Luke 20:8-13: a reflection

8Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 9He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time. 10At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty. 11He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him and threw him out. 13The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

Jesus tells a parable about a man who plants a vineyard and rents it to tenants, then goes away. At harvest, he sends a servant to collect his share; but the tenants beat him and send him away empty. He sends another, and they treat him shamefully too; and a third, whom they wound and throw out. Then the owner says, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him. The owner's patience, sending servant after servant, culminates in the sending of his own beloved son.

Notice the patience of the owner, and the climax of his sending. Time after time his servants are rejected and abused; he would have had every reason to give up on the tenants, or to come in judgment. But instead he keeps sending, and finally sends his own beloved son, at great risk, hoping they will respond. The parable pictures God's dealings with a rebellious people: through the long line of prophets, rejected and mistreated, and at last through his own Son.

That reveals the astonishing patience and love of God. He sent his messengers again and again to a world that rejected them; and finally, when he might have come only in judgment, he sent his own beloved Son, at unimaginable cost, out of a love that would not give up. This is the measure of God's patient love: that he sent his Son even to those who had rejected all his other messengers. Do not presume on that patience by rejecting the Son as the tenants did, but respond to him. The God who so patiently sent his servants, and at last his beloved Son, seeks a response of trust and welcome, not rejection. Marvel at the love that sent the Son, and receive him, rather than turning him away as the tenants turned away all the rest.

Lord Jesus, you told of the vineyard owner who patiently sent servant after servant to the tenants who beat and rejected them, and at last sent his own beloved son; a picture of God's dealings with a rebellious world through the prophets, and finally through his own Son. Reveal to me the astonishing patience and love of God. You sent your messengers again and again to a world that rejected them; and finally, when you might have come only in judgment, you sent your own beloved Son, at unimaginable cost, out of a love that would not give up. This is the measure of your patient love: that you sent your Son even to those who had rejected all your other messengers. Keep me from presuming on that patience by rejecting the Son, as the tenants did; help me respond to him with trust and welcome. Help me marvel at the love that sent the Son, and receive him, rather than turning him away. Thank you for so patient and costly a love.