Luke 20:12
“And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.”
Certainly! Let’s delve into a Bible study on Luke 20:12 from the King James Version (KJV). This verse is part of a larger passage known as the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen or the Parable of the Vineyard.
Luke 20:9-16 (KJV) provides the context for verse 12:
“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.”
Now, let’s focus on Luke 20:12 specifically:
“And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.”
This verse continues the narrative of the parable, where the owner of the vineyard sends a third servant to the husbandmen. However, just like the previous servants, this third servant is mistreated. The husbandmen not only beat him but also wound him and cast him out of the vineyard.
In this parable, the vineyard represents Israel, the owner symbolizes God, the husbandmen represent the religious leaders, and the servants sent by the owner are the prophets. This parable reflects the historical relationship between God and the people of Israel.
Throughout the Old Testament, God sent numerous prophets to Israel, calling them to repentance and reminding them of their covenant with God. However, the religious leaders and many of the people rejected the prophets and mistreated them, often responding with hostility or indifference. The parable illustrates this pattern of resistance and rejection.
The parable also points to the ultimate act of rejection-the killing of the owner’s beloved son. This is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who would be rejected and crucified by the religious leaders and many of the people of Israel.
The parable concludes with the question of what the owner of the vineyard will do to the wicked husbandmen. The answer is given in Luke 20:16 (KJV):
“He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.”
This response signifies the judgment that will come upon those who reject God’s messengers and, ultimately, God’s Son. The vineyard will be given to others, referring to the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.
