The Wicked Husbandmen - Frank Brancato

Just prior to the time that Jesus spoke these words.

You remember that? He had just made his triumphal

entry into Jerusalem. Now, as we picture as it were,

the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of Kings, and the Lord of

lords, and the greatest one that ever lived.

The one that was destined from his very birth to be the Lamb of

God and be sacrificed for the sins of the world.

The one who would be king would come riding in Jerusalem.

On the back of a Colt of a donkey.

You could just imagine how incense they were when Jesus

would overturn the tables of the money changers and say that my

house, he says for it is written.

He quoted the word of God. He said for it is written.

My house shall be a House of Prayer, but you have made it a

den of Thieves. And you remember as they came to

Jesus, no doubt. They wanted the, I know that

they didn't. They didn't really think that or

they were actually not looking to Jesus as giving the the

proof. In other words, give us the

proof by which you say the things you do.

So we can follow you. I don't think that's exactly

what they were saying. I think what they were saying is

go ahead and speak the very Blasphemous words that you're

from God and give us a reason that we might kill you.

And so, they came to Jesus and they said, tell us by what

Authority, thou, doest, these things, and who gave you that

Authority, but Jesus responded again, as he did in so many

times in parabolic drapery, he begins by giving the parabola,

just a moment of the two sons. But prior to that, he said this,

he says this to them. He says, I'll answer your

question. That's not a problem.

Just answer one of mine. The baptism of John was the

baptism? ISM of John from heaven, or was

the baptism of John of man? And the Bible says that they

discussed the matter. You know, I don't know if they,

if they separated themselves from those that were standing

there, those Chief priests and elders and scribes and Pharisees

and all that would be in attendance.

I don't know how many were pulled aside at that point in

time because the Bible doesn't say, all we know is they

discussed the matter, and they came to the conclusion.

This is a lose-lose Proposition. Because if we say that, the

baptism of John was from Heaven, they knew that Jesus Christ,

right? Then, and there would have

looked him dead straight in the eye and convicted them by

saying, if you knew it was from Heaven, why didn't you listen to

him? Why didn't you obey his teaching

the voice of one crying in the wilderness?

But then they knew if we said it was from man, they feared, the

people, you know, that phrase, they feared, the people when I

think about that. I think about two choices that

it could be number one, they feared, the people that might do

something to them bodily or harm them because the Bible says in

Matthew's account, that all considered John to be a prophet.

So as we look at that, maybe they were saying that they

feared the people because of the fact, That they might inflict

bodily harm upon them. But I think really if you

examine their hearts, I think there's something else that

makes more sense. I think they feared their

standing, they didn't want to lose their Elite status among

the people. They didn't want to lose that

because they knew that so many people considered John to be a

prophet that if they would say, oh no, it's not from Heaven, it

is man-made, it is wrong. It is something that some man

dreamed up one day. I think they feared the people

with the standing that they may have in society You know, when

you're respected. If you're respected in life

because of things that you've accomplished or things that you

have done or whatever status that you have it causes you also

to realize that you need to be careful that you're not puffed

up with pride. If we ever feel like we can

never accept that, we make a mistake or if we ever get to the

point that we fear our status or are standing that we don't make

changes when we know we need to make them because we don't want

to lose our status or are standing among the people.

Be careful. Because we are then, puffed, up

with pride. And the Bible says that Pride

goeth Before Destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

You know, I'll tell you something.

Folks, pride is To get more. Get most of the people, I think

pride is going to be the source of getting most of the

Christians that fall and don't make it to Heaven.

One day, it's going to be Pride. God hates pride.

In fact Jesus, you remember would give that very idea.

He said, if you're going to lift yourself up, you're going to be

brought down, but if you will humble yourself and

incidentally, that doesn't mean I hate myself and go in the

corner and just wither away. That's not what that's talking

about. I'm going to tell you something.

Hating yourself is not A Biblical principle and that's

not what's being said, it means this.

