ACC ~ Luke 20 v9 - 15

THE VINEYARD IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL LEASED TO THE JEWS

AMBROSE: Very many derive various meanings from the word vineyard, but Isaiah clearly stated that the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. [1] Who else but God founded this vineyard? He leased it and set out to foreign places. The Lord, who is always everywhere, does not journey from place to place, but he is present to those who love him and absent from those who neglect him. He was absent for many seasons, fearing that the foreclosure might seem premature. The more indulgent the generosity, the more inexcusable is the stubbornness. … He thus leased to the Jews his fortified, prepared and beautified vineyard. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 9.23-24. [2]

[1] Is 5:7.

[2] EHG 378-79**.

GOD GOES ABROAD FOR A LONG TIME

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the man of Judah, a plant new and beloved. [1] He who planted the vineyard is God, who also went away for a long time. God still fills everything and in no way whatsoever is absent from anything that exists. How, therefore, did the Lord of the vineyard go away for a long time? After they saw him in the shape of fire at his descent on Mount Sinai with Moses, who spoke the law to them as the mediator, he did not again grant to them his presence in a visible way. To use a metaphor taken from human affairs, his relation to them was like one who made a long journey abroad. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 134. [2]

[1] Is 5:7.

[2] CGSL 531-32**.

GOD SENT PROPHETS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He went away, but plainly he cared for his farm and kept it in his mind. He sent faithful servants to them at three different times to receive produce or fruit from the tillers of the vineyard. There was no period in the interval, during which there were not sent by God prophets and righteous men to admonish Israel and urge it to bring forth as fruits the glories of a life in accordance with the law. They still were wicked, disobedient and callous, and their heart was hardened against admonition so that they would in no way listen to the word that would have profited them. … Israel was guilty of the charge of apostasy and of idol worship. This is how they shamefully threw out those who were sent to them. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 134. [1]

[1] CGSL 532**.

THE FOOLISHNESS OF KILLING THE HEIR

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The lord of the vineyard thinks to himself saying, “What shall I do?” We must carefully examine in what sense he says this. Does the householder use these words because he had no more servants? He certainly did not lack other ministers of his holy will. When a physician may say of a sick man, “What shall I do?” we should understand him to mean that every resource of medical skill had been tried without success. We affirm that the lord of the vineyard, having practiced all gentleness and care with his farm but without benefiting it in any way, says, “What shall I do?” What is the result? He advances to still greater purposes. “I will send,” he says, “my son, the beloved one. Perhaps they will reverence him.” Observe in this, that after the servants, he sends the Son as One not numbered among the servants but as a true Son and therefore the Lord. Although he put on the form of a servant for the dispensation’s sake, he was God, very Son of God the Father who possessed natural dominion. Did they honor him who was sent as Son and Lord and as One who possesses by inheritance whatever belongs to God the Father? No, they murdered him outside the vineyard, having plotted among themselves a foolish and ignorant plan full of all wickedness. They say, “Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 134. [1]

[1] CGSL 532-33**.