Greater Than A Prophet

In this lesson we will read Luke 20:9-19.

9 He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.' 14 "But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!" 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

The Servants And The Son

Jesus was in Jerusalem and he knew that the leaders of the people were trying to kill him. He told a story about a man who rented a vineyard to some tenants.

1. Whom did the vineyard owner send to the tenants?

_____________________________________________________________

2. What did the tenants do?

____________________________________________________________

When the people heard this story they understood what Jesus meant. They knew that in the books of the prophets their nation was sometimes referred to as God’s vineyard. They also knew that in the past God had sent prophets to the nation and many of them had been mistreated, just like the servants in Jesus’ story.

But Jesus’ story did not just speak about the vineyard owner’s servants; it also spoke of his son. In telling this story Jesus clearly meant to say that he himself was like the son who would be killed.

3. Read what the owner of the vineyard says about his son (verse 13). Is the man’s son greater than his servants?

_____________________________________________________________

4. According to this parable, is Jesus more than just a prophet?

_____________________________________________________________

Jesus said that punishment would come upon the rebelling tenants. He then quoted some words of one of the prophets about a "stone".

5. What do you think Jesus’ words about the "stone" mean?

_____________________________________________________________

6. Who is the "stone"?

_____________________________________________________________

The Father And The Son

Read one other verse, Luke 10:22. Jesus spoke of God as his Father and of himself as God’s Son. According to these words of Jesus there was a special and deep relationship that existed between himself and God.

Jesus said that only the Son could reveal the Father. There are strong barriers which block mankind from knowing God. For one thing, there is a tremendous distance between man, the creature, and the hidden majesty of the Creator. Furthermore, the stain of human sin makes fellowship with God impossible. Who is it that can break down these barriers so that men and women can come to know God? According to these words of Jesus, only the Son can open the way to the Father.

7. According to this verse, Jesus can make God known to those whom he wants. Do you think that Jesus does want to reveal God to those who come to him?

_____________________________________________________________

8. Do you think that all people really want to know God, or are there some who try to hide from him?

_____________________________________________________________


Go to Lesson 14