The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen

Common Elements Shared by the Three Accounts

The Vineyard Owner and Tenants – A landowner (God) plants a vineyard (Israel), leases it to tenants (religious leaders), and leaves.
Sending of the Servants – The owner sends servants (prophets) to collect the vineyard’s produce, but the tenants mistreat and kill them.
Sending of the Son – Finally, the owner sends his beloved son (Jesus), whom the tenants kill, believing they can seize the inheritance.
Judgment on the Tenants – The owner destroys the wicked tenants and gives the vineyard to others (Gentiles or faithful believers).
The Rejected Stone – Jesus references Psalm 118:22-23: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
The Reaction of the Religious Leaders – The chief priests and Pharisees recognize that the parable is about them and seek to arrest Jesus.

Differences Between the Accounts

Feature	Mark 12:1-12	Matthew 21:33-46	Luke 20:9-19
Setting	Jesus speaks to the crowd and religious leaders	Jesus specifically addresses the chief priests and Pharisees	Jesus speaks to the people, with religious leaders listening
Details of the Vineyard	Includes a wall, winepress, and watchtower	Same vineyard details as Mark	Omits specific vineyard details
The Servants Sent	Some are beaten, some killed, some wounded	Similar, but more explicitly violent (stoning mentioned)	Same pattern but simpler
The Tenants’ Plan	“This is the heir; come, let us kill him.”	Same as Mark	Same as Mark
The Owner’s Judgment	Owner destroys the tenants and gives vineyard to others	Same as Mark but adds that the kingdom will be taken away from them	Same as Mark
The Rejected Stone	Quoted from Psalm 118	Includes additional explanation: "The kingdom will be given to a people producing its fruit."	Adds warning: "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush anyone on whom it falls."
Reaction of Religious Leaders	They seek to arrest Jesus but fear the crowd	They seek to arrest Jesus and realize He is speaking about them	They recognize the parable is against them and say, “Surely not!” before Jesus reinforces the warning

Study During the Gaps of Authorship and Its Explanation of Differences

Mark (First Gospel – Foundation of the Story)
- Presents the parable concisely, focusing on the violence against the servants and the son to emphasize the coming rejection of Jesus.
- The judgment on the tenants is presented simply as destruction without much elaboration.
Matthew (Expansion – Kingdom Transfer Emphasis)
- After discovering that Israel was a “son” and a shadow of Christ, Matthew adds that the kingdom will be taken from the Jewish leaders and given to a nation producing fruit (believers in Christ).
- The violence is more explicit, showing the escalation of Israel’s rejection of the prophets.
- Stronger condemnation of religious leaders—Matthew heightens their guilt and responsibility.
Luke (Final Expansion – Warning to All Who Reject Christ)
- By the time Luke wrote, he saw the pattern of growing opposition to Jesus. He emphasizes that even the people must consider the warning, not just leaders.
- Adds the stone metaphor’s second warning: Falling on the stone breaks you, but being crushed by it destroys you.
- The crowd reacts differently, saying, “Surely not!”, showing their initial resistance to believing that Israel’s leaders would face judgment.

Unique Ideas of the Gospel Authors

Mark – Focuses on the straightforward rejection and judgment, letting the parable stand with minimal interpretation.
Matthew – Emphasizes the transfer of the kingdom, making it clear that the Jewish leaders’ rejection leads to their replacement.
Luke – Adds a warning to everyone, showing that rejecting Christ is not just an issue for leaders but for all who reject Him.

Unique Ideas in Putting This Together (My Approach)

The Vineyard as a Picture of Christ
- The vineyard is not just Israel—it represents Christ Himself.
- Just as Israel was a “son,” so was Christ. The tenants (religious leaders) reject the true vineyard, which is Jesus.
- In rejecting Jesus, they try to seize His inheritance, mirroring how Adam seized the fruit in Eden—they want the kingdom without the King.
The Son as Christ Before the Cross
- The son comes as the heir, before the cross.
- Before the cross, He is fruitless (just like the barren fig tree in Matthew 21:19).
- He comes to be killed so that a new fruitful vineyard (the Church) can be born.
The Stone as Christ After the Cross
- After the cross, Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the new kingdom is built.
- He was rejected before the cross, but after the resurrection, He becomes the foundation of the new people of God.
The Judgment as the End of the Old Covenant
- The wicked tenants are destroyed, just as the Old Covenant system is removed (70 AD, destruction of the Temple).
- The vineyard (Christ) remains, but it is given to those who receive Him—the New Covenant believers.
The Two Ways People Encounter the Stone
- Falling on the stone and being broken = Those who humble themselves and repent (like Peter).
- Being crushed by the stone = Those who reject Christ and are judged (like the Pharisees).
- The two responses mirror two ways to encounter Christ: surrender in humility or face final judgment.