I'm going to take myself and move it aside because someone

else or something else, is more important than I am.

It doesn't make me a rotten person to go migrate in the

corner. Somewhere Pride, got the devil.

The Bible says Pride got the devil and got him in the third

of host of Heaven, cast out of Heaven A long time ago.

So Jesus then. Gives the parable of the two

sons. It's very important because he's

giving the parable of the two sons to correct or to condemn

the fact that they didn't listen to John the Baptist.

That's number one. He gave this one for another

reason but just a moment on that.

But first of all that little short Parable, he gives the

parable of the two sons. He says, there's a man and this

man owns a Vineyard and he's got two sons, you know, parents can

almost see this happening. And you tell them both to go out

into the vineyard and go to work.

The first one says I'm not going but later he repents and he goes

Jesus said then there's a second son and that son, he says I'll

go but then he doesn't Jesus asks him the question which one

of these two did the will of the father.

And what could they say? They said, well, the first the

first did the will of the Father.

And Jesus responded by saying verily, I say unto you that the

tax collectors and the prostitutes or harlots go into

the kingdom of God before you. Why Jesus, why is that?

Look at the next verse for John came to you in the way of

righteousness and you believed him, not, but the public ends

tax Actors harlots, prostitutes believed him and Yi.

When you had seen it repented, not afterward that, you might

believe him. And so he condemned them in that

short little Parable. And isn't it interesting?

That Jesus lays it out to them so that they have to actually

answer the question themself he's going to do this with this

Parable to I love the sermons that Jesus preached don't.

You just love the sermons? You know, when we're learning

how to teach When We're Young. Sometimes we choose The Parables

because they seem simple. But then, when you get older and

you keep studying, you realize, oh wait a minute, there's a ton

of meat in those passages. The thing is, the reason that

it's like that is because Jesus and if you want to know, if you

want to know the picture of a good speaker, here it is.

If you want to know the criteria or an example of the greatest

teacher that ever lived, it's Jesus take something that may be

difficult and make it sound as simple as he did.

And this is what he said. He basically as he did so many

times in essence is saying this come here.

I want to tell you a story. He said there was a householder,

this was a landlord and he said this householder, he has a

Vineyard. I don't know if he bought the

piece of ground with the vineyard in it, but he prepared

The Vineyard perfectly, it's got every single characteristic and

every single thing that is needful to be successful in

being in the grape industry or the vineyard business notice in

verse 33. Either says, hear another

Parable. There was a certain householder

or landlord or landowner, which planted a Vineyard and hedged it

round about and digged a winepress in it and built a

tower and let it out to the husbandmen and went into a far

Country. Now, notice This man's got a

Vineyard. And he prepares it perfectly.

Its first class all the way. He builds a hedge around it for

protection against animals. He builds a tower in the middle

of it, so somebody could be in that Tower and make sure that

man doesn't come at the time of harvest and steal.

What is in the vineyard There's a wine.

Press a winepress. Very interesting.

You want a wine? Press is a two-layered.

You know, I've tried to picture in my mind.

I wish I could see a picture but I know it's two layered and

Scholars say it was either dug out of the ground and lined with

stone or it was actually dug in the stone but it was two layers

and the two layers one on top of the other.

It was connected by an orifice that basically allowed the

things of the top to go through. But it was small enough that

only The juice, from the grape could go down through the

orifice and be taken in that vat.

You know, every time, I think about stepping on grapes, I

can't help but think about that episode of, I Love Lucy when

they were stomping around in the, in the, in the, in the

grapes. You know, I just can't imagine

that people putting their feet on grapes.

But what they did is they laid the grapes in the tray of the

upper part of this vat and when they would walk on it, it would

crush the grape and the juice would run down.

It was perfect, it's satisfied. Their every need and Jesus says

that he gave it a he rented it out or he let it out to someone

called husband men. And the husbandmen basically

were the laborers and these were these were those that would

actually go and do the work. That's Found in the vineyard.

