Five Truths About God’s Kindness, Purpose, Patience, and Justice

In the quiet moments before the world would turn against Him, Jesus told a story—simple and direct. It was a parable, a familiar tool used to teach spiritual truths through everyday images and actions.

In Mark 12:1-12, Jesus reveals to us five eternal truths, five things God wants us to understand—truths about who He is and what He desires from His people. These truths are not just for those who lived in Jesus’ time but speak to us today with the same urgency and clarity.

1. God is Kind: The Vineyard and Its Owner

Jesus begins with a story—a parable about a man who plants a vineyard. The vineyard itself is symbolic, representing the nation of Israel. To the Jewish people, the vineyard was a common metaphor for God’s relationship with them.

The owner of the vineyard took great care in establishing it: he planted the vines, built a fence around it for protection, dug a wine press, and constructed a tower. Each of these actions was intentional, showing the owner’s love and care.

God, like the vineyard owner, is kind. He has provided for Israel, given them everything they need, and surrounded them with His protection. God’s kindness is not merely a feeling but an active expression of His love.

This kindness is not just for Israel, though. When the vineyard was mistreated, the owner extended his care beyond the original tenants, and in the same way, God’s kindness is meant to be extended to all the nations of the earth. The gospel, the good news of salvation, is for all people—Jews and Gentiles alike. God’s kindness is abundant, and it is extended to all who will receive it.

Jesus’ use of the vineyard in His parable would have been immediately understood by His audience, who were familiar with the agricultural life of Israel. But it also speaks to us today. God’s kindness is not passive; it is evident in every part of creation, in every gift we receive, in every breath we take. His kindness is in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the love we share. It is not simply a sentiment—it is the foundation upon which His relationship with us is built. God is kind.

2. God is Single-Minded: He Seeks Fruit

After the vineyard is established, the owner sends a servant to collect the produce of the vineyard, as was the custom. But the tenants beat the servant and send him away empty-handed.

This isn’t just an incident of bad behavior—it reveals something deeper about the nature of the tenants. They had no respect for the owner, no regard for what had been entrusted to them. They were more interested in keeping everything for themselves than in honoring the one who had given them the vineyard.

God, however, is single-minded in His purpose. In the parable, the owner sends more servants, one after another, but each one is mistreated—some beaten, some killed. Finally, the owner sends his beloved son, thinking, “They will respect my son.” But they do not. Instead, they plot to kill him, thinking that by doing so, the inheritance will be theirs.

What does God want from His people? The answer is clear: fruit. Not just the fruit of the harvest, but the fruit of righteousness, love, and faith.

God has given us everything—His Son, His Spirit, His Word—and all He asks in return is that we bear fruit. Jesus Himself said in John 15:8, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

It is not enough to merely possess the vineyard, as the tenants did. God does not want us to take His blessings for granted or to use them for our own gain. He wants us to produce fruit—fruit that honors Him, fruit that reflects His love, fruit that blesses the world around us.

God is single-minded in His desire for this fruit. It is the reason He has entrusted us with His grace and mercy. He wants a harvest of souls, a harvest of righteousness, a harvest of love.

3. God is Patient: He Continually Sends His Servants

The patience of God is on full display in this parable. Over and over, the owner of the vineyard sends servants to collect what is rightfully his. Each time they are rejected, mistreated, or killed, yet the owner does not give up. He does not retaliate; he does not abandon the vineyard. Instead, he continues to send more servants.

This is the essence of God’s patience toward humanity. Throughout history, God has sent His servants—the prophets, the judges, the kings, and ultimately, His Son—each one offering grace and a call to repentance. The people of Israel rejected many of them. They mocked the prophets, imprisoned them, and even killed them. And yet, God did not turn His back on them.

Think about the long history of God’s patience. Even after Israel’s repeated disobedience, God continued to show kindness. Even after the people turned away from Him, He sent servant after servant. Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah—each one bearing the message of repentance, each one rejected. And yet, God continued to wait. He did not abandon His people. His patience is beyond comprehension, and it is an example for us to follow.

How often do we become frustrated with those around us, especially when they reject our attempts to share the truth? How often do we feel like giving up when we don’t see immediate results? God’s patience, however, teaches us that it is not our job to force fruit. It is our job to plant, to water, and to trust God for the increase. He is the one who gives the growth, and He is patient with us as we grow in our faith.

4. God is Just: The Judgment of the Tenants

The parable takes a darker turn when the tenants kill the owner’s son, thinking that by doing so, they will inherit the vineyard. But the owner’s response is swift and severe. He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others.

This is a sobering reminder that God is not only kind, patient, and single-minded—He is also just. His justice will not be ignored forever. The evil done in this world, the sin that is perpetrated against Him and His people, will one day be judged. The tenants in the parable thought they could escape justice by killing the son, but they were wrong. There is no escape from God’s justice.

Jesus’ words here are not only a warning to the Jewish leaders of His day—they are a warning to all of us. God will not allow His kindness, His patience, and His love to be trampled upon forever. There will be a reckoning.

The vineyard will be given to others. In the case of the Jewish nation, this was a reference to the Gentiles who would now be invited into the kingdom of God. But it also speaks to us today. The gospel is not ours to keep; it is a gift to be shared with the world. We must not take God’s grace for granted. We must not reject His call to bear fruit. For there will come a day when His justice will be enacted, and the opportunity to enter the kingdom will be closed.

5. God’s Plan Will Not Fail: The Cornerstone

In verse 10, Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22-23: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” This is a direct reference to Himself. The Jewish leaders had rejected Jesus, the Son of God, but God’s plan would not fail. Jesus, the rejected stone, would become the cornerstone of the new kingdom.

The cornerstone is the most important stone in the building—it determines the alignment and stability of the entire structure. Jesus, the rejected stone, would become the foundation of the Church. Despite the rejection of the religious leaders, God’s plan was unfolding perfectly.

And so it is with us. God’s plan will not fail. His kingdom will come, His will will be done, and His justice will prevail. It is our privilege to be a part of His plan. It is our responsibility to bear fruit, to honor Him with our lives, and to share the good news with others.

In the end, the parable of the vineyard calls us to reflect on God’s kindness, patience, and justice. It challenges us to bear fruit, to live lives that honor Him, and to share His grace with the world. It reminds us that God’s plan will not fail, and that, despite rejection and hardship, His kingdom will come. Let us live in the light of these truths, faithfully serving the God who is kind, single-minded, patient, just, and faithful.