Day 301, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Mark 11:12–12:17; Matthew 21:12–22:22; Luke 19:45–20:26.
Don't Get Fired!
Getting dismissed from their jobs is something that few people want to experience. Why are some let go? There could be any of several reasons:
- not showing up for work on time or not at all
- failure to carry out assignments
- inconsistency in following policies or procedures
- dishonesty or theft
- abusing workers
- not submitting to authority or disloyalty
- subverting company policies and teaching their subordinates to do the same
- doing other things that harm the reputation of the firm
In today’s Bible reading, Jesus uses parables to show the need to reject and dismiss the religious leaders, particularly the priests. But they had tenure; they had been spiritual leaders of Israel since the days of Moses. Still, God holds them accountable.
God holds us accountable, too, for the actions we perform on our jobs or in the areas God has gifted us. What we learn from these parables may help us not to get fired or replaced.
Lessons from a Vineyard
The Israelites of that era were agriculturists and spoke in those terms. One day, Jesus shares a parable with the disciples concerning the management of a vineyard. The vineyard refers to the nations of Israel and Judah (Isaiah 5:1-7), and the priests were poor managers of them. For mismanagement of his vineyard, God (the owner) is removing them. Why? What did they do?From time to time, God sent regional supervisors (prophets) to straighten out the managers (priests) and instruct them in the proper care of the vineyard (their nation). However, when God sent them, the Jewish leaders killed them.
Then the Lord allowed a hostile takeover of their vineyard (the land of Israel). He permitted it because they were bankrupt and had irresponsible investors. The investors were the Jewish people. They were evil and idol worshippers. Finally, the Lord allowed Assyria and Babylon to take over their vineyard, remove them from their land, and force them to labor in exile.
Then, in his sovereignty, God gave the Jewish people another chance to return to the vineyard, replant (meaning, rebuild the temple and walls in Jerusalem), and manage his firm. Still, they were unfaithful and again did not listen to their supervisors (prophets).
After other hostile takeovers from Greece and Rome, God permitted the management to operate a small insignificant business in the exact location (the land of Israel). Still, it was under foreign ownership (Rome).
Finally, the firm’s owner, God, sent the Jewish people his own Son, who was his heir. The management (religious leaders) decided to kill the heir to continue to run the organization the way they wanted, for their own profits.
The heir, Jesus, came to turn the tables on the managers (Jewish religious leaders) and restore the fruitful operation. But, the religious leaders would soon incite the Jews to have the heir of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) killed. For this rejection, God would give ownership to someone else (a reference to Jewish believers in The Tribulation). In the meantime, God would allow other nations to enjoy the benefits of the vineyard, i.e., he would extend salvation to non-Jewish people (Gentiles; Matthew 21:43).
Most of us are not Jews, but we enjoy the benefits of salvation. How are we caring for the responsibilities God has given us? Would we want him to take them away and give them to someone else?.
Lessons from a Wedding Parable
After the parable of the vineyard, Jesus shares another story, the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). Here, he illustrates the same truth.
First, God invited Jewish people to a special meal held in heaven in honor of his Son, Jesus. The Lord had come to his own people (the Jews), did miracles for them, and invited them to become a part of the kingdom of God (heaven). Still, many would not receive or accept him (John 1:11). So, Jesus invites others to come to the banquet table.
What is required for an invitation to the wedding banquet? Money? Prestige? Fame? No, we only need humility and willingness to receive his invitation to salvation. When we do that, he will give us wedding clothes to wear before his banquet table.
Have we humbled ourselves and received his invitation to salvation, or are we still making excuses? We can’t go to the wedding banquet table in heaven in any other way. Let’s answer “yes” to him.
If we don’t answer yes, he will turn to others, and we will be severely punished in hell for eternity. Let’s humble ourselves and receive his gracious invitation (more...).
No one likes to be told they are being fired. In such cases, sometimes people act with vengeance against their employers or managers. Do we resent Jesus telling us how things must be? The Jewish leaders (Sadducees) don’t like Jesus any more than the religious leaders (Pharisees). So, they get help from the Herodians to remove his powerful influence on the people.
Desperation makes strange bedfellows; the Herodians are a political group loyal to Herod but hated by the Jews. However, the Jewish leaders, religious leaders, and Herodians have a common interest—getting rid of Jesus.
His popularity is a perceived threat to the Roman government. They wonder, Will Jesus start a rebellion? Crowds of people had already presented him as king in Jerusalem. Would they crown him? No, Jesus must go!
This coalition tries to trap Jesus by pitting his loyalty to Jewish law against Roman law in paying taxes. Jesus answers that there are things we owe to the government and things we owe to God. The Lord institutes governments for our protection and to dispense justice. We owe them honor and obedience. We also owe the same to God.
The Jewish leaders and Herodians fail in their attempt to trap Jesus because his wise answer makes them look bad.
Discussion
What is the point of the parable of the vineyard? Why does God want to fire the managers?
