In the parable about the tenants of the vineyard (v9-16), Jesus is picturing Israel. This parable brings home the truth that our lives are not our own to do whatever we please. We’re owned by our Creator and we owe Him lives of obedience which honour Him.

When the Lord looks at our lives at the end of each day to see what harvest there is, does He often have to go away empty handed (v9-10)?

We see here that the responses to the owner get more and more aggressive, even to His Son (v11-15).

Sin will have a deepening and hardening impact on our souls. If we resist God’s word sin will take us deeper into itself. Being rebuked is never easy, but when we are rebuked by God we must take it to heart.

In this parable we see the true and ugly nature of sin (v14-15). Sin is wanting to take what is rightfully God’s for ourselves. Sin is using our talents, time and possessions for our own purpose rather than God’s glory. Sin is preferring to kill Jesus than to have Him rule over us.