Matthew 21: The End of the Beginning (6)

Pray Psalm 142.5, 6.
I cried out to You, O LORD:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I.

Sing Psalm 142.5, 6.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Hear my cry, Lord, I am low! They are strong who seek my soul.
Jesus frees from every foe; He will keep and make me whole!
Refrain
Lord, You are my Refuge strong!
O receive my plaintive song.

Read Matthew 21.1-46; meditate on verses 28-46.

Prepare.
1. What do these two parables have in common?

2. How did Jesus apply these parables?

Meditate.
This is a rather lengthy passage, I know; but I think these parables go together. Each has to do with helping us understand who is in the Kingdom of God and who isn’t. To Jesus, establishing Kingdom identity was very important. It should be for us as well.

The first parable (vv. 28-32) addresses the question of which son did the father’s will, the one who said he would work but didn’t, or the one who said he wouldn’t work but did. Not a difficult question for the religious leaders to answer. The one who actually worked did his father’s will, not the one who merely said he would. Jesus used this teaching to condemn the religious leaders because, unlike the tax collectors and harlots who heard John the Baptist, and repented of their sins, the religious leaders did not believe his message. It was the Father’s will that people should hear John, believe his message, and repent. Those who did were true citizens of the Kingdom, because they, having believed John, believed in Jesus, Whom John proclaimed.

The second parable (vv. 33-44) indicts the religious leaders for betraying their trust. God had given them charge over His “vineyard”, and they, rather than return fruit to Him, kept it all for themselves, and abused and murdered His servants the prophets. True citizens of the Kingdom of God recognize that everything they have comes from God; therefore, they are always eager to return fruit, praise, and glory to Him, and not to keep it for themselves. The religious leaders spoke their own condemnation (v. 41) by condemning the wicked vinedressers in the parable, and Jesus confirmed their conclusion. God would take the Kingdom away from them and give it “to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” That nation is the Church of Jesus-followers Who have fallen on Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life (v. 44).

The implications for Kingdom identity in these two parables are clear: The Kingdom does not consist in mere words, but in power, invested in good works to the glory of God (1 Cor. 4.20; 10.31). The religious leaders condemned themselves; but rather than repent, they determined to play out Jesus’ second parable to the letter, and began to seek an opportunity to take and kill Him (vv. 45, 46).

Reflect.
1. How can we identify the true citizens of the Kingdom of God?

2. What kinds of works do Kingdom citizens do?

3. How would you explain what it means to be a Kingdom citizen to a new believer?

“Which of these two did the will of the Father? They replied, ‘the first.’ ” Notice how, as we have already said above, attracted by the truth of the parable, they turned its meaning against themselves when they said that the first son, who represented the pagan Gentiles, had done the will of the father. It is better to do the righteousness of God without promising to do so than it is to promise and then to renege. Anonymous, Incomplete Work on Matthew, Homily 40

Lord, I know You are seeking fruit from me, so help me today as I…

Pray Psalm 142.1-4, 7.
Seek the mercy, grace, and power of the Lord to serve Him in your part of the Kingdom today.

Sing Psalm 142.1-4, 7.
Psalm 142.1-4, 7 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
With my voice, O Lord, I cry – hear my plea for mercy, Lord!
My complaint mounts up on high, bringing You my troubled word:
Refrain vv. 5, 6
         Lord, You are my Refuge strong!
         O receive my plaintive song!

When my spirit faints away, You my falt’ring pathway know.
Where I take my journey they traps have hidden to my woe.
Refrain

Lord, look to my right and see: None takes notice of my plight.
Is there refuge left for me? Is my soul out of Your sight?
Refrain

Out of prison lead me, Lord; thanks and praise to You shall be.
Righteous men armed with Your Word Will Your grace bestow on me.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).