Matthew 21:33-46 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 21:33-46 on biblegateway.com
Verse 33"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. Verse 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. Verse 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Verse 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Verse 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' Verse 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance." Verse 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Verse 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" Verse 41They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." Verse 42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? Verse 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. Verse 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." Verse 45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. Verse 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Devotion
Twitter was abuzz this month with the rumor that former South African President, Nelson Mandela, 93, had died. His foundation disputes the claim and reports the statesman was hospitalized for an acute respiratory infection back in January, but has since made a complete recovery. Mandela isn't a stranger to health issues. In the 1980s, while serving his 27-year jail sentence for crimes against the state, Mandela was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Being an anti-apartheid activist, he also knows a thing or two about standing up against the status quo.
Today we hear a story about a son working diligently to get back what rightly belongs to his father. In short, the son sets out to restore order. But the restoration meets opposition from those with a vested interest in brokenness. In your life, who opposes restoration because they benefit from brokenness? Who pushes back against change because they benefit from the status quo?
Prayer
Thank you for sending your son to restore order. Give us the knowhow to identify those who stand against restoration and give us courage to oppose their selfish cause. Amen.