Israel Rejects Her Messiah

The people of Israel had separated themselves so far from God that they could have no true understanding of the promised Redeemer’s character or mission. Instead of wanting redemption from sin, they set their hearts on regaining worldly power. They looked for the Messiah to exalt Israel to rulership over all nations. In this way Satan had prepared the people to reject the Savior when He would appear. Their pride and false conceptions would prevent them from honestly weighing the evidences of His Messiahship.RR 249.2

For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had waited for the promised Savior’s coming. His name had been enshrined in song and prophecy, in temple rite and household prayer. Yet when He came they did not recognize Him. “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” John 1:11. They recognized in Him no beauty that they should desire Him. See Isaiah 53:2.RR 249.3

Jesus’ life among the Jewish people rebuked their selfishness. They hated His example of truthfulness, and when the test came they rejected the Holy One of Israel and became responsible for His crucifixion.RR 249.4

In the parable of the vineyard, Christ called the attention of the Jewish teachers to the blessings bestowed on Israel and showed God’s claim on their obedience. He pulled back the veil from the future and showed how the whole nation was bringing ruin on itself:RR 249.5

“There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.RR 249.6

“Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the tenants took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son’. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.”RR 249.7

Christ now asked them, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” The priests joined with the people in answering, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”RR 249.8