2 My friend dug and cleared the field.\par He planted the best grapevines there.\par He built a tower in the middle of the field.\par He hoped for good grapes to grow there.\par But there were only bad grapes.\par
2 and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
2 And He dug and trenched the ground and gathered out the stones from it and planted it with the choicest vine and built a tower in the midst of it and hewed out a winepress in it. And He looked for it to bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
2 and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
2 He dug it, cleared away its stones, planted it with excellent vines, built a tower inside it, and dug out a wine vat in it. He expected it to grow good grapes— but it grew rotten grapes.
2 And he fenced it in, and he picked the stones out of it, and he planted it with the best vines, and he built a tower in the middle of it, and he set up a winepress within it. And he expected it to produce grapes, but it produced wild vines.
2 And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and set up a winepress therein. And he looked that it should bring forth grapes: and it brought forth wild grapes.
In those days in Judah, I saw people working on the Sabbath {\cf2\super [85]} day. I saw people pressing grapes to make wine. I saw people bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys. I saw people carrying grapes, figs, and all kinds of things in the city. They were bringing all these things into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them about this. I told them they must not sell food on the Sabbath day.
\{In the past, you treated us like\par a very important plant.\}\par You brought your “vine” out of Egypt.\par You forced other people to leave this land,\par and you planted your “vine” here.\par
Also, how will we know if you are pleased with me and these people? If you go with us, then we will know for sure! If you don’t go with us, then I and these people will be no different than any other people on the earth.”
The Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem) is now like an empty tent left in a field of grapes. It is like an old house left in a field of cucumbers. It is like a city that has been defeated by enemies.”
The field of grapes that belongs to the Lord All-Powerful is the nation of Israel. The grapevine—the plant the Lord loves—is the man of Judah. {\cf2\super [48]}
The Lord All-Powerful planted you.\par And he said that disaster will come to you.\par Why? Because the family of Israel\par and the family of Judah\par have done evil things.\par They offered sacrifices to Baal.” {\cf2\super [98]} \par And that made me angry!\par
Israel is like a vine that grows plenty of fruit.\par But as Israel got more and more \{things\}\par he built more and more altars\par \{to honor false gods\}.\par His land became better and better,\par so he put up better and better stones\par \{to honor false gods\}.\par
And you, Tower of Flocks, {\cf2\super [53]} \par your time will come.\par Ophel, hill of Zion,\par you will again be the seat of government.\par Yes, the kingdom will be in Jerusalem\par like it was in the past.”\par
Jesus saw a fig tree beside the road. Jesus went to the fig tree \{to get a fig to eat\}. But there were no figs on the tree. There were only leaves. So Jesus said to the tree, “You will never again have fruit!” And then the tree dried up and died.
“Listen to this story: There was a man that owned a vineyard. He put a wall around the field and dug a hole for a wine press. {\cf2\super [299]} Then the man built a tower. He leased the land to some farmers. Then he left for a trip.
Jesus saw a fig tree with leaves. So Jesus went to the tree to see if it had any figs growing on it. But Jesus found no figs on the tree. There were only leaves. It was not the right time for figs to grow.
Jesus used stories to teach the people. Jesus said, “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around the field and dug a hole for a wine press. {\cf2\super [152]} Then the man built a tower. He leased the land to some farmers. Then he left for a trip.
They are the people of Israel. {\cf2\super [73]} Those people (the Jews) are God’s chosen children. Those people have the glory of God and the agreements that God made between himself and his people. God gave them the law \{of Moses\} and the \{temple\} worship. And God gave his promises to those people (the Jews).
No soldier ever serves in the army and pays his own salary. No person ever plants a garden of grapes without eating some of the grapes himself. No person takes care of a flock of sheep without drinking some of the milk himself.
Is that the way you should pay back the Lord {for all that he did for you? No!}
You are stupid, foolish people.
The Lord is your Father.
He made you.
He is your Creator.
He supports you.