THE SET UP
Jesus tells a powerful story in Luke 20. It is a parable, an earthly story to teach a heavenly truth. In the story, a group of wicked farmers constantly abuse and reject messengers from the land owner. They want to do things their own way. The story culminates in the farmers killing the land owners own son. This is a pretty obvious parallel to Israel rejecting messengers and prophets from God and ultimately killing Jesus. This seems like a terrible injustice to the audience who heard the story. They realize how unfair this is. And then, at some point it starts to sink in. That’s what we have been doing, rejecting God’s message to us. The Pharisees know they are the bad guys in the story and it makes them angry. Jesus told that story because He wanted to break up the hardness of heart many of them had developed toward God and His Word.
PASSAGE TO READ
Luke 20:9-26 (Page 631 in our house bibles)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Why do you think the evil farmers rejected the landowner and his messengers?
If you were the landowner, how would you have reacted to the evil farmers?
Do you think the Pharisees were angry that Jesus was talking about them or were they mad that someone was calling them on their behavior?
PRAYER IDEA
Ask God to help you keep an open mind and a soft heart to receive the messengers He may send into your life.