Listen to another parable. A landlord planted a vineyard, fenced around it, dug a winepress, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to vine workers and traveled abroad for a long time. 

— The Story of Jesus 26.2

[adapted from Mt 21:33]

Truly I tell you that I won’t drink the fruit of the vine again from now until the day I drink it fresh with you in God’s kingdom – my Father’s kingdom – when it comes. (adapted from Mt 26:29).

— The Story of Jesus 30.5

[adapted from Mt 26:29]

The soil and climate of Canaan were well suited for growing grapes, so cultivating a vineyard was a common practice among landowning Jews. Vineyards were typically fenced or hedged to keep animals out, and a watchtower was built to protect against thieves. Grapes were harvested in September and their juice was fermented into wine or vinegar.

Landowners often hired others to tend the vines and harvest the grapes. The Greek word ampelourgosis derived from ampelos (“vine”) and ergon (“work” or “business”) and literally means “vine worker.” It’s translated as “vinedresser” in many Bible translations but could also be rendered “gardener.”

Wine was a common drink among Jews, frequently consumed during feasts and celebrations. Additionally, Moses’ Law prescribed portions of wine to be offered along with other sacrifices. Following the harvest in September, grapes were pressed by foot in large vats (winepresses) amidst much celebration. The juice was then fermented in wineskins to produce the alcohol content.

A wineskin was a leather bag used to ferment and contain wine. It was typically made of a whole goat skin, lined with tree sap or resin to prevent its contents from seeping out. The skin of grapes naturally has yeast growing on it. Upon pressing the grapes, the yeast digests the natural sugars in the juice to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide gas. New wineskins full of fermenting wine expand as gas accumulates. However, wineskins could only be used to ferment wine once – the gas would burst old wineskins if used to hold fresh grape juice again.

A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” 

— The Story of Jesus 26.3

[adapted from Mt 27:48; Mk 15:36; Lk 23:36; Jn 19-29-30]

When batches of wine were improperly stored, bacteria fermented the ethanol (alcohol) into acetic acid (vinegar), thereby spoiling it. The term posca is Latin, but the Greek equivalent oxos comes from word for “sharp,” referring to its pungent flavor. It’s often translated as “vinegar” or “sour wine” in the Bible. Posca was a common drink among the Roman army and lower civilian classes of the first century. It was a concoction of vinegar, water, and herbs. All four gospel writers record that Jesus was offered posca as he hung from the cross. In fact, these are the only times this word is mentioned in the Bible.

© D. B. Ryen Incorporated, 2019-2025.