Now, here's the deal. The landowner goes away.

In fact, Luke's account says he goes away and it's the only

account you can find this in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but

Luke's the only one that recognizes any particular

timeframe. And Luke says that the

householder goes away for a long time.

But, here's the deal. These husband men were allowed

to work in the vineyard, they were allowed to reap all the

benefits. And privileges of the They were

allowed to be right in it just as if it was their very own.

But they owed the householder something.

And the householder needed to get his share of the rent.

Rent was paid by way of product. Are you getting the picture

here? Those that were working the

husbandman or the vinedressers, they needed to pay their rent by

giving fruit or giving the things that came from their crop

to the landowner simple, isn't it?

That's a simple thing. Got a tower.

Nobody's going to steal from you.

Got a hedge animals, won't destroy.

Got a perfect Vineyard, everything is fine, landowners,

leaving you alone, landowner departs for a long time.

All that's required is pay the rent.

Pay your rent. That's it.

What are these things represent though?

The householder represents obviously God the vineyard

represents, you know, sometimes Vineyard is described in, is

used in describing Israel, but not necessarily Israel.

Per se in this text In this passage, The Vineyard here

represents the special privileges that were given to

Israel. Thirdly, the husbandman, those

were the ones that were the physical leaders of Israel.

The priests the, scribes, the elders, and all that would

follow in other. The husband man was the physical

nation of Israel. But then there was the servants.

And the servants. Were the ones that came to get

the rent? They represent the prophets more

on that later and finally, the sun represents Jesus.

This is God. This is the special privileges

given to Israel. This is the physical nation of

Israel. The people all included there in

the servants. Are the prophets of God and the

son is Jesus Christ. Now, our little story, this is

what Jesus says. After a time went by the house

holder sent servants back to collect their share to collect

their portion or their part of the fruit that was rightful to

the landowner. And the Bible says that when

they got there, they didn't pay, they not only didn't give what

was rightful to the householder and keep their agreement.

But they brutally mistreated those servants.

They killed one, they beat one, and they stoned another.

And in verse 36 again, he sent other servants more than the

first, and they did unto him like wives.

I want you to picture this. Some of you own homes.

Some of you wrecked places. I want to draw the analogy, if

you're renting. A house, apartment, whatever it

is. Can you imagine if a person that

worked for the landlord came to you and says it's time to give

your share of the rent. How would it be if you beat that

person? Physically Or killed yet another

or stoned a third. Do you think for one minute now?

Get this. Do you think for one minute that

the landlord is going to say? Well, maybe they're just having

a bad day. I'm going to give them another

chance. If it was in the flesh, if it

was you or I, you know, what? You'd be doing the very first

time that they did something like that, you would call the

police the authorities and because that is a crime, they

were committing a crime. You think you're going to have

mercy for them? You're going to protect

yourself. If you have other servants,

you're going to protect them and not want them to go and spend

any time there. Jesus says, that the husbandman

set even more or the householder sent even more And the same

thing happened to them. Luke's account says, they were

shamefully entreated. These were Wicked.

People, not only did they beat them and kill them, but they

shamed them. You can only imagine the

landlord or what it would be today and I'm going to tell you

what this landowner did. He got to thank him. and he

said, you know, surely these people surely, these people have

something inside for me, still Certainly these people

certainly, if they think about me at all, if they honor me at

all, if they respect me at all, even the in the least, they're

going to respect my son and they're going to reverence my

son. And so he sends his son to go

and collect. I'ma tell you something that

takes that takes somebody that is capable of doing things that

you and I are not That's the picture of God.

That's the picture of God's love for man.

Man has messed up over and over and over and over and over

again. They were Wicked.

They beat those prophets of God. They killed them.

