by Stan Feldsine (www.tojesusbeallglory.com)

Luke 19:11-12 - The Parable of the Ten Minas

Luk 19:11-12 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. (12) He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.

On his approach to Jerusalem, after the healing of the blind men and visit with Zachaeus, Jesus gives a parable to the crowds that were following Him as they were thinking that Jesus would begin His Messianic reign when He arrived at Jerusalem. This expectation on their part was echoed later just before His ascension.

Act 1:6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

In spite of being told at least 3 times that Jesus would die and on the third day be raised (Mat 16:21, Mat 17:22-23, Mat 20:17-19), they were still not understanding this. This parable dispells the notion that the Messianic Kingdom is imminent.

The parable is broken down into these parts:

The nobleman (Jesus) will leave the earth and go to a distant country (heaven).
Servants will be left behind to carry on the ministry.
The citizens will reject the nobleman as King.
Eventually, the nobleman will return to earth as King.
The Servants will be judged and either rewarded or not rewarded.
The citizens will be judged,

(13) So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' (14) "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

Ten servants were called, and each was given 10 minas. The servants were to trade with the minas (about 3 months wages) and produce a return which would be collected upon the return of the nobleman.

The citizens however, protested and sent a delegation to express the rejection of the nobleman becoming king. They did not want Him as king.

"Minas" represent our life potential with regards to the value we could return to the king. Depending on the talents and gifts that have been distributed this would represent a variable amount given to various people.

(15) "He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

Regardless of the citizen's rejection, He was made king and returned back home. The King's return home represents the second coming of Jesus in Glory.

Dan 7:13-14 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. (14) He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The judgments in view here are those either after the Rapture for Church age believers (Bema Judgment (1Co 3:10-15, 2Co 5:1-10)), or the judgment of the nations at the Sheep and Goat judgment (Mat 7:21-23, Mat 13:36-43, Mat 13:47-50, Mat 25:31-46).

(16) "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' (17) "'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' (18) "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' (19) "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'

A good and proper job taking care of that which is important to the master results in promotion. Those doing well with a little are promoted and given more responsibility. This was the case with Daniel.

Dan 6:1-3 It pleased Darius to appoint 120 royal rulers over his entire kingdom. (2) He placed three leaders over them. One of the leaders was Daniel. The royal rulers were made accountable to the three leaders. Then the king wouldn't lose any of his wealth. (3) Daniel did a better job than the other two leaders or any of the royal rulers. He was an unusually good and able man. So the king planned to put him in charge of the whole kingdom.

This principle has been presented in other parables, such as the Parable of the Dishonest Manager.

Luk 16:9-12 "I tell you, use the riches of this world to help others. In that way, you will make friends for yourselves. Then when your riches are gone, you will be welcomed into your eternal home in heaven. (10) "Suppose you can be trusted with very little. Then you can be trusted with a lot. But suppose you are not honest with very little. Then you will not be honest with a lot. (11) "Suppose you have not been worthy of trust in handling worldly wealth. Then who will trust you with true riches? (12) Suppose you have not been worthy of trust in handling someone else's property. Then who will give you property of your own?

Timothy is given insight and instruction regarding what indicates a good return.

2Ti 2:8-12 Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David's family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news. (9) I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God's word is not held back by chains. (10) So I put up with everything for the good of God's chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever. (11) Here is a saying you can trust. If we died with him, we will also live with him. (12) If we don't give up, we will also rule with him. If we say we don't know him, he will also say he doesn't know us.

(20) "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. (21) I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'

Although one of the ten receiving the minas, this individual did not faithfully trade and increase his holdings. Dealing with investment and returns involves risk. God here is indicating that a good and faithful servant is one that is willing to take risks to bring about a return, or glory to God.

(22) "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? (23) Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'

Judging the servant on the basis of his own words means that he declared the master a hard man, one who reaped where he did not sow. That would be the basis of his judgment. The master's character should have motivated the servant to service.

(24) "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' (25) "'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' (26) "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.

