Subject: Matthew #53 Title: The Parable of the Householder Text: Matthew 21:33-46 Matthew 21:33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet. Introduction We find ourselves in the very last week of the life and ministry of Christ. He has an appointment at Calvary later in this the Passion Week. Events unfold quickly and each event has great and very significant importance. For the sake of time, let’s retreat to Matthew 19:30 where Jesus said, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” What follows in Matthew 20:1-16 is a wonderful Kingdom illustration of the truth by the householder and the laborers he hired, which repeats the idea that the “last shall be first” in vs.8 and 16. A wonderful illustration then follows in vs.20-28 where James, John and their mother lobby Christ for the first and second chairs in the Kingdom. Jesus corrects their errant thinking by telling them in vs.27-28, “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be yours servant: Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” 1

An illustration of this then follows in vs.29-34 where two blind men are healed (one of which Mark 10:46 notes was named Bartimaeus). Their eyes are opened both physically and spiritually, and “they followed Him” (v.34). Chapter 21 begins with Christ’s grand entry into Jerusalem in vs.1-11. Jesus comes to Jerusalem, the religious capital of Israel, at the Passover, to die as Israel’s passover lamb (John 1:29,36; I Corinthians 5:7). This entry is planned and well orchestrated. Combining the humble entrance with the cleansing of the Temple (12-17) and the cursing of the fig tree (18-22), we see public manifestation by Jesus being “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14,17). Up to this point, Jesus has ministered outside of the main center of population. He comes for the final pronouncements, condemnation and confrontation with the religious establishment. The general population recognizes Christ to be at the least a prophet. Some see Him as the Son of David, the Messiah. But all, including Christ’s disciples, are very unsure and confused concerning the operation, purpose, structure and means by which the Kingdom promised to Israel will be initiated. Our message today is precipitated by the questions of Matthew 21:23, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” The master teachers, the rabbis, were disciples or students of the passing generation of rabbis, so the real question is, “Whose student are you? We do not know you or recognize your self appointed credentials. The implication is simple - “You have no business teaching or telling us anything!” To those embedded in the religious establishment of Israel, Jesus was just a common carpenter, a very young man, who had no training or credentials, and certainly no recognition coming there to tell them off! - “By what authority...who gave thee this authority?” What follows is Christ’s answer to this question in the form of three parables beginning in v.28 that carry over into Matthew 22:1-14. This may be some of the easiest Bible reading in all of the Scriptures. The implications are unavoidable. Outline of Matthew 21:33-46 I. The Householder Builds a Vineyard (33) II. The Householder Sends Servants to Receive the Fruits (34-35) III. The Householder Sends More Servants (36) IV. The Householder Sends His Son (37-39) V. Jesus’ Question, the Leaders’ Answer (40-41) VI. Jesus Applies the Parable (42-44) VII. The Leaders’ Reaction (45-46) I mentioned that Jesus answers the questions of v.23 with three parables, beginning in v.28, but notice how Jesus handles the priests and elders first in vs.24-27 about John’s ministry. 2

Parable #1: - “A certain man” (28) = God the Father - “first son” (28) = the unbeliever, harlots, etc. - “second son” (30) = Israel The application is simple. The “publicans” (tax collectors) and “harlots” refused to obey the call to the Kingdom, at first, but later they obeyed (v.29). The second group, Israel, said yes, we will enter as God’s chosen, covenant people, and did not (v.30)! Which group (son) did “the will” of the Father? Eventually the first group did, “the publicans and the harlots,” through the ministry of John the Baptist (v.32). Then follows the Parable of the Householder in vs.33-46: Parable #2: - “householder” (33) = God the Father - “vineyard” (33) = Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7) - “husbandmen” (33) = Israel’s religious leaders - “fruit” (34) = right living and obedience to God’s Law - “servants” (34,36) = Old Testament prophets - “householder’s son” - Jesus Christ Turner - “This Parable joins two biblical themes - Israel as God’s vineyard and its rejection of the prophets - with two new themes: Jesus as the culmination of God’s revelation and His rejection of the culmination of Israel’s rebellion.” v.33 - God has made a big and intentional investment in the nation of Israel. He is in “a far country” (Heaven) and has sent His prophets, “the servants,” to bring forth “fruit” from the nation of Israel, but the religious establishment, “the husbandmen,” thought it was their vineyard. vs.34-35 - Thus the prophets were rejected, beaten, and some killed: Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Micah, Micaiah, etc. v.36 - “Again” - another attempt is made to recover fruit and the second wave of servants receives the same treatment as the first: Hosea, Amos, Habakkuk, Zechariah, Zephaniah, Malachi, etc. This is God’s long suffering patience and faithfulness to His covenant promises . v.37 - Lastly, God “sent unto them his son” John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. But the religious establishment wanted Christ eliminated because He was a threat to their positions of power and the comfortable living they had by seizing control of the vineyard. 3

John MacArther - “Throughout history, and still today, many people refuse to receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, not because of lack of evidence, but because they refuse to believe the evidence. They do not believe simply because they do not want to believe.” v.40 - Jesus asks the leaders, “What do you think the householder will do to those who have abused, rejected and killed his Son?” They responded, “miserably destroy those wicked men.” The construction in the Greek language is literally, he will “badly-bad destroy” them, i.e., the very worst kind of destruction. v.42 - “Did you never read in the Scriptures?” This was an insult to those who were paid to read, understand, interpret and teach the Scriptures! - “the stone” Psalm 118:22-23 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. I Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 4

The “corner stone” was the most basic and essential part of the building, from which the proper placement and alignment of every other part was determined. v.43 - “Therefore” introduces us to Christ’s application of the parable: * Israel failed to bring forth fruit, i.e., righteousness and obedient living: Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; The leadership failed miserably. The Kingdom would be withdrawn from them and entrusted to a new people who would accomplish the mission that Israel failed in fulfilling. There were no “figs” on the tree in Matthew 21:19, which represented Israel, so Jesus cursed the tree. * “nation” that will bring forth fruit = people (Church) Romans 9:25 -26 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. * “Whosoever shall fall on this stone” - Christ, will be “broken” and turn those who reject Him to “powder.” Isaiah 8:14-15 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken Daniel 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. Daniel 2:44-45 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 5

Romans 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. Conclusion: This passage accomplishes several things; - It portrays God’s gracious provision for men. - It portrays God’s patience with their unbelief and rejection. - It shows us God’s tremendous love in sending His Son to die for us. - It also displays His righteous judgment that will be executed when God’s divine patience is exhausted. - The passage shows us Jesus, the Son of God and His Deity. Jesus’ obedience to the will of the Father. 6

- God’s willingness to come to Earth and die for man’s redemption. - The passage foreshadows the fact that one day He will come in judgment. - We see the sinfulness of man and great blessings and privileges provided by God. - The ministry of the prophets and the promise of eternal life. - It speaks of responsibility and accountability. - It tells of two kinds of people: redeemed and condemned.

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