October 20, 2026
The Vineyard - Part 2
Matthew 21:35-36
10/20/2026
35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one,
killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first.
And they did the same to them. (ESV)
In our readings for the next few weeks, we are looking
forward to the consummation of the age when Jesus returns to
judge the living and the dead. Knowing that we cannot earn our
salvation, we pray for God's grace to keep us in the one true
faith.
O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace
that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve
You with a quiet mind.
At Jesus' first coming, those who should have recognized Him
from their study of the Scriptures failed to see the fulfillment
of God's promise to send a Redeemer. The Church turned inward,
looking at the trappings of power, not at the love of God. The
chief priests, the scribes, and the other leaders of the Temple
lost sight of their stewardship of God's rich blessings, and
sought to take what belongs to God for their own purposes.
At the proper time, God the Father sent His Son into this
world to claim that which is His own. The love of God's people
had grown cold. Although the tenants knew they were not the
owner of the vineyard, they had been in charge so long they
actually forgot their obligations.
And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed
another, and stoned another. Again he sent other
servants, more than the first. And they did the same to
them.
Time and again God sent the prophets to say, ``Repent, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'' He longed to give to His
people that which was good, both in time and in eternity. Yet
His people turned their backs and rejected to call to recognize
their God.
May our Lord grant us faith to hear His Word of grace and
mercy. Amen.