Marvel at the Master’s Mercy – October 9, 2026
Read: Matthew 21:33-43
Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. Matthew 21:37
Marvel at the Master’s Mercy
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Imagine lending someone your favorite game. When you ask for it back, they slam the door. You ask again. They slam it again. Would you send your own child to ask for it?
That helps us feel the surprise in Jesus’ story. A landowner rents out his vineyard to tenant farmers. They grow grapes, and the master receives his share of the harvest—that’s the way it was supposed to work. But when the master sent messengers to collect, the tenants beat them and even killed some of them. What would you do? The master sent more messengers. Then, “last of all, he sent his son to them.” You know where this is headed.
Jesus tells much of the entire history of the Old Testament in about four verses. God kept sending prophets to call his people back, but many refused to listen. At last, he sent his Son, Jesus. Jesus told this story to religious leaders who were rejecting him. He was calling them to turn back to God and recognize him as the promised Savior.
We might be tempted to point at those leaders and say, “We wouldn’t do that!” But we also want to run our lives our own way. After all, “It’s MY life,” right? When God tells us to love someone and we refuse, we act as though we own what belongs to him. We forget that we were bought at a price; our very lives belong to God. We need Jesus to call us back, too.
Jesus’ story ends with a warning: rejecting the son matters. But the real heart of this story isn’t the wickedness of the tenant farmers; it is the astonishing mercy of the master. He keeps sending, speaking, reaching out to his wayward people, all so he can bring them back. God’s not afraid to keep doing the same thing over and over again for you in Christ. Jesus knew he would be rejected and killed, yet he still went to the cross for sinners like us. He keeps forgiving you, he keeps loving you, he keeps promising you all his goodness.
Marvel at the master’s mercy!
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, everything belongs to you, and we belong to you, too. Thank you for being patient with us and forgiving us when we sin. Help us never forget how good you are. Fill us with joy because you saved us, and help us wonder at how much you love us. Amen.
The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.
Questions for Younger Children
- Who did the master send to the farmers last?
- Who did God send to save us?
Questions for Elementary Age Children
- What did the farmers do when the master sent his messengers? What did the master do next?
- When might you want to do things your own way instead of listening to God? What did Jesus do for you?
Questions for Middle School and Above
- Why do you think Jesus told this parable to leaders who were rejecting him? What warning did they need to hear?
- How does Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross show both the seriousness of our sin and the depth of God’s mercy?
