The Parable of the Wicked Tenants
9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’?18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Overview of the Parable
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants, found in Luke 20:1-16, tells the story of tenants who repeatedly abused, shamed, and wounded the servants sent by the vineyard owner to collect his share of the fruit. Their wickedness escalated when, upon seeing the owner’s son, they plotted and ultimately murdered him. The events unfold as a stark narrative of violence and betrayal.
The Tenants’ Wickedness: Nothing New
The tenants’ behavior—marked by greed, avarice, rapacity, and murder—is not astonishing. Such acts are just another example of humanity’s enduring sinfulness, often reflected in history and daily news. If we are shocked by these evils, it may reveal an unfamiliarity with the darker aspects of human nature. The real surprise, then, is not the tenants’ depravity, but the rarity of goodness and restraint in a world so prone to violence and escapism.
The Owner’s Shocking Patience
What truly stands out in this parable is the vineyard owner’s repeated willingness to send his servants, and eventually his beloved son, to tenants who consistently rejected and harmed those sent to them. Instead of resorting to immediate punishment, the owner continued to offer opportunities for repentance. His actions defy worldly expectations—he did not have the tenants arrested or executed, nor did he bring swift judgment upon them.
The Heart of the Parable
At its core, this story is not merely a reflection on human evil, but a revelation of the owner’s long-suffering and merciful heart. The most astonishing aspect is not the perversity of the tenants, but the owner’s patience and desire for their repentance. His goodness stands in stark contrast to their wickedness.
God’s Graciousness Revealed
The parable ultimately reveals the good and gracious heart of God—a God who offers second chances, third chances, and even more. Unlike a typical businessman, this divine Owner acts not as a Lord of commerce, but as a Father of compassion. He is described as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:6-7).
Reconsidering the Name
Rather than calling it the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, perhaps it should be known as the Parable of the Audaciously Patient Vineyard Owner. The story focuses not only on the tenants’ sin, but far more on the divine patience and compassion that define the heart of God.
