fruits of it, and the husbandmen caught his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. read more.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first, and they served them likewise. But last of all, he sent unto them his own son, saying, 'They will fear my son.' But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir: come on, let us kill him, and let us take his inheritance, to ourselves.' And they caught him, and thrust him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the Lord of the vineyard cometh, what will he do with those husbandmen?" They said unto him, He will cruelly destroy those evil persons; and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall deliver him the fruit at times convenient. Jesus said unto them, "Did ye never read in the scriptures? 'The same stone which the builders refused, the same is set in the principal part of the corner: this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.' Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to the Gentiles, which shall bring forth the fruits of it. And whosoever shall fall on this stone, he shall be alto broken. But on whosoever it shall fall upon, it will grind him to powder." And when the chief priests and Pharisees heard these similitudes, they perceived that he spake of them. And they went about to lay hands on him, but they feared the people, because they took him as a prophet.

Then began he to put forth to the people this similitude, "A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to farmers, and went himself into a strange country for a great season. And when the time was come, he sent a servant to his tenants, that they should give him of the fruits of the vineyard. And the tenants did beat him: and sent him away empty. And again he ceased not thereby but sent yet another servant. And they did beat him, and foul entreated him also, and sent him away empty. read more.
Moreover, he sent the third, too: And him they wounded, and cast him out. Then said the Lord of the vineyard, 'What shall I do? I will send my dear son, him peradventure they will reverence, when they see him.' But when the farmers saw him, they thought in themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' And they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now what shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? He will come and destroy those farmers, and will let out his vineyard to others." When they heard that, they said, "God forbid." And he beheld them and said, "What meaneth this then that is written, 'The stone that the builders refused, the same is made the head cornerstone?' Whosoever stumble at that stone, shall be broken: but on whosoever it fall upon, it will grind him to powder." And the high priests and the scribes, the same hour went about to lay hands on him, but they feared the people. For they perceived that he had spoken this similitude against them. And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves perfect, to take him in his words, and to deliver him unto the power, and authority of the deputy.