OPPOSERS SILENCED
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!
