Shots Fired

Beginning with chapter 20 we see a basic pattern in Jesus’ ministry emerging; the Jewish leadership is coming after him. In the previous chapter Jesus had cleansed the temple and in this chapter we see wave upon wave of opposition seeking to discredit and trap him. Verses 9-19 constitute a parable that is meant to depict his opposition (the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the Jews). There is nothing veiled about this parable. Some things don’t need any interpretation. Jesus’ opponents are at the end of a long line of Israelite leaders that have rejected Yahweh’s servants. Jesus exposes his enemies and rather directly says “I know what you are going to do.”