Mat 21:33-40 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. (34) Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. (35) And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. (36) Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. (37) Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ (38) But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ (39) So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. (40) “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees here. This must have incensed them as they realized He was talking about them and the people they led. God is the Landowner and the nation of Israel and its leaders were the vinedressers. Now it must be realized that God has also planted a church, the church was born at Pentecost. Just as the Lord was looking for fruit from ancient Israel, He is also looking for fruit from the church. God sent messengers and prophets to Israel and they abused them and treated the cruelly and killed them. Over the last 2000 years God has sent messengers and prophets to His church. Is there fruit behind the walls? Will He find faith on the earth? If He cut of the natural branches should that not give pause for thought to the branches that were grafted in? There is a harvest coming. The owner is coming back for what is His. Jesus’ first coming was the culmination of all the messengers and the prophets. His second coming will be heralded as well. The people and their leaders will be without excuse. God continually reaches out and exhorts and warns of that day that is to come for His love is without question and His long-suffering with a stiff-necked people is remarkable.
A Call To The Remnant 