They stoned them. Time will not permit us to go

into that. But what you can do is and your

own time, you can look at 2nd Chronicles 36 and it also

Matthew 23 and verse 37 about the very idea of what we're

talking about, the Servants of God, or the prophets were

persecuted beaten and killed and mistreated and shamed.

By the workers in the vineyard. By the people.

Surely, if all I got one more idea, I'll send my son.

And if there's any bit of respect left inside for me at

all, they're going to respect my son.

You know, if I own a business, And I have a son and he works in

the business. You know, the other people that

work in there too. They may not like it, but at

least they're going to act like they respect the sun.

They're got at least go through the motions, like they're going

to respect the sun. Why?

Because their father owns the business, the father writes

their paycheck You would think that's exactly what these people

would do, but that's not what they did.

And the Bible says, when the sun got there, they looked upon the

Sun. And you know what they said?

They didn't say, oh, here he comes.

Let's respect him. They said this.

There he is. There's the air.

That's killing why? So we can own the vineyard.

Do you see the progression there?

Look at the progression of their crime.

It all started by not giving the fruit or the rent that was

rightful to the landowner, their landlord, then it began by

persecuting and even physically attacking the Servants of the

landlord Because they didn't want to pay.

Then when the sun came, they said will kill the Sun so we can

have it all. We'll kill the son, so we can

own the vineyard and no longer will.

We be just plodding along as tenants when the Lord therefore

the Vineyard comes this. What Jesus asked, what will he

do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, he will

miserably get this. Now this is their response.

He turns it back on them like he did with the parable of the two.

Sons he asks him a question. A question where there's only

one, answer and Jesus. As well, when the landowner

comes back, what you going to do to those people that did, so to

the Servants of that landowner, and even his son response was,

he will miserably destroy, those wicked men, you know what else

he's going to do, he's going to take this what they said.

He's going to take the vineyard away from these husband men, and

he's going to give it to somebody else, who's going to

appreciate it and give it to someone else that is going to

give the house. Householder his rent, his fruit.

God has always demanded payment and fruit.

Now, when we talk about payment regarding salvation, there's

nothing that I can do in my life that's going to be worthy of

what Jesus did for me. There's nothing that I can do in

my life, that's going to be good in terms of earning my way to

Salvation. We are saved by grace, that's

true. But we fall from grace when we

don't work and the works that we must do is when we bear fruit

for his name and his cause obedient works.

The Lord has always demanded obedience and he still does

today. Jesus says, what's going to

happen to these people. He said the Lord is going to

come back. He's going to destroy those

Wicked people. He's going to give the vineyard

to somebody else. You know, it was said that they

were looking at this Parable like, well, that really couldn't

happen, that's really not going to happen.

But notice what Jesus says, in the next verse verse 42.

He says, did you never read the read the scriptures, the stone,

which the builders rejected? The same is become the head of

the corner. This is the Lord's doing and it

is marvelous in our eyes. You know what Jesus was saying?

Jesus says, oh yes, this makes sense.

Yes, this is true. And didn't you read the

scriptures? Haven't you read the prophecy?

Haven't you looked at these things before?

He said this. Jesus said look to the

scriptures. The the stone that the builders

rejected is made The Headstone or the chief of the corner.

Who is the head stone? Or the chief stone, or the

Cornerstone? It's the sun, it's Jesus.

And Jesus was going to do something great.

He was as God used Jesus as the Cornerstone, he was going to

build something else. Now the builders the builders,

the religious Elite of yesterday under the law of Moses.

They rejected the stone. They rejected Christ.

Picture it like this. If you build something, build a

block wall, You have bricks any kind of anything, you're

building a structure, you have building materials.

What do you do? What you do is when you want it

to look really nice and pretty. You start sorting through the

materials you want. Oh, this is a good one.

This is a really good. I like the color.

This one, this one over here, all this one will go.

Oh, this one is unsightly. It doesn't belong in the

structure at all. So, what happens, you take that

one, and you scrap it, you throw it aside and you don't plan on

using it. Jesus said, God has chosen.

