Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants? (Matthew 21:33-40)
Jesus tells a parable of the vineyard, an image of Israel, the prophets’ mission, and Christ’s death. For Christians, the vineyard also speaks of God’s love poured out in the blood of Christ, given to us for the forgiveness of sin. Grafted onto Christ the vine at baptism, we are nourished with wine and bread, that we may share Christ’s sufferings and know the power of his resurrection.
Sermon Question
Is it really yours?
Sunday Music
The Hymn of the Day at the traditional service is There in God’s Garden (ELW 342). Jesus’ parable of the wicked vineyard tenants reminds us that Jesus is the true vine. We sing of Jesus as the tree of wisdom, hung on the tree for our salvation. Our greed may starve it, but God takes all of our muck and turns it into praise.
The Worship Song at the New Day Praise service is Let There be Peace on Earth. The message of this song is one we could follow every day: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. By keeping our relationship with God intact, all things are possible, including peace that is so desperately needed in the world today.
Home Devotional Questions
Have you ever rejected God? Or have you ever rejected Jesus?
What does one need to do to re-establish a relationship with God and Christ?
