Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

November 04, 2018

Matthew 21:23 – 22:14 Christ’s Authority (Part 2)

{vs. 28} This is the first of our three parables.  Let’s quickly outline it.  The vineyard (background) represents the nation of Israel as it often does in scripture (i.e. Psalm 80 & Isaiah 5).  There are three characters: the father, who represents God, the Father; the first Son, who although initially refusing to obey changed and became obedient (what we would call ‘a good son’); and the other son, who claimed to be obedient but was not!  In this story, the father is the same to both sons, not favoring either one and is not the central focus of this story.  The point of the story is found in the difference between the two sons!  These two men represent two types of all men – those who give lip service to God and those who genuinely strive to obey.  Notice however, that both are disobedient!  There is no son in this story who both said and did the right thing!  We are all sinners, all guilty before God!

The behavior of the first son would have been unthinkable to Jesus’ hearers – that son owed his life, his support and all that he was to the father.  Their family structure was such that he was expected to obey without question (no back talking like the teenagers of today!) or else the father was expected to boot him out!  This would mean the loss of position in the community, the loss of any chance at his inheritance - - - not to mention he would be out on the street!  Just hearing about the first son the people have had their sensibilities disturbed, and they are invested in the story.  However, the disrespect and disobedience first shown would not, in their minds be mitigated by the secondary obedience!  This is how they thought of the ‘great sinners’ too, once a sinner – always and irredeemably a sinner (Praise God that He does not see this or we’d all be toast!)

Jesus is in the nicest terms describing the publicans and sinners – those who have rebelled (sinned) against God and the self-righteous (the upright and religious leaders) who although looking good and saying the right things are really far from God!  Now having told the story, Jesus throws the evaluation or judgement to the crowds –

{vs. 31a} Without considering the meaning or consequences (like the chief priests and elders did for Jesus’ last question), the people answer from common sense.  In this crowd, there were two groups (like two sons) – the religious and respectable (observing the festivals) and the down-and-out sinners (who were drawn to Jesus).  In doing so, they condemned themselves!  The religious did their best to say and do what scripture had been reduced to, toeing the religious line, while rotten inside.  When they answered ‘the first’, they condemned themselves.  However, the other group, the ‘lost’ came humbly and repentantly, seeking forgiveness – which Jesus gave freely.  When they answered, they admitted their own sins and joyfully acknowledged that God gives second chances!

{vs. 31b-32} Now Jesus gives His evaluation.  They have judged rightly – it is the first son, the one representing the tax collectors and prostitutes that will be received by God.  They, although far from God, have turned to seek Him.  John the Baptist came to show them the way to turn back, they heard gladly but not the self-righteous.  Even after seeing the great witness of these sinners changed, you self-righteous would not turn (because they believed they had no need).  In this, we see the rejection of God the Father – Israel did not in their eyes see a need to turn back to their loving God (Father).  It is not about appearances or words – God is tired of hypocrites!  This is what Jesus (and John) have been preaching all along – a message of repentance!

{vs. 33} Again, the vineyard is Israel and the landowner is God.  The Sovereign over the spiritual kingdom that Israel was to be the earthly representation of.  This time it is the leaders (religious and political) that are seen as farmers (the caregivers).  In this area, vineyards were common and this would be well understood!  We see His constant love and care as He set them up for success (for bearing much fruit).  He put a wall up – separating them from the enemy and any who would do them harm.  He dug a winepress – this was no small task!  The winepresses would be ‘dug’ or carved out of stone – one large shallow basin, where the grapes would be squashed with a trough (like a tube) leading to a deep basin where the wine was collected, later to be scooped up into wineskins or other containers.  How many of you have tried to carve a barrel size basin (or larger) out of solid stone?  This was quite a job and shows the investment in the vineyard!  Finally, he built a watchtower so that the vineyard could be constantly watched over (day and night).  Not only was this for the vineyard, but for the farmers – it provided shelter and storage in addition to security!  This owner is a good man, he has done everything possible to get a good harvest!  With all this done, he puts farmers in charge – people to be in partnership with him (just as we are with God) to bring in the harvest.

