Parable of the evil farmers

Matt:21:33-46

The owner - built the vineyard, dug a pit, made a watchtower, bulit the vinepress, employed the tenants. He owns the place.

The tenant farmers - works out daily in the farm, thinking that the produce that they have toiled for is theirs - that is rebellion. That is self.

No matter what they say or do - they do not literally own the place. They have worked hard, agreed. But legally they do not own the land. And as long as they do not own the property, the produce is also not theirs. They are stewards. They are answerable. They have to give back. The owner will give them what deems best for him.

This owner is kind and good. He is no hard taskmaster, who is stingy. He just wanted a share of the produce. Not the whole thing and give the tenants ruthlessly. He gives freely.

Remember we do not own. We are tenants. Everything that we think we own - are not literally and legally ours. We are answerable to the master, who owns, who possesses, who takes care. It is not unfair to be a steward to toil hard and then give back to Him. It has always been and originally His. It is only just to give back.

When we try to grab and hold on to what we have in our fists for our own, then we are no less than those evil tenant farmers who was rebellious to beat up the servants and killed the son. We are no less than the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who dragged down Jesus to kill Him. It is out right rebellion to think that it is mine. It is out right rebellion not to let go of things which God had entrusted you to look after - your children, your education, your job, your money, your desires, your passion. Unless you give it back to God, unless you let it go to be used by Him, it is spelt in God's eyes as SELF. Or REBELLION.

Therefore repent.

Image credit: https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/jesus/final-ministry/parables-vineyards-cultivators/

Comments

Reasoned. #faith7

Heb:11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Who said Christian life is unreasonable? Abraham reasoned based on the One who does things His way. It looks illogical to you because your understanding is limited. Nothing is impossible for God. He is a God who created everything from nothingness. The Sovereign ruler. Abraham believed in this God. And it was natural for him to believe in the normalcy of God. What God could do, he reasoned and therefore he did receive. Believe realistically and logically in the God who is all Powerful. That is reasonable. Look at God not with your finite lenses. Look at the world with His infinitely focussed lens and it will make sense. He is a God who makes impossible things possible. But that is normal for Him. Image credit: https://eccles.utah.edu/news/why-well-reasoned-theories-are-more-important-than-crunched-numbers/

Abraham and Sarah. #faith5

Heb:11:8. By faith Abraham obeyed . And it was complete obedience. Despite the uncertainties around him, he still obeyed. That was out of faith in Him who called him. Faith brings forth absolute obedience. By faith you are able to keep aside that habit, because you know that hurts your love, your husband. By faith you are able to say no to things which allured you before. By faith you are able to say yes to things which God asks you to do, eventhough it looks foolish according to the world. Jesus says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. Faith and love prompts you to obey, no matter what. Heb:11:10. For He waited . Abraham waited in the land of promise as in a foreign country as a pilgrim. He waited for a city whose maker is God. He had his eyes on heaven, not on his wealth in this world. Not on what this world can offer. He also waited for approximately 24 years for the promised child. Heavenward was his eyes always. Godward was his heart always. Heb:11:1...

Well done. #faith3

'Come Enoch let's walk'. Enoch thought that would be just like any other day. Walking with God. But that day was different somehow. He didn't know why. Everything around him was joyous. The smile was even more radiant in God's face. He couldn't understand when the wind whispered in his ear, you're going home. But joy was definitely bubbling in his heart too. He didn't know why. Yards turned to miles. Sand became rocks. But the talking and fun wouldn't cease. Then at the top of some mountain they reached. He said, come lets go home with a radiant smile. Enoch turned to walk back alone. He thought Oh! I have to wait till tomorrow again to meet my Love yet again. But he could see the ground dropping low, and the air getting thinner. And when He realised he is in the arms of his husband, oh! What joy. God is taking him to his heavenly home for eternity. No more time constraints. Enoch's heart was now jumping with joy. Kissing frantically ...

Blessed. #faith8

Heb:11:20-21 When things were still unseen, they blessed their children. Looking forward positively when things were blurry, when things were uncertain, when future looks bleak, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau; Jacob blessed Joseph's son's. Isa:54:13. All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace. Psalm:127:3. Children are a heritage from the Lord. Psalm:128:3. Children will be like olive shoots around your table. It is the Almighty, Sovereign God who promised this and He will not lie.

Seated on the right hand side of God

Heb:8:1 The Son who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. The Son is eligible. The Son is worthy. He is equal in character and essence and existence as the Father. In Him and through Him and by Him all things were created and all things sustained. Ruler. Supreme authority. The Son. The Lamb who was slain for the salvation of man, humbled Himself to the death on a cross to redeem mankind. He alone is worthy to sit on the right hand side of throne. And seated us with Him in heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Eph:2:6 We are not eligible. We are not worthy. But still He did this for us. Image credit: https://yahwehishisname.blogspot.com/2012/09/understanding-our-inheritance-in-christ.html?m=1

Big brother - a prose

Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. Heb:2:11 A big brother Tempted in every way that I am Yet without sin A big brother who suffered in every way when tempted Therefore able to help us all Who are being tempted. A big brother who understands fully What I go through A big brother who is there With me till the end of days. A big brother who is faithful to the dot A big brother who promised To go to His Father's house And arrange a place for me And has promised to come back To take me home Jesus my big brother The assurance it brings The source of the peace that passeth all understanding Amen, Lord Jesus; I trust Image credit: https://www.stocksy.com/photo/812114/two-brothers-holding-hands-walking-on-an-autumnal-forest-road

Lazy

We do not want you to become lazy but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Heb:6:12 Being lazy in faith is a dangerous thing - not actively working out the salvation you have freely received by grace. Not actively doing things because you are saved. Continuing on things which once entertained you. May be harmless things. But it quenches the Spirit in you. Not feeding on the right things, so then the new man is stunted; and feeding on the world's things so then the old man is still allowed to grow.. Forgetting the fact that the old man is dead. Proactively do things out of your faith. So that you will inherit what has been promised. Are you lazy in applying your faith in testing times? Are you lazy in spending time with the Word of God? Are you lazy in praying and fasting? Then it would be hard to inherit what has been promised.

The halfbaked Bard

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