Isaiah 5:1-7
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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS
The Parable of the Vineyard
BACKGROUND NOTES
DOCTRINAL POINT(S)
God expects His people to produce fruit.
God will not force His people to produce fruit.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
What more can God do for you?
QUESTIONS
For what sins was Israel being judged?
In the parable of Isaiah 5, God planted a vineyard. What did this vineyard represent?
List some other Old Testament passages where the Lord likens Israel to a vineyard.
What is a common theme in all of these vineyard passages?
Explain the play on words for emphasis in verse 7.
ANSWERS
rebellion, injustice, idolatry, and immorality, among others
Israel, specifically the kingdom of Judah (verse 7)
Isaiah 3:14, Hosea 10:1, Psalm 80, Jeremiah 2:21 and 12:10, Ezekiel 15
Israel is expected to produce fruit, which is the purpose of a vine.
In Hebrew the contrasting words sound similar, for emphasis. One commentator captured the idea this way, “God waited for equity, but behold iniquity. He waited for right, but behold riot!”
DISCUSS/CONSIDER
Review the parable in Isaiah 5. Discuss the details of the parable and how they portray the Lord’s care and tending of the kingdom of Judah.
In John 15, God describes His New Testament people as a vine, with Himself as the branch. Discuss how God has cared for us as well and had expectations of us.
CHALLENGE
God does everything to make it possible for you to produce good fruit for His glory. What more can God do for you? Are you bringing Him glory by your actions?
KEY VERSES
“What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” Isaiah 5:4
“For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.” Isaiah 5:7