The Song of the Vineyard, vv. 1-7
A. The Cultivation of the Vineyard
1. The Choice Field: “a very fruitful hill”
2. The Choice Vine
3. The Configuration of the Field
a. Fenced
b. Cleared of stones
c. Built a tower
d. Build a winepress
B. The Crop of the Vineyard: “wild grapes”–>poisonous berries, offensive to the smell.
“We are dealing here with something worse than unfruitfulness. The New Testament also speaks of a faith that brings forth fruit, but the fruit is dead works, which pollute the air like a cadaver. The wolfsbane, or wild vine (2Ki_4:39), does bear beautiful berries, but they are bitter, foul-smelling and poisonous in nature. This is a precise description of the self-willed and false religion of the unfaithful covenant people.” (Bultema)
C. The Chance of the Vineyard, v. 4: nothing more could have been done. The fault is not with the vinedresser, but the vineyard.
D. The Chucking of the Vineyard, vv. 4-6
E. The Character of the Vineyard, v. 7–>Judah! Notice the play on words:
1. “He looked for judgment (mishpat), but behold oppression (mispat).”
2. “for righteousness (tsedaqua), but behold a cry (tseaqua).”
The Indictment of Judah, vv. 8-23: Six Woes
A. Woe to Covetous real estate development will result in “houses shall be desolate” and unproductive farms, vv. 8-10.
B. Woe to those who party endlessly; hell will be enlarged to receive them, vv. 11-17.
C. Woe to those who mock God and dare Him to punish them, vv. 18-19.
D. Woe to those who twist the truth, calling good evil and evil good, v. 20.
E. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, v. 21.
F. Woe to those who release the guilty for a bribe but deny justice to the innocent, vv. 22-23.
The Sentence of Judah, vv. 24-30
A. The Flame of God’s Wrath will consume Judah because they despised God’s Word, vv. 24-25.
B. The Invasion of pagan armies will decimate the soft, drunk, and flabby Judah in war, vv. 26-30.
Conclusion
What kind of fruit are we bearing, choice fruit or poisonous fruit? Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!