Conclusion: A Unified Gospel Pattern

Mark (First telling) – Jesus exposes the leaders’ rejection of God’s plan.
Matthew (Second telling) – The kingdom is transferred, showing the implications of rejecting Christ.
Luke (Final telling) – The warning is expanded beyond just the leaders—it applies to all who reject Christ.

Your unique interpretation reveals a progression in the Gospel accounts, showing:

The Vineyard = Christ (not just Israel).
The Son before the Cross is Fruitless, but after the Cross is the Cornerstone.
The Stone Represents the Cross—People fall on it in repentance or are crushed in judgment.
The Judgment Represents the End of the Old Covenant and the coming of the New.

Group Study Guide: The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen

Scripture Passages:

Mark 12:1-12
Matthew 21:33-46
Luke 20:9-19

Opening Discussion:

Have you ever experienced rejection when trying to do something good?
What does it mean to be entrusted with something valuable? How does responsibility shape our actions?

Part 1: Observing the Passage

Read Mark 12:1-12, Matthew 21:33-46, and Luke 20:9-19 aloud.

Common Elements in All Three Accounts:

The Vineyard Owner and Tenants – A landowner (God) plants a vineyard (Christ), leases it to tenants (religious leaders), and leaves.
Sending of the Servants – The owner sends servants (prophets) to collect the vineyard’s produce, but the tenants mistreat and kill them.
Sending of the Son – The owner sends his beloved son (Jesus), whom the tenants kill, thinking they can seize the inheritance.
Judgment on the Tenants – The owner destroys the wicked tenants and gives the vineyard to others (believers in Christ).
The Rejected Stone – Jesus references Psalm 118:22-23: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
The Reaction of the Religious Leaders – They realize the parable is about them and seek to arrest Jesus.

Key Differences Between the Accounts:

Feature	Mark 12:1-12	Matthew 21:33-46	Luke 20:9-19
Setting	Jesus speaks to a crowd including religious leaders	Jesus specifically addresses the chief priests and Pharisees	Jesus speaks to the people with religious leaders listening
Details of the Vineyard	Includes a wall, winepress, and watchtower	Same as Mark	Omits specific vineyard details
The Servants Sent	Some beaten, some killed, some wounded	More explicitly violent (stoning mentioned)	Similar but simpler
The Tenants’ Plan	“This is the heir; come, let us kill him.”	Same as Mark	Same as Mark
The Owner’s Judgment	Owner destroys the tenants and gives vineyard to others	Same but adds “The kingdom will be taken away from you.”	Same as Mark
The Rejected Stone	Quoted from Psalm 118	Adds “The kingdom will be given to a people producing its fruit.”	Adds “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, but it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”
Reaction of Religious Leaders	Seek to arrest Jesus but fear the crowd	Seek to arrest Jesus, realizing He is speaking about them	They recognize the warning and respond, “Surely not!”

Part 2: Understanding the Message

1. Jesus as the Rejected Son

Why do the tenants reject the son?
What does this reveal about how people respond to Christ?

2. The Vineyard as Christ

If the vineyard represents Christ, what does it mean that it is given to others?
How does this connect to the transition from the Old to the New Covenant?

3. The Rejected Stone and the Cross

Read Psalm 118:22-23. Why does Jesus apply this to Himself?
How do we respond when we are confronted with the choice to accept or reject Christ?

4. The Two Ways to Encounter the Stone

Luke 20:18 says that falling on the stone breaks a person, but being crushed by it destroys them. What does this mean?
How does this reflect the difference between repentance and judgment?

Part 3: Applying the Message

In what ways do people today try to take “ownership” of the kingdom instead of submitting to Christ?
What does this passage teach us about our responsibility to bear fruit?
How can we ensure we are like the new tenants who receive the vineyard and not like the ones who reject Christ?

Challenge for the Week:

Identify an area where you need to surrender control to God instead of trying to take ownership.
Pray for humility to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone in your life.
Share the message of Christ’s mercy with someone who needs to hear it.

Closing Prayer:

Thank God for entrusting His kingdom to those who receive Christ. Ask Him for faith to accept Jesus fully and bear fruit for His glory.

Memory Verse:

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” – Matthew 21:42