God’s Beloved Vineyard– 4 October, 2020

Matthew 21:33-46

The preacher who enters the scene described by Jesus in this passage will want to tread carefully. It presumes an agrarian system filled with exploitation, resentment, and eventual overflowing violence. Before it becomes an allegory about the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, it is an audience participation exercise where Jesus’ hearers would have chosen up sides over the justice and realities of absentee landlords. . .

Nevertheless, the story is used to bring judgment on the religious leaders, vindication of the rejected son, and an announcement of a new group of tenants “that produces the fruits of the Kingdom.” We can get stuck within the cycle of accountability, judgment, and replacement in this story or we can look to the one who is the cornerstone of a new community. Are we up to the task of interpretation and is the congregation up to the task of producing a harvest for God in response to the grace of Jesus Christ? –– Stephen C. Kolderup

Isaiah 5:1-7

Chapters 5 through 10 of Isaiah tackle the question of justice (concern for widows, orphans, the oppressed, etc.) and righteousness (what we owe God…), integral parts of Israel’s covenant relationship with YAHWEH. . . The ‘”Song of the Vineyard” with which these chapters begin sets the tone for examining the vineyard (Israel) in relation to the expectations of the vineyard owner (YAHWEH). . .

In Isaiah’s day, grapes were often grown on hillsides terraced by retaining walls built from local stones. During the grape harvest, the vineyard owner would hire men to protect the vineyard against animals and humans who might steal the fruit. From a watchtower, the hired men would remain vigilant over the grapes, a staple food of the local diet providing both wine and raisins. Isaiah refers to “choice vines” and “wild grapes.” The choice vines would produce wine-quality grapes with small seeds and juice with high sugar content. Conversely, wild grapes produced the opposite—small fruit with large seeds, and sour juice. . .

Isaiah says that the vineyard owner had invested great effort in his vineyard. Surely he expected a commensurate return on his effort. But the harvest is only wild grapes—something the owner could have gotten without all the effort he expended.

God did not create Israel lazily to produce wild grapes; he created them to be a blessing to all the nations of the world. Israel was to lead other nations to know and serve YAHWEH. But how could they lead others to YAHWEH if they did not keep the covenant themselves, if they failed to practice justice and righteousness? –– Joseph McHugh

Philippians 3:4b-14

The apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Philippi, put aside his obedient accomplishments in the Jewish law to follow Christ—but he emphasizes this is not because the Law failed to address the new community. He put it aside to follow Christ because Jesus continues to give shape to the new community. His conversion was only the beginning of learning again what it means to live in the vineyard. –– Stephen C. Kolderup

Stephen C. Kolderup recently served as interim pastor for South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church in Florida.

Joseph McHugh is a freelance writer from New Jersey, and a former weekly newspaper columnist writing on lectionary readings and whose recent writing includes Explain That to Me!: Searching the Gospels for the Honest Truth about Jesus (ACTA Publications).

Homily Service 41, no. 4 (2008): 49-59.