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Matthew 21:23-27
The Context:
(A)The day before, JESUS made HIS triumphal entry into Jerusalem, sitting upon an ass and a colt (Matthew 21:1-11) in fulfillment of prophecies of: Genesis 49:10-11a, Zechariah 9:9 and Malachi 3:1 ff. (B) The day before, JESUS cleansed the temple by casting out the money- and (Matthew 21:12-15) in fulfillment of Malachi 3:1-5 (C) The day before, JESUS has again healed the blind and the lame in the temple in fulfillment of Isaiah 35:3 ff. V: 23 (A) The chief priests and the elders are quick to investigate as they did John the Baptist – John 1:15-34 (B) But they are slow to believe. Did they believe the forerunner’s (John’s) testimony about baptism? (C) I believe in order to obey – I obey in order to believe. (D) JESUS is now in the temple, but let’s see if they believed. Malachi 3:1ff V: 24 How could they deal with HIS authority as MESSIAH, if they couldn’t deal with the messenger’s (John’s) authority? – as found in Malachi 3:1 V: 25-26 There was no safe response, so their answer is to be evasive. V: 27 How can we expect to know more, when we won’t take action on what we have? Psalms 119:32
Now, we have the context for the following two parables:
THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS Matthew 21:28-32
Remember, JESUS is talking to religious leaders who were not doing what they claimed they believed (the Old Testament) and who refused to follow the guidance they had from the messenger – John the Baptist!
V: 28 (A) A certain man is obviously GOD. (B) The vineyard is Israel. Isaiah 5:1 & 7. V:29-30 These two responses are the responses o GOD’S people throughout the ages!
V: 31 (A) Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. Matthew 6:10. (B) God’s will – bear fruit – souls (John 15:1-8) and our sanctification Thessalonians 4:3 – from the heart - Ephesians 6:6 (D) GOD can make perfect in every good work to do HIS will…..” Hebrews 13:20-21 – Go work today in my vineyard! V:32 Non faith the blackest of all sins – to hear the word of GOD and fail to repent that ye might believe. John 15:22.
THE PARABLE OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN Matthew 21:33-46
(A) A certain householder is God who planted the vineyard Israel Psalm 80:8ff (B) The pastors and husbandmen would destroy the vineyard. Jeremiah 12:10 V: 34 (A) The prophets had come to claim the peaceful fruits of righteousness. Isaiah 1:21 (B) But there had occurred a change in the hearts of the husbandmen, from his vineyard, to our vineyard. John 11:35:40 V: 35 (A) There will be no harvest without us, it’s our vineyard, we’ve done the work! (B) Anger and greed capture the hearts of the husbandmen. Acts 7:51-54 & 57-58 and Hebrews 11:35-40. V: 36 We’ve gone too far to stop now! Matthew 14:10 V: 37 The landowner’s son comes to the vineyard witting upon an ass, and a colt, the foal of an ass. Matthew 21:1-1 ff. V:38 “Do you realize what we can do now? This is the heir! It’s his legacy – the ownership of the vineyard is transferred to the son! Kill him and it’s ours! John 11:47-50. V: 39 Hebrews 13:12 V: 40 Will they condemn their own selves? Matthew 12:34-37 V: 41 They told the truth – God did exactly that which they spoke. (A)God allowed Titus of Rome to destroy both Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD just as Daniel the Prophet had said would be the result of the MESSIAH being cut off (killed. Daniel 9:26. (B) GOD cast away Israel (Romans 11:15) just as the prophet Isaiah had said HE would (Isaiah 65:15 & 62:2) V: 42 (A) Justice – you may reject the stone (SON). Psalms 118:22 But GOD will lay the stone (SON). Isaiah 28:16 V: 44 JESUS is the stone! Isaiah 8:13-15 V: 45 Amazing insight!
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