“Then He began to tell the people this parable: ‘A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time.’”
—Luke 20:9 NKJV
When Jesus declines to answer the religious leaders’ direct question regarding His authority, He does not avoid the matter—He transcends it. Instead of engaging in their shallow interrogation, He offers a parable. This shift signals that He is preparing to reveal a Kingdom truth, available only to those with hearts willing to see and ears willing to hear (Luke 8:10). The leaders, hardened in unbelief, are unable to perceive what He unveils, yet the message is clear to the spiritually discerning: this parable is itself the answer to their question about His authority.
1. The Owner, the Originator, and True Authority
Jesus introduces the parable with a familiar image: a man who plants a vineyard. To His audience, this was unmistakable—this man is the originator, the architect, the one who labors to produce something of value. He is not merely holding title; he is invested. He has rights, purpose, and intent.
Throughout Scripture, similar figures appear—the nobleman in the parable of the minas (Luke 19), the rich man in Luke 16. They are depicted as owners with rightful authority, individuals who entrust others with their resources and expect responsible stewardship that produces increase.
This parable makes it clear: authority flows from origin. The One who creates, plants, and purposes is the One who determines how the resources are to be used. This connects directly to Jesus’ answer—His authority stems from the fact that He is not just commissioned by God; He is God the Son, the original owner of the vineyard.
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2. The Steward’s Role: Privilege Without Ownership
The stewards—vinedressers, servants—do not own the vineyard. They hold a lease, a right of possession but never ownership. They are entrusted with managing what belongs to another, and they are accountable to the one who entrusted them.
The recurring biblical theme is consistent:
Stewards are granted access, authority, and responsibility—but never ownership.
They are called to cultivate, protect, and multiply what has been given. Their role carries weight. Their work is measured not by effort alone but by fruitfulness.
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3. Delay With Purpose: Accountability Is Certain
A defining feature in each stewardship parable is the owner’s departure for a long time, followed by an unexpected return. The timing is uncertain, but his return is guaranteed, and so is the accounting.
Faithful stewardship embraces the tension between responsibility and uncertainty. It does not wait for clarity of timing to act—it moves now with intentionality, knowing that every moment matters.
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4. A Return to Genesis: Stewardship Is Foundational to Human Purpose
Any Jewish listener would have recognized the vineyard imagery as pointing back to Eden. Just as God planted the garden and entrusted Adam with its care (Genesis 2:15), here again we see the divine pattern: God creates, man stewards.
Stewardship, then, is not a New Testament concept nor a church program—it is a fundamental aspect of humanity’s original commission. Legacy stewardship begins not with finance or estate planning, but with theology: God owns everything; we steward what He entrusts.
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5. Revelation and Responsibility: Parables as Judgment and Mercy
Jesus emphasizes that parables reveal truth to those willing to receive it and conceal it from hardened hearts (Luke 8:10, referencing Isaiah 6:9). In speaking this way, He fulfills Scripture while simultaneously disclosing the mystery of His divine identity. His words are not just lessons—they are acts of sovereign authority.
He does not simply claim divine authority—He demonstrates it.
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Legacy Stewardship Management Through the Lens of the Parable
When applied to legacy stewardship management, this parable reshapes our understanding:
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A. Ownership vs. Management
• God is the owner. We are not stakeholders; we are stewards.
• Everything we manage—time, resources, relationships, influence—is on divine lease.
• Legacy planning must begin with the question: What does the Owner intend for what He has entrusted to me?
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B. Purposeful Production
• The vineyard was planted with the expectation of fruit.
• Legacy stewardship must not solely be about preservation—it must be about purposeful multiplication.
• What we pass on must not just endure—it must expand Kingdom impact.
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C. Accountability Is Certain
• The delay may feel long, but the return is guaranteed.
• The measure of our stewardship will be based on how we aligned with God’s purpose during the delay.
• Wise legacy planning embraces accountability now, not later.
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D. Mission Over Maintenance
• If stewardship echoes Eden, then legacy is not about securing our name—it is about advancing His purpose.
• We do not write our own legacy; we steward His story through our lives.
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Conclusion: Legacy Begins With Lordship
Jesus’ parable does more than reveal the source of His authority—it clarifies the essence of ours. We have none apart from what He entrusts. As such, true legacy stewardship management must be built upon this foundation:
God is the originator and owner. We are stewards. His return is certain. Our legacy must be found faithful.
Legacy is not what outlives us—it is what continues to bear fruit aligned with His will long after we’re gone.
Stewardship is not about securing the vineyard—it is about preparing it for the Owner’s return.
May we manage what has been entrusted to us with intentionality, humility, and eternal vision.
Amen.
By Christopher L. Walker at myfathersestate.com
