Jesus told another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. He then rented it out to some farmers and moved away. As the time of harvest approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
The tenants seized the servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. He then sent other servants to them, and they treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. He assumed they would respect his son.
When the tenants saw the son, they recognized he was the owners son and planned to kill him and take his inheritance. So they did just that.
Jesus asked the chief priests and elders what the owner will do when he confronts the tenants.
They replied that he would bring the wretches to a wretched end and then rent out his vineyard to new tenants who will give him a share of the crops.
Jesus then quotes a scripture to them and asks them if they have ever heard it:
“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Psalm 118:22-23
Jesus then tells them that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken, and whoever it falls on will be crushed.
When they heard this they knew Jesus was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest Jesus but was fearful of the crowd because they held that He was a prophet.
This parable that Jesus shares teaches us what will happen if we refuse to produce fruit. God has given us servants such as Moses, David, the prophets and judges. He has also given us His Son. If we refuse to produce fruit, eternity with Him will be taken from us. We must always live our lives in such a way that we aren’t just receiving grace, but are bearing fruit in the world because of it. Are you bearing fruit n your life?
A Journey With Jesus 