LESSON SUMMARY IN 300 WORDS

271^TH EDITION, JULY^13TH, 2025

1^ST LESSON: Isaiah 5:1-7

2^ND LESSON: Matthew 21:33-46

Isaiah delivered God’s message to the people of Judah using a metaphor, comparing Israel to a vineyard, their common livelihood

He described in detail the three-year farming activities that precede the production of the first crop of grapes

In addition to plowing the land, clearing its stones, and planting the best vines, the farmer built a watchtower for security and set up a facility for wine production

He waited for harvest, but the grapes that grew were bitter

Now, he put forth a rhetorical question to his audience, “What more could I have done?”

The vineyard is Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delights in. He expected justice and righteousness, but he found oppression and bloodshed

Hence, God vowed to take off his protection and nurture, leaving the people open to attackers and destroyers

Again, in the New Testament, Jesus spoke to his audience in parables, the Parable of the Tenants

Jesus likens the Jewish leaders listening to him to tenants of a vineyard who refuse to give the landowner his share of the crop at harvest time

The farm owner set up the facility but employed caretakers to take care of the farm, and at this time, there is a good harvest, but the tenants won’t release the harvest

On two occasions, they mistreated the delegates the farm owners sent to retrieve the harvest

He eventually sent his Son, in the hope that they would honor the heir, but they murdered him too

This parable refers to the way the Israelites often treated God’s servants- the prophets, culminating in their execution of the Son of God

God would replace these wicked tenants with faithful ones, and would replace the Jewish leaders with obedient followers- the disciples of Jesus