Read Mark 12:1-12
Don’t be a Hypocrite!
Jesus tells a parable which is an allegory or riddle that speaks a hidden truth. This parable spoke truth against the religious leaders: the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. The parable is:
* A man planted a vineyard. The man represents God raising up a vineyard, meaning Israel. Jesus is referring to Isaiah chapter 5.
* The wine press and pit is the process used to extract the juices from the grapes. This process is a crushing process as is spiritual growth in our lives. We face trials and tribulations often which are used to bring growth and fruit in our spiritual walk with Jesus.
* The watchtower is the place where people stand to keep watch or guard over the surrounding area to ensure safety from the enemy.
* The tenants are entrusted to cultivate and produce fruit from the vineyard. The tenants represent the religious leaders who were to keep watch and care over the Spiritual development of Israel. But they failed to do so. Hypocrisy was their legacy.
* The servants were those sent to collect the fruit produced. They represent the profits of the Old Testament who confronted the religious leaders towards repentance. But instead of repenting they beat or killed the prophets.
* Eventually, the owner, God, sent his son, Jesus, to restore the people towards repentance and provide salvation for their souls. But the religious leaders rejected and killed him as well.
Jesus asked the question, what will the owner do to the tenants? Meaning, what will God do to the religious leaders for their lack of repentance and their hypocrisy? Jesus said the owner will cast judgment upon them and kill them. Jesus was the cornerstone mentioned in Psalms 118:22-23 whom the religious leaders rejected.
We are God’s vineyard, his creation. He desires for us to repent of our sins, receive Christ into our lives, and follow him into holiness. His desire is to see fruit come from our lives as we reach out in love to those around us.
If we are not walking in faith with Christ, God will send people and circumstances into our lives to point us to Jesus. He points us to Jesus not so that we can acknowledge Him with our mind, but so we can follow him with our whole heart. He wants to make us men and women of God who promote Christ through every word and act in our lives. Questions: Are you listening to his voice? Are you repenting of your sin? Or are you making hypocrisy your legacy?
Don’t be like the religious leaders. Get your life in order or face the judgment of God at the end. He has so much more for us, don’t reject the “prophets” or the people God sends our way!
