Jesus again teaches these Chief Priests and Elders by illustration and inductive questions. Rather than directly answering their challenge “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” [Matt 21:23] … Jesus responds by challenging these men on their understanding of God’s Law and The Prophets as it relates to the coming Messiah and the New Covenant.

• The lesson from this second parable of the ungrateful tenants leads to the Inductive understanding that the Master of the House over the vineyard “will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” [Matt 22:41]. In other words, if God gives the responsibility of care over HIS vineyard to someone who fails in that responsibility, then God, the Master of the House, will give that responsibility to someone else.

There is much in this parable too about the fundamental Christian Worldview. That is, how does the Gospel narrative, the Christian way of thinking, view this world and our place in it? How does this passage give us a truthful understanding of the gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven?

Creation

Fall

Redemption

Restoration

Also, this parable speaks to the calling, fall, and redemption of Israel as God’s chosen people and how this failed status is restored in the TRUE Church. Verses 40 & 41 have led many in Church history to interpret an antisemitic outcome for Israel. We must be cautious not to glean an antisemitic exegesis from this parable.