Parables of Christ - Part 26

The Wicked Husbandmen

The Audio Version of today’s note is advised

The House of Bread · Voice Note for 20241029 - The Wicked Husbandmen - Parables of Christ - Part 26

Mark 12:1-12 KJV

[1] And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. [2] And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. [3] And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. [4] And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. [5] And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. [6] Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. [7] But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's. [8] And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. [9] What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. [10] And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner: [11] This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvellous in our eyes? [12] And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

Note for 20241029

Related, there are also 2 other accounts of this parable which can be found in Luke 20:9-19 & Matthew 21:33-46, but I will not include it here for reading for respect of your time. All three accounts read much the same.

In our journey through the Word, we have read of good and unfaithful servants, good stewards like Joseph and bad stewards like King Ahab, just to mention some names you can relate to. Now we read this parable about the Husbandmen. Of course, these here in the parable are farmers who rented a vineyard. Why does the older translations then speak of husbandmen?

Let us look at the noun, husbandry:

[1.] the care, cultivation, and breeding of crops and animals.

"all aspects of animal husbandry"

[2.] management and conservation of resources.

"low borrowing demonstrates astute husbandry of resources"

These come from the definition according to the Oxford languages. Now, it is not my habit to use worldly definitions but there is a point to this today. For what else is the root word "husband" used in the Word of GOD? Let's leave that for the Holy Spirit to work on in each.

The second concept I want to lift up out of the text is the rejected stone, that became the cornerstone. And for us, who believe in Christ Jesus our Lord, we know that our foundation must be in Him. Once more, I will leave this for the Holy Spirit to reveal in each.

As far as the parable itself goes, we know that it relates to those that God trusted with His Law, with a promise of Salvation in the Messiah that would come to them. The very same Jesus Christ of Nazareth, from the line of King David, just as the prophecies foretold. Even in this scripture, those wicked Husbandmen were identified as those who wished to lay hands on Christ, even at this time, fearing the crowds. And the chief ones of these, of course, once again being the Pharisees and scribes. These, that were trusted with the law and to judge over God's people justly, the Husbandmen. And, today we know that these were responsible for delivering our Lord and Saviour to the Cross. So, this parable also pointed to the Way Jesus, the only Begotten Son of GOD Almighty, would go.

All this is quite plain to see in the scripture.

Now, and this is most important to understand today; who still rejects our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in our time? Who are the Husbandmen in our time? Can you accept the person Jesus Christ, but deny His Word?

My friends, do you realize that this parable essentially speaks of the entire history of mankind on earth? That means, this parable remains an "active" parable even until this very day. Did Christ not relate to us, who carry out the Word of GOD, that we are like the prophets that came before us in Matthew 5? Who, then, are the martyrs of Christ that died for Him and the message of His Gospel, even of the New Covenant that GOD made with mankind by the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son? Are our Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ not rejected, oppressed and even murdered? By whom are they oppressed and killed? Who is it that oppresses us even?

Are you starting to see it? Who wants the world all to themselves and wants no mention of Him Who Created All? Let him who has eyes to see, see. Let him with ears to hear, hear. For the rejected stone shall come upon the kingdoms of this world just as King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of the rock that came and destroyed that great big statue of an idol. Who does this world idolize? Who do they lift up higher in their worship than GOD? Is politics, for example, not grabbing, in the same way, man's attention; don't the people parade through the streets singing their party's praises?

See who the world worships instead of GOD Almighty, and our Lord Jesus Christ. See who they think will save them. Whether it be a party or a cause, an institution or even some mortal man lifted up to a godly idol figure, it is all the same... It remains idolatry. Now see the rallies, the sport arenas and yes, see the concerts that the idols of man worship all the time, with a lack of understanding what worship is.

And which idol is served by most? Oh, friends, please see it. Money, wealth, abundance, comfort and luxury... Yes, people worship Mammon, and the systems of Mammon. Now see the hoards of people slaving each day, compromising their personal morals and faith for the sake of having more tomorrow than what they had before. See the congregations of people in the worship of dollars, pounds and all forms of earthly possessions. We have read of evil spirits possessing mankind, but what is it that man seeks to possess? Is that not the vineyard that the Lord our God, the Almighty Creator rented out to us? Is He getting His portion of the harvest? Is rent paid to Him, or has mankind become occupiers, trespassers in GOD'S creation? What may be the report of us as stewards of His possession, treating all as our own? Whose will is being done, here on earth, in this world, to which the Lord Jesus Christ said we do not belong?

Now, who did the Son of GOD say will inherit the earth? Jip, that is Matthew 5 again. Can you see now why we went through the Sermon on the mount and the parables of Christ in response to what we read in Revelation 21?

I know that the Husbandmen of this world will hate my message today. I know that they might seek to bring harm to me. I know that this message is hated by mankind, because they have made a possession for themselves of God's creation. They have planted their flags even on the moon. For the earth is not enough for man. No, they have laid claim to all and now seek to lay claim to the stars in heaven. Read the account of the Tower of Babel again, and ask yourself, is man not still set on the same?

The owner of all shall return, and deal with all the Wicked Husbandmen. That much, you can count on. It will surely happen.

That then for today, for some perspective for those who trust in the Lord our God, that we can remember who is the Most High GOD. To remember who the Son of GOD is, that He sent to man to receive His first fruits from the crop of man. Harvest time is coming, even at the door and so are the Angels that GOD will send, to bring the harvest in.

Shalom

The House of Bread

Verse of The Day

(YouVersion - Expanded from verse 10)

Galatians 1:10-12 KJV

[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. [11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. [12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.