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Divinity for Advanced Secondary Schools

sour grapes. This symbolised that the consequences. He used it as a metaphor
Israelites disappointed God by turning to mean new Israel (Mark 12:1-12). It
to Baal worship and committing murder. means that Jesus is the true Israel of God.
According to the metaphor, the gardener
Being disappointed, the owner had no of the vineyard is God; therefore, all
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alternative but to remove the hedge believers belong to God as their father.
(surrounding) and break down the This means that Jesus does the will of
wall that protected it. This meant that God; he is loyal and faithful to God.
God withdrew his protection from the
Israelites. He allowed the wild animals
to subdue the garden and allowed In the Gospel of John 5:1-6, Jesus
the weeds to grow more than the referred to himself as a true vine who
vineyard. This meant that the Israelites will produce vine grapes, meaning that
were exposed to the Babylonians and he is the source of eternal life for the
Assyrians. believers. It showed that the followers
of Jesus Christ would continue to have

Just like the vineyard caused sorrow to life if they continued to abide in him.
the farmer by producing sour grapes,
the Israelites caused sorrow to God by Furthermore, it showed that the
turning to Baal worship. God had done followers of Jesus Christ would continue
everything to make Israel follow the to be persecuted, and many would give
covenant just as the farmer did to make up their faith, as demonstrated by the
the vineyard fruitful, but all was in vain. pruning of the branches. It also showed
that persecution would help expand the

Therefore, the parable was a warning to church to other places.
the Israelites to desist from evil and to do
good. Isaiah prophesied the destruction It meant that Jesus was the expected
that would befall them if they refused to messiah when he said he was the true
turn to God. The song of the vineyard vine who would give eternal life to
was intended to show the people of the believers (Jn. 5: 3). It showed that
Judah that they were mistakenly seeking Jesus was the true son of God. He
protection and security from political acknowledged himself as a true vine and
alliances. God his father as a gardener.

The significance of the vineyard in the Jesus also wanted to show that whoever
New Testament needs life can only get it through him.
Jesus used the Vineyard as a springboard Therefore, those who do not have faith
to teach his people about sin and its in Christ will not expect everlasting life.

Form Five Student’s Book 59