Matt. 21:33-46 (The Message)
33 "Here's another story. Listen closely. There was once a man, a wealthy farmer, who planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, put up a watchtower, then turned it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. 34 When it was time to harvest the grapes, he sent his servants back to collect his profits. 35 "The farmhands grabbed the first servant and beat him up. The next one they murdered. They threw stones at the third but he got away. 36 The owner tried again, sending more servants. They got the same treatment. 37 The owner was at the end of his rope. He decided to send his son. 'Surely,' he thought, 'they will respect my son.' 38 "But when the farmhands saw the son arrive, they rubbed their hands in greed. 'This is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all for ourselves.' 39 They grabbed him, threw him out, and killed him. 40 "Now, when the owner of the vineyard arrives home from his trip, what do you think he will do to the farmhands?" 41 "He'll kill them - a rotten bunch, and good riddance," they answered. "Then he'll assign the vineyard to farmhands who will hand over the profits when it's time." 42 Jesus said, "Right - and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles: The stone the masons threw out is now the cornerstone. This is God's work; we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it! 43 "This is the way it is with you. God's kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life."
When asked, “what do you think he will do with the farmhands?”, they (the religious leaders) give the right answer. The right answer that is, for them. Not the right answer for God. For God is not satisfied with judgment, ever. Not even with them. God does not delight in judgment, ever! This is not Gods nature and it is not Gods liking. Judgment is always second to mercy and its purpose is only and always to prepare the way for love and grace to flow, full and free. This is why Jesus tells this parable - to try wake the people up to Gods love, not Gods judgment. God’s love which is beyond human comprehension!
“God does not delight in judgement, ever!”
God is not like this.
Prayer thoughts for the week:
“Lord, help me to not be so judgmental.
…keep me open to grace happening, even when it seems so unfair.”
…help me to remember that God is more gracious than condemning,
beyond my wildest dreams.”
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