The Distance

A wealthy farmer sub-let his vineyard, 
To other men he expected to work hard.
But when he sent his men to collect, 
They were given more than disrespect. 

The distance made them safely feel, 
They could get away with trying to steal, 
The owner's rightful claim to profit, 
So they killed his men trying to stop it.

This same thing went on and on, 
Until the owner finally sent his son. 
Thinking, "Surely they'll respect my heir, 
Differently than others I've been sending there."

But these evil tenants, these greedy squatters,
Killed the son thinking to end the matter, 
Now what do you think the father will do, 
Just overlook this murderous crew?

"Of course not! He will return justice!
He'll destroy this lot and replace them with others. 
Who will give this owner his rightful due. 
He'll execute this murderous crew."

Jesus answered, "Have you never heard, 
This relevant couplet found in God's Word?"

The stone (the one) the builders rejected, 
Is the Cornerstone, now long expected. 
And God has done this, no one else!
And He's quite delighted with himself. 

I'll speak plainly now, here's the application:
He's rejected you for a worthy nation.
And whoever falls on this stone will live, 
But if it falls on you the weight won't give. 

And they understood the point of the tale,
And they wanted to arrest Him and take Him to jail,
But their fear of the people kept them at bay, 
Until later, when it was the squatting tenant's day. 

--Matthew 21:33-45

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