Stinky fruit
by Pastor Matthew Bishop
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‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance’ (Matthew 21:38).
I’ve been in homes where there is a photo on the wall of previous houses the inhabitants lived in. When I asked about it, they recalled memories and soon stepped into well-worn narratives about their life there. The photo is way more than just a decoration; it’s a summary of their history.
The parable in today’s gospel reading might only be a few verses, yet Jesus pretty much summarises the whole Old Testament and history of salvation. Stunning! As soon as Jesus mentioned the landowner building a vineyard, wall, winepress, and watchtower, his listeners would have been transplanted back to the famous Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1–7 (today’s Old Testament lesson). There God describes how he lovingly built a vineyard of the choicest vines (Abraham’s offspring). It had all the infrastructure it needed to succeed. But the kings and priests in charge failed in their duty to nurture it and keep it healthy. Other gods were tolerated, the people were misled, and the prophets, God’s mouthpieces, were treated shamefully.
The people listening to Jesus, the chief priests and elders, were his opponents. They thought they were properly nurturing the vineyard of God. Never would they have equated themselves with those in Isaiah 5 who are the object of God’s scorn. But bad fruit they are or ‘stinkies’ as the Hebrew more literally describes the bad grapes. Within days, these stinkies will take God’s son outside the city walls and kill him (Matthew 27:32–37).
It’s a grim parable for a Sunday. Where’s the good news in it?
It speaks on a couple of levels, at least. Graciously, there is a warning for all who would be teachers in Christ’s church. They need ever to be faithful to God’s word to not be or produce stinkies. Beyond that, though, all of us hear how God’s judgement has fallen on Jesus murdered outside the walls for our transgressions, including the takeover of God’s truths. And out of that? We now live in the promise that the kingdom of God has been restored to us through Jesus’ death. And even more, we are given the privilege of producing his fruit (Matthew 21:43). Jesus, the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42), is not going anywhere. He will keep us grounded as we build on him. Blessings in Christ as you make that your picture.
Lord Jesus, our cornerstone, we believe that by your death, you have forgiven us for the stinky fruit we produce. By your Holy Spirit, keep us grounded in your word, so that in response we may yield your good fruit in the week ahead. In your name, we pray. Amen.
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