Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the vine-dressers) Part 2.
We continue this parable where Christ is telling the chief priest, the elders, and the scribes a story about a topic that they can relate to. He talks about a householder, a home owner, who remodels his home to accommodate a vineyard. The owner wants to have grapes that grow and pressed into a wine that he can enjoy. He is not able to oversee the entire process of the growth of the grapes and the pressing into wine, so he leases the vineyard out to workers who will be paid to manage it for him.
He goes on a long far away journey for business that keeps him away from his vineyard for some years while the grapes are growing and the wine is being pressed. Christ tells this story because he wants the rulers of the day to understand how it relates to them. They are the vine-dressers who were supposed to manage the vineyard for the householder. But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his fruits. And the vine-dressers seized his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
Surely this was wrong on the part of the vine-dressers. They were hired to work the vineyard and to prepare the wine when the grapes were ripe. They were hired to watch over the vineyard and prepare the fruit for the householder's return. They were given the charge to provide and protect the householders property for which they were being paid. Why did they turn on the householder? Why did they beat and torture the householders servants? What motive could they have for doing such?
Did they consider themselves in charge? Did they consider themselves as owners? Did they desire to have the fruits of the vineyard for themselves, knowing that it belonged to another? What motive could have persuaded them to take such heinous actions? We turn around and see some of the same actions today? Crime is rampant in the streets. Burglaries, robberies, theft, break-ins, all sorts of actions that indicate the same behavior taken by the vine-dressers of the past are still here today.
Why do we have to steal? Why do we have to rob? Why do we have to take by force that which does not belong to us but to others? We see, we want, and we take, seems to be the motto, irrespective of who it belongs to. There is the thrill of it all. And the chase to get away from being caught becomes a thrill to be remembered and repeated until caught.
If we only knew who we are. If we only knew what is given to us. If we only believed that we are already rich beyond our wildest imagination then we would know that we do not have to steal or take that which does not belong to us. More than anything of value on this earth, Christ has given us life anew and this is the most precious gift anyone can give to us. The rest is dirt. All the diamonds and jewels, and money and fame cannot compare to the treasures stored in heaven for those who love the Lord. Nothing can satisfy the hunger, the want, the desire that burns within, except he who has given us life. And it is he who has prepared a place for us in his kingdom. Take not! Steal not! Rob not! Be not that one who believes that he has not when he has all. Christ awaits with open arms to provide for you. Christ awaits with open heart to forgive you. Christ awaits with open spirit to love you with a love that no earthly gift can fulfill. Open your heart, open your mind, take the leap of faith and he will come and be with you!
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ . The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
We continue this parable where Christ is telling the chief priest, the elders, and the scribes a story about a topic that they can relate to. He talks about a householder, a home owner, who remodels his home to accommodate a vineyard. The owner wants to have grapes that grow and pressed into a wine that he can enjoy. He is not able to oversee the entire process of the growth of the grapes and the pressing into wine, so he leases the vineyard out to workers who will be paid to manage it for him.
He goes on a long far away journey for business that keeps him away from his vineyard for some years while the grapes are growing and the wine is being pressed. Christ tells this story because he wants the rulers of the day to understand how it relates to them. They are the vine-dressers who were supposed to manage the vineyard for the householder. But when the fruit season drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his fruits. And the vine-dressers seized his servants, and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
Surely this was wrong on the part of the vine-dressers. They were hired to work the vineyard and to prepare the wine when the grapes were ripe. They were hired to watch over the vineyard and prepare the fruit for the householder's return. They were given the charge to provide and protect the householders property for which they were being paid. Why did they turn on the householder? Why did they beat and torture the householders servants? What motive could they have for doing such?
Did they consider themselves in charge? Did they consider themselves as owners? Did they desire to have the fruits of the vineyard for themselves, knowing that it belonged to another? What motive could have persuaded them to take such heinous actions? We turn around and see some of the same actions today? Crime is rampant in the streets. Burglaries, robberies, theft, break-ins, all sorts of actions that indicate the same behavior taken by the vine-dressers of the past are still here today.
Why do we have to steal? Why do we have to rob? Why do we have to take by force that which does not belong to us but to others? We see, we want, and we take, seems to be the motto, irrespective of who it belongs to. There is the thrill of it all. And the chase to get away from being caught becomes a thrill to be remembered and repeated until caught.
If we only knew who we are. If we only knew what is given to us. If we only believed that we are already rich beyond our wildest imagination then we would know that we do not have to steal or take that which does not belong to us. More than anything of value on this earth, Christ has given us life anew and this is the most precious gift anyone can give to us. The rest is dirt. All the diamonds and jewels, and money and fame cannot compare to the treasures stored in heaven for those who love the Lord. Nothing can satisfy the hunger, the want, the desire that burns within, except he who has given us life. And it is he who has prepared a place for us in his kingdom. Take not! Steal not! Rob not! Be not that one who believes that he has not when he has all. Christ awaits with open arms to provide for you. Christ awaits with open heart to forgive you. Christ awaits with open spirit to love you with a love that no earthly gift can fulfill. Open your heart, open your mind, take the leap of faith and he will come and be with you!
Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage nd then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ . The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.
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