In the parable stated in Matt 21:33-46, Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-19, the vineyard represents national Israel (cross ref : Isaiah 5:7), the tenants are Israel’s religious leaders, the servants are the prophets whom the leaders rejected and killed, the son is Jesus and the owner is God who will destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.
When Jesus our Lord said that the Kingdom of God would be taken away and given to a people producing its fruits, He was not talking about real estate (the land of Israel) being permanently taken away but about stewardship over God’s kingdom – specifically the spiritual leadership and privilege of representing God’s rule on earth. In Matt 21:43, the Kingdom of God is being taken away from corrupt Jewish leaders and given to others who will bear its fruit referring to the apostles, the early Jewish believers and eventually Gentile believers grafted into the people of God (Rom 11).
This parable does not teach that Israel is rejected forever. Rom 11:1 stated clearly that God has not rejected His people and Rom 11:25-26 stated only a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of Gentiles has come in and then all Israel will be saved. God’s covenant with Israel is not nullified. There will be a future restoration promised.
In summary, the parable is about spiritual leadership and not permanent loss of land. It warns that rejecting God’s Son leads to loss of kingdom responsibility. The Kingdom message moves from rebellious leaders to faithful people – who follow Jesus.
| Element | Symbol | Old Tenants (Rejected) | New Tenants (Accepted) |
| Vineyard | God’s covenant people / kingdom | Israel entrusted to religious leaders | The Church – all who follow Jesus |
| Owner | God | Sends prophets and His Son | Still the same Owner – God remains faithful |
| Servants | Prophets | Beaten, rejected, killed | Honored by the faithful |
| Son | Jesus Christ | Killed outside the vineyard (Jerusalem) | Believed, loved, followed |
| Tenants | Leaders/stewards | Chief priests, scribes, Pharisees | Apostles, Jewish believers, and Gentiles in Christ |
| Fruit of the vineyard | Righteousness, justice, obedience | Lacked justice, mercy, and truth (Matt 23:23) | Bear spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22–23; John 15:5) |
| Judgment | Accountability for stewardship | Kingdom taken away (Matt 21:43) | Kingdom given to those bearing fruit |
| Vineyard’s future | Ongoing purpose of God | Not destroyed, but under new stewardship | God/s mission continues through the Church |