In the Christian life, we either use what we have been given, or we loose even that.

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

(27) But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.'"

Having judged the 10 servants and distributed rewards to 9 of them, Jesus turns to the unbelieving citizens who rejected Him and His kingdom. Their end would be death. This judgment against unbelievers would also occur prior to the start of the Messianic Kingdom in the Sheep and Goat judgment. These unbelievers who reject Jesus will be sent to hell, or Sheol, and there they will await the Great White Throne judgment at the end of the Millennium. Unbelievers in this judgment will be sent from Sheol to their final destination in the Lake of Fire.

Act 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. (14) You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. (15) You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Luk 19:14 "But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'

The message of this parable as regards the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom is clearly speaking of a future start. The King, Jesus, has left earth and gone to a distant country, heaven, to be appointed King. But He has not yet returned to earth and initiated the judgments and kingdom.

While He is gone, His servants, disciples need to take what He has given them in terms of gifts and and service and produce fruit. Those who faithfully utilize what they have been given will be rewarded.

Constables Notes - "Salvation does not depend on working for God but resting in what Jesus Christ has done. Rewards do not depend on resting in what Jesus Christ has done but on working for God."

John 11:55 to 12:11 - Events Leading to the Triumphal Entry

Joh 11:55-57 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. (56) They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the festival at all?" (57) But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

Joh 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

Joh 12:9-11 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (10) So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, (11) for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

Bethany was an easy walk from Jerusalem. Jesus, when teaching in Jerusalem, would stay in Bethany and walk to Jerusalem for the day.

Lazarus was the first sign of Jonah. The Sanhedrin had met and officially rejected this sign and they decreed that Jesus should receive a death sentence. The word had spread that anyone who knew were Jesus was was to report it to the authorities who would come and arrest Him.

Although the religious leaders had rejected the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the populace was intrigued and they were attracted to it. Part of the uniqueness of this miracle of raising from the dead was that Lazarus had been dead 4 days.

The religious leaders were incensed because the event was causing many to come to believe. Many believed when they heard about the miracle, but even more came to believe when they saw Lazarus. This resulted in the religious leaders wanting to kill Lazarus as well.

Matthew 21:1-7 - The Triumphal Entry

Mat 21:1-7 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, (2) saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. (3) If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." (4) This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (5) "Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'" (6) The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. (7) They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

Jesus has been referred to as the Passover Lamb.

Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1Co 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

The Passover Lamb was to be set aside on the 10th of Nisan. From the 10th to the 14th of Nisan the lamp was tested to ensure it was a proper offering, spotless and without blemish.

Exo 12:3-6 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. (4) If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. (5) The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. (6) Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

Jesus's ride into Jerusalem on the back of the donkey was the very same day that the Lambs were to be set aside. On the same day that the Jews set aside the passover lamb, Jesus was set aside as He rode into Jerusalem.

A prophecy of Zechariah foretold of the coming of Messiah on a donkey.

Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

When Jesus sent His disciples to fetch the donkey, He instructed them to inform the owner that "the Lord has need of it". The "need" was to fulfill the prophecy. Jesus could have easily walked to Jerusalem, but the Prophecy needed to be fulfilled.

It is likely that the owner permitted the use of the donkey based on a custom of that day. A major religious or political figure could seize a donkey or mule for his own use. This could explain the ease with which this transaction was completed.

At this point in the ministry of Jesus, there was no intent to conceal His identity as Messiah. The religious scholars of the day would have been very familiar with the Zec 9:9 prophecy. Not wanting to miss the coming of the Messiah, they would have been observant to see when and from where this person would arrive. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy in front of their eyes, so that they could not mistake the intent of this triumphal entry. Jesus was asserting Himself as their Messiah.

Matthew 21:8-11 - The Crowd's Reaction

We will look at all four gospel accounts to get the full picture of events as each provides details the others do not.

Mat 21:8-11 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (9) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (10) When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" (11) The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Joh 12:12-13 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. (13) They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the king of Israel!"

