Luke 20:9

Luke 20:9, in plain English

Jesus tells the people a story about a man who planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers, and went away for a long time. The audience would know immediately: the vineyard is Israel.

Why it's here

This parable draws from a famous image in Isaiah where God compared Israel to a vineyard. Everyone listening would connect the dots — and the religious leaders would feel the heat.

Who's speaking

Jesus tells a parable that the audience would recognize as being about Israel and its leaders.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus begins a story everyone knows the template for: God planted Israel, entrusted it to leaders, and went away expecting fruit. What happened next is the problem.

The scholarly reading

Jesus tells the people the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, beginning with a vineyard (ampelōna) planted, rented to tenants, and left in their care. The vineyard imagery draws directly from Isaiah 5:1-7's Song of the Vineyard.

Language and setting

Isaiah 5's vineyard represents Israel, with God as the landowner. The parable recasts Israel's history as a story of tenant stewardship gone wrong. The 'long time' (chronous hikanous) away spans the prophetic era.

Voice

Jesus tells a parable aimed at the religious leaders, using vineyard imagery the audience would immediately recognize from Isaiah.

Significance

Jesus launches a parable the religious leaders will recognize as aimed at them. The vineyard is Israel, the owner is God, and the tenants are the leaders entrusted with God's people. The story of their failure is about to be told.

7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.

8And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

9Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.

10At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.

11So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.

Read all of Luke 20 — The religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority. He answers with a parable about murderous tenants that leaves them furious and afraid.