The holy Scriptures abound with the most lovely representations of Christ and his church under these similitudes; and it is not to be wondered at. The hill - country of Judea abounded with the richest and most luxurious vines. Therefore when the church would speak of her beloved, she called him, "a cluster of cypress in the vineyards of Engedi." (Song i. 14.) And evidently on this account, because Jesus is not one blessing, but every one and all. In his person, blood, and righteousness, the church finds an Eshcol, a cluster of alldivine perfections, all suited grace, all glory. Hence some read the words of the church in this lovely song, Esh col copher, that is, the man that hath atoned, and is all things of blessing. And as the church, taught by the Holy Ghost, sings her Epithalamium, or nuptial song, to the praise of Jesus, under the similitude, the Lord Jesus sings his love - song to the same figure: I am the vine, saith Jesus, and ye are the branches." (John xv. 1, &c.) But I must not enlarge on those topics, how sweet soever they are. The reader will findnumberless clusters of them in the sacred word. (Gen. xlix. 11. Ps. lxxx. 1, &c. Song 7: 8 - 12, &c.)
See VINE.\par
See VINE.
Deu 22:9 (c) This vineyard represents any field of service in which the soul winner seeks to sow the seed of the Word of GOD. The Lord is warning against mixing truths or doctrines in any service. If one Sunday-school teacher is teaching her class the true Gospel of salvation by grace alone, and the teacher in the next class is teaching salvation by morals or forgiveness by merit, then there is little expectation of gathering a crop for GOD. The seeds are mixed. If the farmer sows wheat in his field, but another one sows weeds in among the wheat, there will be no wheat crop gathered. The weeds will succeed. Corn is planted by itself, and potatoes by themselves, and wheat by itself. So it must be with GOD’s Gospel. It must be taught and given where there will be an opportunity for a crop.
Psa 80:15 (a) The vineyard is GOD’s people gathered as a nation in Palestine. The vines are the individual Jews.
Son 1:6 (c) In this strange passage, probably there is some irony. The people rather often during the life of CHRIST indicated that they believed He could do wonderful things. Some acknowledged Him as a sovereign ruler. Others indicated their faith in His power. He was not allowed, however, to be the ruler of His people Israel, to deliver them from their enemies, and to be their Messiah. They rejected His Lordship, although they claimed to be the people of GOD.
Isa 1:8 (b) The vineyard is the nation of Israel, and the daughter represents the people in that nation. They were desolate because they had rejected the Lord of their lives.
Mat 20:1 (b) This type represents any field of labor where GOD may place His servants to labor for Him.
Mat 21:33 (b) The vineyard is Israel, the householder is GOD Himself, the husbandmen are the rulers and leaders of the nation of Israel. (See also Mar 12:1; Luk 13:6; Luk 20:9).
A garden or farm where grapes
are grown.