Chosen the one that the builders rejected and threw off to the

side, not only to be part of the structure, not only to be part

of the building. But he'll be the very Foundation

of it. All will be built from him and

without him, the structure will not be built at all.

Ladies and gentlemen, obviously, he's talking about the church.

He's going to build the church and he's going to join Jew and

Gentile together alike. If they'll come in obedience and

First Peter chapter 2, beginning in Reading in verse 4, let me

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

hurriedly read this to whom coming as unto a Lively Stone

disallowed, indeed of men but chosen of God and precious, ye

also as Lively stones are built up a spiritual house.

A holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable

to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also, it is contained.

In the scripture, behold, I lay in Zion a chief Stone, Jesus,

elect precious. And he that believeth on him

shall not be confounded unto you, therefore, which believeth

he's precious, but under them, that are disobedient, the stone,

which the builders disallowed, the same as made the head of the

corner and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.

Even to them, which stumble, at the word being disobedient.

We're into also they were appointed, but ye are a chosen,

a chosen generation, ye are Royal priesthood a holy nation,

A peculiar people that ye should show forth, the Praises of him

who hath called you out of Darkness, Into His Marvelous

Light. Which in time past were not a

people get this But are now the people of God.

The Gentiles that first at one time were not a people but now

that the people of God which had not obtained Mercy but now have

obtained Mercy. Why?

because of the Sun, that the builders rejected, The son that

the builders rejected. Jesus, the Lamb of God because

of him. We have hope today because of

him. We have privileges today.

Therefore, verse 43. Now say I unto you the kingdom

of God shall be taken from you and given to the nation which

brings forth fruits thereof and whosoever shall fall.

On this Stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever, it shall

fall. It will grind him into powder.

You know, I'll tell you this is a amazing parable.

Because when we look at it, when we look at this Parable that

Jesus gave a long time ago, it seems so easy for us to

understand. But what about them that day?

The Bible does declare. And describe that day, there

were those that did understand. Fact, they're going to really be

angered by that. And they want to lay their hands

on Jesus, but they don't because the fear of the people, there's

that phrase again, whatever. That means, either physically or

their status or standing or whatever, You and I look at that

today, we're so glad and grateful.

Isn't that the greatest privilege of all that we have

the word of God? Isn't that the greatest

privilege of all we can go to the word of God?

We can prove and test everything by the word of God.

What a great blessing that is quickly now.

And then I'll be through. I'm going to apply this Parable.

Now. God, often bestows wonderful

privileges to his people. This was done with the nation of

Israel, like a precious Vineyard planted Israel in Canaan Bless

The Nation with laws. God blessed them with priests

and Prophets and other spiritual privileges.

Eventually he sent his only begotten son to be the Messiah

and save them from their sin. And what they had to do is all

they would have had to do was live Faithfully under what God

would have to say, and be faithful unto death.

And even though Jesus hadn't come yet, when Jesus goes to the

Cross, his blood would run back and cover their sins to if they

were righteous by their obedience to God. oh, privileges

All that God has done. But what about us today?

What about us today? Has God not given us privileges.

God gives us privileges as we live in this life.

He's given us the privilege of forgiveness of sins.

He's given us the privilege of the word of God, he's given us

all the blessings that we share in Christ.

He gives us the privilege of being able to assemble with

those of like Precious faith and be built up in the Most Holy

Faith and hear the word of God. You know what's wonderful about

that. You know, what's great about

that? Do you realize that today?

Not because it's me. But do you realize that today

when we've assembled here at this place?

To study this word. that we get to come in contact with

something that the prophets would have loved to know about,

but couldn't Don't you feel special?

You get to come and hear things that the people of old would

have loved to hear. And no, but we're not able,

We've been given the blessings of being able to worship and

honor God. Is there anything in your life?

It's more important than honoring.

God. I want you to picture this.

