Luke 20 records one of Jesus’ parables.
A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.
As I pondered the parable, I was dumbstruck by the arrogancy of the vinedressers – believing that it was they who would determine who would receive the inheritance.
And yet, this happens over-and-over as the truth of God’s Word is minimized – being replaced by the religion of doctrine, philosophy, and tradition. Romans 3 says it best – ‘… let God be true, but every man a liar’.
Referring back to the parable, all mankind will one day stand before the owner of the vineyard – and he alone will determine one’s eternal destiny. Please, like never before, commit yourself to him and to his Word. (Ps 119: 105)
Read it for yourself. 