This paper examines the parable of the vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-24 and its relationship to messianic prophecy. It discusses the origin of the vine (Genesis 2:8-17) and the condition of the vine (Isaiah 5:1-24; Matthew 23:13-33). It also discusses the restoration of the vineyard and the coming of the true vine as fulfillment of Old and New Testament prophecy (Matthew 21:33-45; John 15:1-11). The parable of the vineyard is both an admonition to the people of Israel to adhere to God's laws and Messianic prophecy with implicit references to the coming of Christ to free all people from the burden of sin. Isaiah consistently uses the metaphor of vines and a vineyard to explain how God tends to the needs of the people of Israel as long as they remain faithful to their covenant with Him. To understand the nature of sin, Isaiah sings of a vineyard made perfect by the Lord only to produce worthless grapes because of the transgressions of the people of Israel. The parable ends with a promise that God's wrath will be turned away if the people of Israel return to following God's law. This can be interpreted as an immediate salvation for Israel as well as the long-term salvation for Israel from the coming of Christ to save people from sin.
ORIGIN OF THE VINE: THE FIRST VINEYARD.
Isaiah's parable or song of the vine could be compared to the original garden or type of vineyard found in Genesis 2:8-17. This passage notes that "The Lord planted a garden in the east, toward Eden" (Gen. 2:8) and "Out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9)." God placed man in the garden with the command to tend and cultivate the garden with the admonition not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God further warned man if he ate of the tree of knowledge, he would surely die (Gen: 2:17).