Mar 11:8-10 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. (9) Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" (10) "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

Luk 19:37-38 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: (38) "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

The crowds response was in accordance with Zechariah's foretelling that the Feast of Tabernacles would be fulfilled by the coming of the Messianic Kingdom. The reaction of the crowd showed that they expected the Messianic Kingdom to be established almost immediately.

Palm branches indicates that the crowds expected a military victory related to the Feast of Tabernacles.

Lev 23:40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees--from palms, willows and other leafy trees--and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.

On two previous occasions palm branches were broken off to prepare for the arrival of a Jewish military leader. The first is when Judas Maccabee entered Jerusalem (2Ma 10:7).

2Ma 10:7 Therefore they bare branches, and fair boughs, and palms also, and sang psalms unto him that had given them good success in cleansing his place.

This was repeated in recognition of the military success of Simon, the last of the Maccabees.

1Ma 13:51 And entered into it the three and twentieth day of the second month in the hundred seventy and first year, with thanksgiving, and branches of palm trees, and with harps, and cymbals, and with viols, and hymns, and songs: because there was destroyed a great enemy out of Israel.

And now the crowd was doing it as Jesus rode into Jerusalem, as they expected Him to set up the Messianic Kingdom.

Additionally, the crowd applied Psa 118:26 to the arrival of Jesus as well. This Psalm is prophetic of the Messianic arrival of the king.

The crowd failed to realize that Jesus had come to fulfill Passover by His death, not Tabernacles by the arrival of the kingdom. The following prophecy had to do with Tabernacles, not Pentecost.

Zec 14:16-21 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. (17) If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. (18) If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. (19) This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. (20) On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD's house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. (21) Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty.

The disciples did not catch the distinction between Jesus' relationship to Passover vs. Tabernacles, and would only come to understand this after His ascension. The Holy Spirit would reveal it to them.

Joh 12:16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

John 12:19 & Luke 19:39-40 - The Pharisee's Reaction

John and Luke provide additional detail regarding the Triumphal Entry. The Pharisees, seeing that most of the crowd is worshiping Jesus as the Messianic King are concerned with all the attention and validation He is receiving.

Joh 12:19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!"

Luk 19:39-40 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" (40) "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Matt 23:37-39 & Luke 19:41-44 - Jesus's Reaction

Mat 23:37-39 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. (38) Look, your house is left to you desolate. (39) For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Luk 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it (42) and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. (43) The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. (44) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."

The people's worship of Jesus as the promised Messianic King as H rode into Jerusalem would indicate that they had accepted the Messianic Kingdom. However, it was a year and a half earlier in Matthew 12 that the religious and political leadership of the country led the people to reject Jesus as Messiah. They committed an unforgivable sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit by claiming that Jesus was empowered by Beelzebub, a prince of demons.

The unforgivable sin applied here, as in spite of the crowds proclaiming Him to be the Messianic King, forgiveness could not be given and the Kingdom would not come at this time. Jesus lamented this, and declared again the judgment of Jerusalem's destruction in 70 AD.

Setting Aside the Passover Lamb

The purpose of the Triumphal Entry was to set aside the Passover Lamb. Jesus was that Lamb. The crowd recognized the importance of what was going on, but the Pharisees protested. From here on Jesus would be tested to see that He was spotless and without blemish.

Matthew 21:12-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Mat 21:12-17 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. (13) "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.'" (14) The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. (15) But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. (16) "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise'?" (17) And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Only John records the event where Jesus cleansed the temple once before. The cleansing John records is at the outset of His ministry. His cleansing of the temple brought out His authority and ownership of the temple. This second cleansing shows that things had gone back to the way they were before.

Joh 2:13-22 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14) In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. (15) So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. (16) To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"

There are a couple things that Jesus was unhappy with. First, there were money-changers, who while fulfilling an important function of converting foreign currency into shekels, were charging what Jesus felt was an unfair or excessive amount for the service.

Secondly, because many traveled to Jerusalem, they depended on being able to buy the sacrificial offering when they arrived. There is evidence of profiteering among the merchants who were charging unfairly for the sacrifices, causing hardship for the travelers.

