[9] Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.[10] And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.[11] And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.[12] And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. [13] Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. [14] But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. [15] So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? [16] He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

This parable of the vineyard follows the teaching of Jesus regarding “authority.” The Pharisees and other leaders wanted to be the “authority” instead of God and His Word. They rejected the prophet John the Baptist and they had just rejected Jesus by questioning His authority. Now, Jesus presents the parable of the vineyard to show the leaders of the people what they have done.
The parable begins with describing someone who planted a vineyard. The leaders knew from Isaiah 5:7, that the vineyard represented the people of Israel and that the owner of the vineyard was the Lord of Hosts or God, so they knew that Jesus was talking about them in the parable. They, the leaders, represented those who were to faithfully teach the people. 2 Timothy 2:2,6. The fruit of the vineyard represented people who would give their hearts to the Lord and be converted. Philippians 1:11 and proverbs 11:30.
The servants sent by the Lord of the vineyard, represented the prophets like John the Baptist who were sent by God to the leaders and husbandmen to warn them (Amos 3:7). Finally, the son, sent by the lord of the vineyard, represented Jesus (John 3:16) (Matthew 3:17) who was sent by God.
By this parable, Jesus was showing the leaders of the people what they would soon do. They would soon kill the heir of the lord of the vineyard. They would soon kill Jesus. Jesus was also showing the leaders the result of what they would do. The Lord of the vineyard destroyed the husbandmen an God would also destroy the unfaithful leaders. The vineyard would be taken from them and given to others.