The primary reason this parable is used here is to serve as a warning to the natural country of Israel. God, the vineyard owner, has come time and again to this most favored nation looking to see if they had turned from their wicked ways and back to Him. However, God finds that national Israel just keeps moving further and further away from Him.
At all times, our focus needs to be on our own behavior in comparison to Jesus. He is the standard.
I think if we realize our Master is returning, we will stop seeking to be the master of one another and learn how to point ourselves back to the true King!
We are to be eagerly looking forward to our Lord's return when we can be with Him forever. And while we wait,... We work.
He is declaring that, though they think themselves to be wise and good teachers, they are actually having no positive effect on the people fo Israel at all!
Our devotion to the Lord is TO THE LORD. Not so that others can see how good we are. If we focus on the opinions of others like the Pharisees we will receive the same reward they did. Other people think we are good but God does not approve!
While we are no longer under the law as far as practicing ordinances, tithing, and sacrifices, the moral law of God still abides. And the most important expression of the character of God in the law abides as well – self sacrifice.
One of the best ways to keep ourselves unspotted by the world is to focus on helping others rather than doing things, including practicing religion, for our own benefit.
Our zeal for the Lord should always be in line with the clear direction of the Lord.
When we face trials and tribulations we need to have the same faith in God that Jesus had in the Father.
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