Some scholars also suggest that the commercialism and convenience of changing money and acquiring sacrifices right there in the temple was the issue.

In any event, all this raised the charge of making the temple a den of thieves robbing it of it's sanctity.

Jesus's cleansing of the temple along with an exercise of implied authority resulted in the religious leaders becoming increasingly bent on Jesus's arrest and death. Jesus was in a delicate balance between the desire of the leaders to kill Him, and their fear of the reaction of the people if that were to happen. The people caused the Pharisees to hold back.

Luk 19:47-48 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. (48) Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Matthew 21:18-22 - Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

Mat 21:18-22 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. (19) Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. (20) When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. (21) Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. (22) If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

On Monday morning of the week of His crucifixion, Jesus was headed to Jerusalem, and was hungry. He approached a fig tree for a snack along the way. When He reached the fig tree, He found that it had no figs.

For the first time, Jesus performs a miracle of destruction rather than healing. He cursed the fig tree and it immediately withered away.

Jesus's hunger shows His humanity, the Son of Man. The withering of the fig tree immediately shows His deity, the Son of God.

Jesus turned to His disciples and spoke to them about answered prayer.

First, prayer must be in faith without doubt. If we ask accordingly, we can move mountains. The reference to the moving of mountains probably came from the fact that the Jews called their greatest teachers "movers of mountains". The reference would apply to someone who solved great problems with the law or the "pulverized" the mountain when they took care of something asked that was seemingly impossible.

Faith in God provides knowledge and wisdom when dealing with difficult issues.

Secondly, Mark points out that Jesus is teaching the role of forgiveness in answered prayer. If we harbor unforgiveness against anyone that stands as a barrier between us and God, and hinders our prayers.

Mar 11:25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Matthew points out that we must believe in order to receive what we ask for in prayer.

Matthew 21:23 - The Authority of Jesus Challenged - The Attack (Test 1)

Mat 21:23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"

This questioning of Jesus follows His being set aside as the Passover Lamb. As with the animals being set aside and tested for 4 days, Jesus is also going to be tested for 4 days. The primary purpose of these tests is to incite the crowds against Him, so that the leaders can safely arrest Him and put Him on trial. The secondary purpose was to find a way to arrest and charge Him legally.

Priests were the Sadducees and the Elders were the Pharisees. This is the first test of Jesus, questioning where His authority comes from. These questioners waited until Jesus was in public, teaching, for a maximum audience.

There is precedence for these questions. In Jewish society authoritative teaching required prior rabbinic approval. The questioners were asking who gave Jesus His authority.

Matthew 21:24-27 - The Authority of Jesus Challenged - The Answer

Mat 21:24-27 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. (25) John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' (26) But if we say, 'Of human origin'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." (27) So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

It was common to answer a question with a question. In this case, Jesus conditioned His answer to their question on their answer to a question if His. His question was regarding John the Baptists baptism, and from which authority it came.

John's martyrdom caused him to be considered a prophet by the people. The questioners were backed into a corner. If they admitted it was of heavenly origin, the questioners should not be questioning Jesus either. If they said it was of human origin, then the crowds would become more upset with the religious leaders.

Eventually, they just said they didn't know.

Matthew 21:28-32 - The Parable of the Two Sons

Mat 21:28-32 "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' (29) "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. (30) "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. (31) "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. (32) For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Continuing to address His questioners, Jesus gave them a parable, asking them what they thought of it.

The owner of a vineyard had two sons. He told his sons to go out to work in the vineyard.

The first son said no, but later went and did the work.

The second son said they would go, but never went and did the work.

Sonship is proven by obedience. The first son who said no but later went was like the publicans and prostitutes. Initially they rejected the gospel, but eventually came to believe Jesus as Messiah.

The second son is like the Pharisees and Sadducees, who profess obedience, but refused to do the work.

So while the Pharisees and Sadducees would not say where John received his authority to baptize, Jesus validated it as heavenly authority.

