And He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it, and dug a vat under the wine press and built a tower, and leased it to vine-growers and went on a journey. And at the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, in order to receive his share of the produce of the vineyard from the vine-growers. And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent them another slave, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and that one they killed; and so with many others, beating some and killing others.”

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Hindsight is 20/20”? We say this to mean that when we look back it is easier to get perspective. In a moment of temptation, we are swayed by emotion or desire and do things we never thought we would. This parable that Jesus shared is sobering and shocking because of the violent nature. It seems so abrupt and clearly wrong. With the full picture, we can clearly see who is right or wrong in this parable. We see the corruption of humanity on full display. Yet Jesus did not share this parable for His hearers to point the finger at someone else. He shared this parable to bring conviction in the hearts of those who thought they were doing religious things correctly. They were tending to the vineyard as they saw fit and as they wanted, completely forsaking the God of their fathers and opposing those He sent.

When we read this scenario, it is easy to identify who was wrong, but have you taken a second to consider the possible hypocrisy in your own heart? When we know what we want and how we want our lives to go, it can be easy to move in a direction without seeking God’s guidance. Where we want to insist on our own way, Jesus has called us to submit. Where we look for status and recognition, Jesus says serve. Where we worry, Jesus says don’t be afraid. In our time on earth, we cannot lose sight of our calling as Christ’s ambassadors. We are inclined to reject His way and insist on our own preferences, but Christ is the only One who can satisfy our souls and give us abundant life.

• When have you insisted on your own way instead of surrendering to Christ? What led you to that?
• What are some things that are more difficult to surrender Christ? Where do you feel protective and defensive about those things?
• Pray and surrender to Jesus. Admit where you have insisted on your own way and ask for His forgiveness.