The Shepherds Way & The Nugget of Truth: The Christian Landowner Today

The Christian Landowner Today

Let us look at the parable of the “Land Owner”. This parable is found in Matthew ch.21:33. It is important to understand, if you are a Christian, that there is really only one correct way to understand the parable of Jesus Christ. The message God’s wants us to understand is a universal message for His church, the one truth for the one church. Jesus stated; “I will build my church.” The true Christian church belongs to Jesus Christ and not to any denomination or so called “non-denomination”.

The Ancient Antiochene Church of God is not a “denomination” or “non-denomination” it is in fact the original Christian church. The church was first called “Christian” in ancient Antioch (Acts 11:26) and we are still here.

In this parable the “landowner” typifies God himself, Hashem. This landowner is said to have planted a vineyard. The vineyard typifies literal Israel (Isaha 5:7). When the Pharisees heard this, they understood the symbols. When we say “literal Israel” it includes the ten northern tribes (of Joseph) and also Judah (all 12 tribes). The parable states that the landowner “put a hedge” around the vineyard. This shows that Gpd protected literal Israel. Jerusalem had a great wall built around it in its glory.

It says that the vineyard had a “watchtower”, this symbolizes the fact that God had given Israel prophets to watch over them. He also gave this vineyard a “winepress” which symbolizes stability and prosperity. Eventually the parable goes on to state that the landowner leased the vineyard to “vinedressers”. The vinedressers represent the religious community, those holding the responsibility of the religious community. They “watched over” the “vineyard”.

This shows that God put trust in His people. He gave them everything that they needed to take care of this vineyard. When the harvest time arrived the landowner “sent his servants” to inspect the fruit, to see if it was ready for harvest. The servants represent the messengers of God, both celestial angels and terrestrial (prophet) messengers.

Unfortunately, it states that the vinedressers (religious leaders) took the messengers (prophets) and beat one, killed one, and stoned another. This is how the religio-political Pharisees and Sadducees treated the true prophets of God. We read;

“The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.” (2^nd Chronicles 36:15-16)

This first group of “servants” represents the pre-exilic prophets. These were the prophets that warned Israel that their conduct was leading them into war and exile. After this it states that the landowner sent even more servants to check on the vinedressers. These servants represent the post-exilic prophets, they came after the exile. Even more than the first time God sent them.

Israel treated the second group of servants the same way. Basically, Israel did not want to receive correction from the prophets so they shut them up and killed them. Finally, the landowner sent his son to them. Had Israel been listening to the prophets instead of killing them, they would have recognized this son as the Messiah. This son represents Jesus the Christ. The landowner states; “Surely they will accept my son and listen to him.” Instead, the vinedressers say; “This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.” In John 11:45-53 we read about how the religious leaders decided to put Jesus to death. The parable says that they took the son and cast him outside the vineyard to kill him. Jesus was taken outside the walls of Jerusalem in the same manner and killed (Matthew 27:33).

The parable ends with the question: “What will the landowner do when he finds out that they killed his son”. The hearers of the parable respond: “He will destroy those vinedressers and lease the vineyard to those who will do what is right.” Because the racial nation of Israel at that time rejected Jesus Christ, the “landowner” (God) has given the responsibility of vineyard keeping to new vinedressers – the Christians.

Jesus said to the Israelites of that time: “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” (Matthew 21:42)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we must understand that we have a responsibility as the remaining ancient Antiochene church of God to care for the vineyard of God’s true people and not neglect the messengers sent unto us, the Seven Angels sent to the seven churches. Especially now, when the seventh angel has arrived with the Laodicean counsel for the church.

Continue to study your Bible’s with us here at “The Shepherds Way & Nugget of Truth”.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

AACG (November 1^st 2025)

Understand the parable of the Land Owner