So the point is that while sinners don't immediately come to believe in Jesus as Messiah, they do eventually come to, and are accepted, while the Pharisees who profess spirituality never come to believe in Jesus as Messiah. The sinner will be accepted, and the religious will not.

Matthew 21:33-46 - The Parable of the Tenants

Mat 21:33-46 "Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. (34) When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

The purpose of this parable is to show that just as the religious leaders killed the prophets before them, they will kill the Son. In the previous parable Jesus had accused the Pharisees of being hypocrites, externally pious and religious, but inwardly without relationship with God. Because of this, the religious would be excluded from the Kingdom.

In this parable, we make the following identifications:

God is the land owner
Israel is the vineyard
The Jewish Leaders are the husbandmen who watch over the vineyard
The farmers are the tenants using the land to plant and harvest fruit
The 3 sets of servants were the (1) pre-exilic prophets, (2) post-exilic prophets, and (3) John the Baptist and his disciples.
The Son is Jesus

So God planted Israel, then left to go to another place. While He was gone, He sent the prophets to collect the harvest of fruit of the prophets labor.

(35) "The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. (36) Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. (37) Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. (38) "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' (39) So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

The Jewish leaders and tenants killed the the pre and post-exilic prophets along with John the baptist. So God sent His son, whom the Jewish Leaders tenants also killed.

(40) "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" (41) "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

When God returns, He will bring the Jewish Leaders and tenants to a miserable end, and rent the vineyard out to others who will act appropriately. This wretched end came in 70AD.

(42) Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? (43) "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. (44) Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed."

The stone the builders rejected is Messiah Jesus. The scripture that Jesus is referring to is Psa 118:22-26. It stipulates that the Son would be rejected, but later would become the cornerstone.

Psa 118:22-26 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; (23) the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. (24) The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. (25) LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! (26) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.

It was common in ancient times to build buildings out of stones. In every building some stones were discarded because the did not fit. Jesus is saying that one of the stones that was discarded by the spiritual leaders actually became the chief cornerstone of the entire building.

This is a Messianic prophecy as it speaks of the term "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." This is passage that the people were quoting during the Triumphal Entry. The people were declaring the Messianic Kingship of Jesus.

It is quoted again in this parable by Jesus speaking of the fact that regardless of the rejection of the pre and post exilic prophets, John and the Son, the Son nevertheless will become the Messianic King.

Act 4:9-11 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, (10) then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. (11) Jesus is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.'

The quote "the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." means that since the current generation of Israel rejected the stone, Christ, and is fruitless, the Kingdom will be taken from them and given to a future generation of Israel that would bear fruit in the Tribulation. This again speaks of the Kingdom offer being rescinded for the time being.

Some false teachers claim that this passage is speaking of the Kingdom being taken from the Jews and given to the church, but this does not stand scrutiny since the church is never referred to as a nation, but is in fact made up of all nations.

Rom 10:19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."

The passage that speaks of being broken when falling on the stone comes from Isa 8:11-15. This passage is speaking of a division between

Isa 8:11-15 This is what the LORD says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: (12) "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. (13) The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. (14) He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. (15) Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured."

Simeon foresaw this when Jesus was a child:

Luk 2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

(45) When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them. (46) They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

The Pharisees and chief priest, hearing this parable, realized that Jesus was speaking about them. They were the killers of the prophets and will be the killer of the Son. They were angry about being called out like this and continued to be increasingly enraged. But the people were still with Jesus and believed Him to be a prophet, so they Pharisees were held back from their plans.

Summary

This parable speaks to the transfer of leadership from the religious leadership to the believers who are choosing to follow Jesus. These believers will become the eschatological Remnant of Israel in the present day. The church will expand primarily through winning Gentiles to Christ.

It bears repeating though that salvation is of the Jews.

Joh 4:22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

Joh 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Rom 11:16-21 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. (17) If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, (18) do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. (19) You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." (20) Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

To Jesus Be All Glory

Friday, September 20, 2024

A Study of Matthew Chapter 21