Mt. 21:23a Now when He came into the Temple, the chief priest and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching.
Mk. 11:27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the Temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.
Lk. 20:1 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the Temple and preached the Gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him.
Mt. 21:23b And said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
Mk. 11:28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
Lk. 20:2 And spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?”
Here we have the period of testing really beginning. The elders do this in front of the people, hoping to turn them against Him. According to Pharisaic theology, authoritative teaching required previous Rabbinic authorization. They have already concluded that His authority came from Beelzebub. There is a two-fold purpose in this testing on the part of the leadership. The first purpose is to try to turn the people against Him. The second purpose is to try to find a specific charge that they can bring against Him.
Mt. 21:24 But Yeshua answered and said to them, “I also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mk. 11:29 But Yeshua answered and said to them, “I will also ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Lk. 20:3 But He answered and said to them, “I will also ask you one thing, and answer Me.”
In a Jewish way, Yeshua answers them by asking them a question.
Mt. 21:25a “The baptism of Yochanan, where was it from? From Heaven or from men?”
Mk. 11:30 “The baptism of Yochanan – was it from Heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
Lk. 20:4 “The baptism of Yochanan – was it from Heaven or from men?”
Mt. 21:25b And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From Heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
Mk. 11:31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From Heaven, ‘He will say, ‘Why did we not believe him?”
Lk. 20:5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From Heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did we not believe him?”’
Mt. 21:26 “But if we say, ‘From men, ‘ we fear the multitude, for all count Yochanan as a prophet.”
Mk. 11:32 But if we say, ‘From men, ‘– they feared the people, for all counted Yochanan to have been a prophet indeed.”
Lk. 20:6 “But if we say, ‘From men, ‘all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that Yochanan was a prophet.”
Mt. 21:27a So they answered Yeshua and said, “We do not know.”
Mk. 11:33a “We do not know.”
Lk. 20:7 So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
Mt. 21:27b And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mk. 11:33b And Yeshua answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Lk. 20:8 And Yeshua said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Since they refuse to answer His question, He does the same to them.
Mt. 21:28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said,’Son, go, work in my vineyard.’”
Mt. 21:29 “He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went.’”
Mt. 21:30 “Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered, ‘I go,
sir, but he did not go.’”
Mt. 21:31 “Which of the two sons did the will of his father? They said to him, “The first.”
Yeshua said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, the tax collectors and harlots enter the Kingdom of God before you.”
The Pharisees are like the son who said that he would obey, but ended up not obeying. The publicans and prostitutes are like the son who said that he would not obey God, but ended up obeying. And as a result publicans and prostitutes will be entering the Kingdom, the Pharisees will not.
Mt. 21:32 “For Yochanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Mt. 21:33 “Hear another parable. There was a certain landowner who planter 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.
Mk. 12:1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A certain man planed a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine, and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.”
Lk. 20:9 Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.”
What should the parable of the “Wicked Husbandmen” be named? The traditional title of this parable is greatly misleading. It tends to vilify the Jewish people as the wicked husbandmen, even though the term “tenant” can be related only to the corrupt Temple leadership who receive their positions of authority from Rome.
Mt. 21:34 “Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.”
Mk. 12:2 “Now at vintage-time, he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers.”
Lk. 20:10a “Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.”
Mk. 12:3 “And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.”
Lk. 20:10b “But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.”
Mt. 21:35 “And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.’
Mk. 12:4 “Again he sent another servant and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.”
Lk. 20:11 “And again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.”
Mt. 21:36 “Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.”
Mk. 12:5 “And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some.”
Lk. 20:12 “And again he sent a third, and they wounded him also and cast him out.”
Mt. 21:37 “Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.”
Mk. 12:6 “Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’”
Lk. 20:13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’”
The “beloved son” should be translated as the “only son.” Linguistic studies in both Greek and Hebrew have argued correctly for this meaning of the term. The don of the story is the vineyard owner’s only son. This point is vital for the plot of the story parable because a normal Middle Eastern family of the period would have consisted of several children. The landowner, therefore, would ordinarily have more than one heir. The single heir, heightens the suspense of the story. He has only one son
Mt. 21:38 “But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’”
Mk. 12:7 “But the vinedressers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill jim, and the inheritance will be ours.’”
Lk. 20:14 “But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’”
Is the vineyard the main theme or are the wicked husbandmen the primary emphasis? Parables teach one message. The most important part of this parable is the son. When the parable’s title focuses on the vineyard or on the husbandmen, the image of the leading character, that is, the son of the owner, is pushed into the background. When one understands the message of the parable in the original context, it becomes clear that the parable is not primarily concerned with either the wicked husbandmen (wicked farmers) or the vineyard. It is a parable about the son. The story focuses upon Yeshua Himself.
The original audience of the parable understands the plans of the tenants. These tenant farmers devise their scheme and determine their course of action. Since the absentee landlord has only one son and heir, they reason that if they kill the son they will possess the vineyard. After all, they live on the land, the landowner is not present, and the only heir will be dead. They will be able to claim the vineyard for themselves.
Mt. 21:39 “And they caught him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.”
Mk. 12:8 “And they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.”
Lk. 20:15a “So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.”
Mt. 21:40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those vinedressers?”