Here, the illustration breaks down a little bit – God, never moves away, He never loses sight of what is going on in the vineyard.  What this distance shows is God’s longsuffering nature and His willingness to give the ‘farmers’ every chance to do what is right!  This is also seen in the next part of the story -

{vs. 34-37} The owner sends representatives (for God, prophets) to check on and collect the fruits of his investments.  Now, the true nature of the tenants is revealed – they are wicked men who are only out for their own gain, not thinking of the consequences!  Unwilling to submit to the owner (God) the men beat and kill his servants!  This owner will not give up – he sends multiple servants (God outrageously gives chance after chance after chance to Israel)!  Until finally, he sends his son - - - none of us would do that!  None of us would trust our son’s safety to such men!  But this owner, gives them the benefit of the doubt – they will respect me enough to extend that respect to my son.  They will not do such a wicked thing to my son, he says to himself.  Sadly, this is not true. 

Notice that they killed some and stoned others – this would perhaps be the difference between a quick death and a longer drawn out execution.  Stephen sums up this behavior in his sermon before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:52 NIV).  In fact, it was right after these words that they killed Stephen!  What amazing patience, what amazing love and restraint God has for His people!  You or I would have given up and wiped them out long ago.  Perhaps sending two or maybe three servants – but come on!  One, two, three strikes your out - - - right?  That is not God however, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . .  there is no other love like it!  But even this extravagant gift of love, this ultimate chance was rejected.

{vs. 38} The tenants had come to think of the vineyard as their own – just like the religious leaders.  They had become greedy or possessive, not happy with the privilege or position given, gifted or entrusted to them . . . so they tried to keep it all for themselves.  This is why they kill the son, not just because he came for the owner, but because they intend to make the vineyard their own.  They would have done the same to the owner if he would have come without an army or show of force! (In his sin, Satan tried to overthrow God – and we would too!)

Notice the striking parallels – it was their temple, their law, they were the experts - - - these men had stopped looking to God long ago.  This is why they shamefully abused anyone who came with His message . . . even His one and only Son, the Messiah they claimed to be waiting for.  Sometimes we do the same in our ‘Christianity’ – we have our Bibles, we have our churches and we have our interpretations/denominations - - - but have we stopped seeking God?  I pray not!  We must be in relationship with God, not religion – religion makes everything ridged, it kills.  A relationship however makes it easy to recognize God (and the work He is doing) – it makes it natural and comfortable for us to walk with Him!

{vs. 40-41} It was easy for them to answer because they had put themselves in the place of the owner – not rightly connecting that their leaders were the farmers!  It is amazing how clearly we see when the issue is disconnected from ourselves!  It is obvious that the wicked must be punished - - - it is only what is right, and this is another part of the message - - - God is patient and slow to anger, giving myriads of chances but time and opportunity to do what is right will eventually run out! God’s desire is to work alongside of us – producing a great harvest.  This is not hard because like a father working with his child, God has done (continues to do) all the hard work – He has prepared, planted, hedged, carved the press and built the tower - - - all we need do is follow His plan and tend to the vineyard!

{vs. 42} This is a from Psalm 118, the very song that they quoted, yelled and sang to Him on His Triumphal Entry!  This prophesy warns them (tells them) that these builders (their leaders) will reject the stone that the Lord will send (has sent) but nonetheless it will become the most important foundation stone!  This is by the plan of God and it is amazing and beyond imagining!

{vs. 43} Just as they pronounced – a fitting judgement for unfit farmers/leaders!

{vs. 44} At first glance neither option seems desirable.  In scripture, God is often depicted as the Rock (a place of shelter in the storm or times of trouble) but as Isaiah 8:14 describes – those who take shelter will be safe, those who go against will stumble, be snared or trapped.  This however is preferable to His falling (coming against) the person – because they will be completely crushed (Greek - as if into powder or nothingness), never to rise again.  Those who stumble over Jesus will be broken – but we need to be broken, to be stripped down of ourselves, our pride and our sin so that we might rise again, made new and whole!

{vs. 45-46} Jesus has just judged and condemned them as wicked leaders and the people unknowingly joined in, confirming the verdict.  There was no way for them to deny the verdict – their own history paralleled the parables.  They were the ones who said “yes, we’ll go into the field” and they were the ones who abused and killed the prophets - - - they had rejected the Father and the Son and next time we’ll see them reject the work of the Holy Spirit!  We’ll also see why Christ’s authority is important to us today – don’t miss out, stay tuned!