Have you ever noticed how some of Jesus’ parables begin quietly and end with nowhere left to hide? This is one of them. A vineyard. An owner. Tenants trusted with what was never theirs. Then things turn dark. Rejection. Violence. Finally, the owner sends his son. By the end, Jesus asks the crowd listening to render the verdict his story demands. But the story doesn’t stay at a safe distance. It comes closer. The story is familiar. The questions keep narrowing. The verdict turns toward us. And the way we get there may surprise you.

This week’s worship guide