Matthew 100
(Chapter 21)
The forest for the trees and the hard truth
Matthew 21:33–46 (NLT)
33“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.
34At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.
35But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
37“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’
38“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’
39So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
40“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”
41The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”
42Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
43I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.
44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
45When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.
46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
The forest for the trees!
33“Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.
· This is Israel
· God gave them all they need in the garden
· And He continued to love the people of Israel
· He continued to show them grace and mercy
34At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.
35But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
· And as a people group, they continued to defy Him
· They continued to mishandle all that He gave them
· They abused His word
· they used it for their own personal gain
· and the chief priest used God's word to manipulate God's people
36So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
· God sent His prophets to warn them
· but they continue to defy Him
37“Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’
· and then He sent His son into the world, Jesus
· to show them a different way
· a better way
· to be an example of His word
· and an example for His people
38“But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’
· so instead of welcoming Him
· praising Him
· seeing that He was the Son of God
· they plotted to kill Him
· He became an obstacle in their way
· He threatened their lifestyle
· so He had to go
39So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
· and eventually they killed Him
40“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”
· They didn't see the forest for the trees
· they let their own pleasures and lifestyle cloud their judgment
· they didn't want the Messiah to come back
· they liked it just the way it was
· so instead of seeing Jesus for who He truly was
· they saw Him as a lunatic or a threat to their way of life
the trap is set
40“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?”
41The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”
· And Jesus laid the trap
· Ask the question
· And the answer was obvious
· What should the owner do about the treachery
God gives everyone a choice
He will put the wicked men to a horrible death
· We all have the same choice
· To follow
· To be given the keys to heaven
· Or to defy God
· We might not wear fancy robes and big hats
· But we all make the same mistake they did
And Judgment will come for us all someday!
The hard truth
42Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’
43I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.
44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
· The hard truth is that Jesus will reign
· And there is nothing they could do to stop Him
· And if we aren't willing to carry out His will, someone else will
· We will all stand before Him, and we will give account
· We all have the choice
We worry about protecting the gate
· That if God was only in schools
· If God was back in politics
· That that would somehow fix it all
· The gate is secure
· His plan and will is being worked out
· Our only Job is to reach as many as we can before He returns
The hard look in the mirror,
45When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.
· This was a look in the mirror moment
· This was a realization that Jesus came to correct them
· Not to lift them up, or solidify what they were doing
· But to show them the sin in their life and to turn them to repentance
Jesus does the same with us
· Jesus wants to show you the sin in your life
· Not to point out the sin in others for you to correct
· But just like them, we don’t see the forest for the trees!!!
46They wanted to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.
· But like us instead of seeing the errors of their own ways
· They continued to try and find a way to protect their little G status
· To protect their:
o Pride
o Power
o And money
· Do you ever wonder why Jesus addresses the issues in the “Religious” so often
· It’s because there is a little Pharisee in us all
there are consequences for your actions
44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
· Don’t let the grace and mercy of Jesus
· Overshadow the judgment of Jesus
· It is coming for us all
· And there will be consequences for our actions
· If we don’t repent and turn away from our sins!
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