Mk. 12:9a “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do?”
Lk. 20:15b “Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?”
Mt. 21:41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him fruits for their season.”
Mk. 12:9b “He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.”
Lk. 20:16 “He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.”
And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not.”
Mt. 21:42a Yeshua said to them, “Did you never read the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
Mk. 12:10 “Have you not read the Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.’”
Lk. 20:17 And He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
Source: Psalm 118:22,23
This passage quotes Psalm 118:22, 23. In the context of that Psalm account, the point is made that a stone which the builders do not know what to do with was rejected or set aside. Later, when they finish the building, they realized that it was the stone, the chief stone, that was the head of the corner. That is the literal meaning of the Psalm. The rejection of the stone and the acceptance of the stone becomes a type of Israel’s rejection of the Messiahship of Yeshua and later their acceptance of Him.
In Jewish thought the stone mentioned at the end of the illustration would make a clear reference to King David. In the context of the parable, the stone would point toward Yeshua as the son of David. This is confirmed by the Jewish interpretation of the Psalm in light of King David’s life. At least the Jewish commentators on this Psalm related the stone to King David. At the beginning, young David, who was destined to become the greatest of all the kings of Israel, was rejected by the builders. David as a stone was rejected. But he became, nonetheless, the chief cornerstone. The words of the parable draw a line of comparison between the only son, the stone and King David, whose illustrious career became the model for the future Messiah.
Source: I Samuel 16:1-13
Mt. 21:42b “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Mk. 12:11 “This was the Lord’s doing, And it was marvelous in our eyes.”
Source: Psalm 118:22,23
Mt. 21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”
God, not the Romans, took the kingdom away from the Jews.
Source: Jos. War 6.8.4; 6.9.1, 4
Mt. 21:44 “And whoever falls on this stone will e broken, but on whom it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
Lk. 20:18 “Whoever falls on that stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
Source: Isaiah 8:14
There is an illusion to the manner of stoning that was then practiced. This is found in the Mishnah where the victim was first pushed by the witness from a high elevation upon a large stone. But, if this fall fails to kill him, then another stone was cast upon him by the second witness. If that failed to kill him, then the rest of the people would finish the execution. That is what is meant by the above verses.
Source: M:Sanhedrin6:3,4
Mt. 21:45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they perceived that He was speaking of them.
Lk. 20:19b For they knew that He had spoken this parable against them.
Mt. 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
Mk. 12:12 And they sought to lay hold of Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.
Lk. 20:19a And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people.
Unfortunately, traditional Christian teaching portrays all the Jewish people as rejecting Yeshua and His teachings. The witness of the Gospel texts, however, makes it clear that Yeshua had many followers during this period. The evangelists stress that the chief priests feared the multitudes of Yeshua’s followers who gathered around Him in the Temple complex. The Romans ans the Sadducees were convince that Yeshua and His Messianic movement posed a danger. But, the Sadducean priests who cooperated with the Roman authorities were afraid to arrest Him on the Temple Mount because of the multitude of Yeshua’s friends and well-wishers who listened to His message. By necessity they had to wait until a more opportune time when the crowds of the Jewish people were celebrating Passover in their private homes. The Temple complex would then be filled with the priests and the local supporters who would be strongly sympathetic to Rome.
The second parable is the parable of the householder. The householder, who had given his vineyard out to the husbandmen by way of a lease, sent three sets of servants to bring back the fruits in accordance with the agreement of the lease, but these servants were all mistreated. Finally he sends his own son, ad they kill the son. The householder is God the Father. The vineyard, in keeping with the motif of Isaiah 5, is Israel. The husbandmen are the Jewish leaders, in this case the Pharisees. And three sets of servants have been set out:
(1) the prophets of the pre-exilis period; (2) the prophets of the post-exilis period; and (3) Yochanan HaMatbil and his disciples. All three sets have been mistreated Finally, God sends His own Son, and they end up killing Him. So with this parable He says that the Jewish leaders killed the prophets, and they will now kill the Son. Now the question is, what will the householder do? He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and He will give the vineyard unto others. That of course is the correct answer. But again, the application comes out upon the Pharisees.
Mt. 22:1 And Yeshua answered and spoke to them by parables and said:
Mt. 22:2 “The kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son.”
Mt. 22:3 “And sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.”
Mt. 22:4 “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatted calf are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’”
Mt. 22:5 “But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his business.”
Mt. 22:6 “And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.”
Mt. 22:7 “But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”
Mt. 22:8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.”
Mt. 22:9 “Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.”
Mt. 22:10 “So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom
they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.”
Mt. 22:11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.”
Mt. 22:12 “So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”
Mt. 22:13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Mt. 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Now in the practice of that day, when you were invited to a wedding feast, you had to put on a wedding garment. The problem was not that this man did not have the opportunity to get one, because the wedding garment was always provided by the host. So when this man was brought into the wedding he refused the wedding garment that had been offered to him. Due to his refusal of the wedding garment, he was thrown out. This wedding is a metaphor of the marriage that will take place in Heaven between Yeshua and His believers. The wedding garment is a picture of the salvation that every believer accepts from the Lord because of His sacrifice on the cross. This man refused the salvation that was offered to him and has no right to be in Heaven.
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