The Vineyard of the Lord

By Bob Myhan

Jesus was the Master at using things in the material realm—with which we are all familiar, to illustrate things in the spiritual realm—to which no one has direct access via the physical senses. He used various figures to illustrate different facets of the relationship that is possible between Him and us. Several of these figures were taken from viticulture “the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard” (Wikipedia). Viticulture is a branch of horticulture.

Laws of Horticulture

First, there is the law of plant propagation, “like begets like,” established the third day of creation week (Gen. 1:11-13). Each original plant created by God contained its own seed and each plant reproduced after its own kind. Horticulturists apply this science by sowing the seed of the plant they wish to reap. Since it is inanimate, vegetation has only a passive role in its own reproduction. Meteorological and geological forces [rain, wind, gravity, etc.] must be brought to bear for vegetation to reproduce “after its own kind.” In some cases, bird and insect intervention is also necessary [hence, “the birds & the bees”].

Second, there is the law that we reap what we sow, both in the physical and spiritual realms (Gal. 6:7). In the parable of the tares, Jesus pointed out that a man who sowed good seed in his field had an enemy who sowed tares, which appeared together with the wheat (Matt. 13:24-30). Tares were reaped because tares were sown. The word of God, sown in the heart, will produce only Christians. Likewise, denominational doctrine will produce only a member of that denomination. Methodist doctrine, for example, will never produce a Baptist, a Presbyterian or a Catholic. Similarly, the word of God alone will never produce a member of a denomination. The doctrines and commandments of men are necessary for that; however, they will always and only result in vain worship (Matt. 15:9). And they will never produce a Christian. The child of God must be careful not to sow to his flesh, because “he that sows to his flesh shall…reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall…reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:8). One sows to the Spirit by seeking “those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” and by setting his “mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2; see also Rom. 8:1-6).

A third law that applies equally to physical and spiritual vineyards is that reaping is proportionate to sowing; the more you sow the more you reap (2 Cor. 9:6). If we diligently sow bountifully, we will reap an increase in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2 Peter 1:5-11). Moreover, if these things abound in us, we will receive an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom.

Sowing for the Master

That which is sown is the word of God (Luke 8:11), “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9) or “the gospel” (Mark 16:15). The soil in which the word of God is planted is human hearts (Luke 8:12). This is not the physical heart, but the spiritual heart—the intellectual, emotional, ethical and volitional center of man. The word must be planted in the heart because obedience is “from the heart” (2 Thess. 1:8; Rom. 6:17). And, just as some soil is unsuitable for producing physical fruit, some hearts are unfit for producing spiritual fruit (Matt. 13:19-22; Luke 8:12-14).

The heart represented by the “wayside” is slow to understand, giving Satan time to remove the word before one can “believe and be saved.” The hearts symbolized by “stony places” and “thorns” initially believe the gospel but do not endure unto the end, apparently because they fail to “count the cost” and are not prepared for the difficulty of “the way which leads to life” (see Luke 14:25-33; Matt. 7:13-14).

However, “the noble and good heart” not only “hears the word and understands it” but “bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Having counted the cost of discipleship this one is ready for tribulations, persecutions, temptations, cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and is able to overcome (Luke 8:15; Matt. 13:23; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).

Figures from the Vineyard

Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches (John 15:1-8) to point out that His disciples cannot accomplish anything of a spiritual nature apart from association with Him and that those who fail to abide in Him will be gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned.

In the parable of wicked vinedressers (Matt. 21:33-43), Jesus is warning the Jews who had rejected Him that the privilege of being the people of God was soon to be taken from them and given to others.

In the parable of the laborers (Matt. 20:1-7), Jesus is pointing out that it does not matter at what point in time one becomes a laborer; he will receive the same pay, which is eternal life. In the tale of the two sons (Matt. 21:28-32), He shows that eventual actions are more significant than initial intentions. Though one might have refused to “go work” at first, he might afterward repent and go. In addition, one who, at the outset, might have given lip service (“I go, sir”) might never go into the field to labor.

Are you a branch on the true vine? Are you bringing forth much fruit? Are you a laborer in the vineyard? Do you respect the Son of the landowner? &

“Your Adversary the Devil”

By Bob Myhan

Rational beings are of two categories: Creator (the Godhead) and creature (angel and man). The devil must be a creature for he is not part of the Godhead. He is not man so he must be an angel. Now, did God create an evil angel or an angel who became evil? John says that “the devil has sinned from the beginning” (1 John 3:8) and “was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44). Therefore, God did not desire a murderer when He created the devil for it would not be a sin for him to do what God created him to do. God created the devil for a good purpose but the devil chose to do evil. What was the good purpose for which God created him?

It is necessarily the case that God gave the devil a law “for where there is no law there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15) and “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). What law did God give the devil? In view of the fact that he was an angel, he was “sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). That is the law God gave him. His sin, therefore, was refusing to minster. Instead of ministering to man, he became man’s adversary and murderer by influencing man to sin, which resulted in the death of the human race (Gen. 3:1-6).

Matthew tells us that the devil, whose personal name is Satan (Rev. 12:7-9), has a kingdom made up of demons.

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house” (Matt. 12:22-29).

These demons are the other “angels who sinned” when they followed Satan in his rebellion against God (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 4). &

Sermon Illustration: Bible Study

Posted Online by Mark N. Posey

There was a young lady who read a book and having completed it, remarked, "It was the dullest book I ever read." Not long after she met a man, fell in love and was engaged to be married. One evening she said, "I have a book in my library by a man whose name is the same as yours. Isn't that a coincidence?" He replied, "Not at all, I wrote the book." She ran home, sat up all night rereading the book again. When finished she said, "That was the most interesting book I've ever read." Why had the book changed so much? Because she knew and loved the author. Application: You will enjoy reading and studying the greatest book, the Bible, if you know and love the author. Then the Bible becomes the most interesting book in the world. &