How does Matthew 21:39 illustrate rejection of God's messengers today? Setting of the Verse “ So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Matthew 21:39) Jesus’ parable pictures the landowner as God, the vineyard as Israel, the tenant farmers as the religious leaders, the servants as the prophets, and the son as Christ Himself. Rejection Then and Now • The tenants wanted the vineyard without the owner; people today want the blessings of God’s world without submission to God’s rule (Romans 1:21–23). • Killing the son seemed to secure control; silencing the gospel voice today seems to secure autonomy (John 3:19–20). Modern Expressions of the Same Rejection • Physical persecution of believers (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 2:10). • Legal or social expulsion—“threw him out of the vineyard” echoes believers losing jobs, platforms, or freedoms (Hebrews 13:12–13). • Intellectual dismissal—labeling biblical truth as outdated “myth” (2 Timothy 4:3–4). • Moral hostility—calling evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20), then attacking those who speak otherwise. • Religious veneer—leaders who keep religious language yet deny its power, as the tenants kept the vineyard but rejected the owner (2 Timothy 3:5). Why the Rejection Persists • Pride—“We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). • Love of darkness—evil deeds shrink from light (John 3:19). • Fear of losing influence—just as the tenants feared losing the vineyard, modern gatekeepers fear losing cultural authority (John 11:48). • Spiritual blindness—“The god of this age has blinded the minds” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Consequences of Rejecting God’s Messengers • Loss of stewardship—“He will lease the vineyard to other tenants” (Matthew 21:41). • Certain judgment—“How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3). • Separation from Christ—“Anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject man, but God” (1 Thessalonians 4:8). • National and personal ruin—as Jerusalem fell in A.D. 70, so cultures collapse when they expel God’s voice (Proverbs 14:34). Encouragement for Faithful Witnesses • Expect resistance—Jesus foretold it (John 15:18–20). • Keep speaking—Paul was told, “Do not be silent” (Acts 18:9). • Remember the Owner’s return—Christ will vindicate His servants (James 5:7–8). • Rejoice in sharing the Son’s reproach—outside the camp with Him is the place of true honor (Hebrews 13:12–14). |
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