Unconditional Love

What kind of people have no respect for others?

Jesus said, "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: `The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.” - Matthew 21:33–43

Is it a mistake to think that someone who disrespects your workers will have greater respect for you?

Jesus is predicting his own death here.  He knows that he will meet the same fate as the prophets who came before him and were rejected by the righteous and faithful.

So, why is he telling this story?

Does he think he can change their minds?

This is the way God works.  He keeps giving us opportunities to change.  And every time we fail, He only tries harder.

Why?

Could it be God doesn't want to abandon this experiment we call Creation?  Is it all about Him, or is something else in play here?

When you love someone and they do the wrong things, you don't stop loving them.  You are pained, yes, and you want them to change, to be better, but you don't abandon them.

Jesus came for the lost and abandoned, not for the righteous.  The Father sent the son, with hope and love, to try to win the hearts of the tenants who had put their interests first, ahead of their commitments.

We might look upon this and see weakness.  How can you let people abuse, violate and destroy?

I know God loves those who do evil, just as He loves those who do good.

I may not understand it now, but when I stumble and fall, I will be thankful God is there to catch me.

More to come...