They were Wicked. They were horrible.

But don't forget the first thing they did wrong.

Is they didn't bear fruit to the master.

God expects fruit. Could it be said as it was taken

away from them? Could it be said that of us?

At the Privileges and the blessings are taken from us.

Because we didn't bear fruit. Because we didn't know bank.

One of the things that comes up and bible study.

A lot is what does God expect from me?

Have you ever thought that what does God really expect?

For me comes up an awful lot. God expects from you. the same

thing, he expects from me, He expects everything you got.

That's a growth process. Because guess what?

If you obeyed the gospel today, the things that you can do that

are your very best today. They'll be nothing compared to

what you'll be able to do in a year if you grow.

The things that you'll do in a year, don't even compare to what

you'll be able to do in 10 years if you continue to grow.

God wants fruit. God wants results.

Meaning our obedient life. And he wants us to do our very

very best we can do that, can't we?

Look what God has done for us. Look what he did for Israel.

They shirked him, they slept him off.

They didn't obey. They rejected his son and killed

him on a cross. What About Us?

What About Us? When the doors are open midweek,

do we come and hear the word of God?

We get a chance to hear something.

That the those of old would have loved to know about.

I'll tell you this, if you don't do that, you're missing out,

Studying the word of God in the context that it's written.

I just wonder this. Remember what happened when the

servants came one phrase? Luke talks about this three

times Luke's account, he sent them away or the house, those

husband has sent them away empty-handed.

When the Lord comes for fruit, are we constantly sending him

away empty-handed? When Jesus wrote to the seven

churches of Asia and Book of Revelation, he talked about the

identity of those, that would be the children of God.

He said on a number of occasions.

I know your works. I know your works.

I know all about. But then he's tells them to do

something else. Go back to your first love.

He said, if you don't do that, I'm going to take away your

Candlestick. I'm going to take away your

identity. That's a Christian principle to

not just in days of old. Wouldn't it be awful to have our

identity taken away? One more thing, and I'll be

through. You've been a wonderful

audience, just one more thing. You know why?

I think sometimes we try to get away with things I'm talking

about in life and Society. You know, why do we do that?

Because we think that there's going to be some do-over.

We think there's going to be a in a golf terminology, you're

going to get a mulligan. You're going to get to hit

another ball. You're going to get to do over

again, you're going to be able to get like Society has dream

teams of lawyers to get people that are guilty off.

The reason that crime is as rampant as it is in this country

is because there's always a loophole, there's always

something that wants to give all of this, all of these rights to

the person that commits the crime so much so that even if

they're dead to rights and wrong, if the people

investigating make one mistake and it didn't change whether

they were right or wrong, it just their mistake.

The person goes free. So in their mind, there's a

loophole. Remember that illustration I

gave you years ago about Singapore but the drug laws in

Singapore. If you're if you're caught with

drugs and sing for you know what they do they kill you.

Guess what? No drug problems in Singapore.

There is another place. I don't remember the place.

Wish I did. That I read about that if a man

goes out and drinks and gets in a car and drives that car with

alcohol in his body and he gets a driving under the influence of

alcohol. A DUI.

He gets life in prison but it gets better.

Guess who gets to go with him? His wife?

Guess what? No drinking problems.

And that place because crime is not deterred by the severity of

the punishment crime. Is deterred by The Surety of it.

If we think that we can live our life, any way that we can and

that maybe God will change his mind one day and forget about

all the fruit that he's demanded of me and forget about all the,

The Obedience. He's demanded of me and God's

going to just maybe down the road change his mind.

Think again, folks, I'm not answering for God.

My dad used to say, you know, God can do whatever he wants to.

He's got all the votes. That's true.

God, should do whatever he wants to.

I just know what he said. I know what he's done.

Question is, will I obey him or will I live in such a way that

it will be taken from me and given to someone else that will

bear the fruit thereof? We thank you for listening to

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