The Parable of the Vineyard

Text: Isaiah 5:1-7

The Parable

  • God planted a vineyard – located on a fertile hill (v. 1); removed its stones (v. 2); planted with the choicest vine (v. 2); built a tower & hewed out a wine vat (v. 2); expected good grapes, but it only produced worthless ones (v. 2)
  • Judgment of the vineyard – God did all He could do (v. 4); the hedge would be removed & the wall would be broken down (v. 5); God would neglect it (v. 6)

The Interpretation

  • The vineyard – the house of Israel (v. 7); God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
  • The plant – men of Judah (v. 7); specified for a reason (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 49:10; Zechariah 8:12-13)
  • Fertile hill – promised land (Deuteronomy 8:7; 26:9)
  • Stones removed – nations that previously dwelled in the land (Exodus 33:1-2)
  • Tower – place where the vine-dresser lived; tabernacle/temple (Exodus 40:33-35; 1 Kings 9:3)
  • Given all that God had done, He should have received good grapes (v. 4) – but there were other factors involved, mainly their choice
  • Judgment – divine protection would be taken away (Isaiah 13:1-5); God would no longer bless them as He had before, these blessings were conditional (Deuteronomy 28)

The Application

  • God provides everything we need to be fruitful & faithful (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
  • God is not to blame for our shortcomings (James 1:13-17)
  • God expects His people to be distinct from the world (1 Peter 2:9)
  • God will reject He people for their unfaithfulness (Romans 11:17-22)
  • Without God, we have no hope (Ephesians 2:12)
  • By God’s will, we all have hope (Ephesians 2:13-16) – but we must believe & obey (Mark 16:15-16)