Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:1-11
We now enter the fourth major section of Matthew's Gospel, "The Rejection of the King." In this section (Matt. 21:1-22:14), the Lord Jesus revealed the sins of Israel and explained why the religious leaders rejected Him and His message.
Spiritual Blindness (Matt 21:1-11)
Since it was Passover, there were probably about 2 million people in and around Jerusalem. This was the only time in His ministry that Jesus actually planned and promoted a public demonstration. Up to this time, He had cautioned people not to tell who He was, and He had deliberately avoided public scenes.
Why did Jesus plan this demonstration? For one thing, He was obeying the Word and fulfilling the prophecy recorded in Zechariah 9:9. 'This prophecy could apply only to Jesus Christ, for He is the only one with credentials that prove He is Israel's King. We usually do not associate the lowly donkey with kingship, but this was the royal animal of Jewish monarchs (1 Kings 2:32ff). There were actually two animals involved, the mother and the colt (foal). Jesus sat upon the colt with the mother walking beside.
By comparing Matthew's quotation with the original prophecy in Zechariah, we discover some interesting facts. Zechariah's prophecy opens with, "Rejoice greatly" but Matthew omitted this phrase. When Jesus approached the city, He wept! How could He (or the people) rejoice when judgment was coming? Matthew also omitted "He is just, and having salvation." Our Lord's coming to Jerusalem was an act of mercy and grace, not an act of justice or judgment. He did have salvation for them, but they refused to accept it (John 1:11). The next time Israel sees the King, He will ride in great power and glory (Rev. 19:11ff).
This colt had never been ridden (Mark 11:2), yet he meekly bore his burden. The presence of the mother helped, of course. But keep in mind that his rider was the King who has "dominion over ... all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field'" (Ps. 8:6-7). The fact that Jesus rode this beast and kept him in control is another evidence of His Kingship.
There was a second reason for this public presentation: It forced the Jewish leaders to act. When they saw the spontaneous demonstration of the people, they concluded that Jesus had to be destroyed (see John 12:19). The prophetic Scriptures required that the Lamb of God be crucified on Passover. This demonstration of Christ's popularity incited the rulers to act.
The people acclaimed Jesus as their King both by their words and their deeds. They shouted Hosanna which means, "Save now!" They were quoting from Psalm 118:25-26, and this Psalm is definitely messianic in character. Later that week, Jesus Himself would refer to this Psalm and apply it to Himself (Matt. 21:42; Ps. 118:22-23).
Keep in mind that this Passover crowd was composed of at Ieast three groups: the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, the crowd from Galilee, and the people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 12:17-18). Sharing the news of this miracle undoubtedly helped to draw such a large crowd. The people wanted to see this miracle-worker for themselves.
But the Jews still did not recognize Jesus as their King. What caused Israel's spiritual blindness? For one thing, their religious leaders had robbed them of the truth of their own Word and had substituted man-made traditions (Luke 11:52). The leaders were not interested in truth; they were concerned only with protecting their own interests (John 11:47-53). "We have no king but Caesar!" was their confession of willful blindness. Even our Lord's miracles did not convince them. And the longer they resisted the truth, the blinder they became (John 12:35ff) .
Tuesday – 23rd April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:12-22
Hypocrisy (Matt 21:12-22)
Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the temple, and He cursed a fig tree. Both acts were contrary to His usual manner of ministry, for He did not come to earth to judge, but to save (John 3:17). Both of these acts revealed the hypocrisy of Israel: The temple was a den of thieves, and the nation (symbolized by the fig tree) was without fruit. Inward corruption and outward fruitlessness were evidences of their hypocrisy.
Cleansing the temple (Matt. 21:12-16). Jesus had opened His ministry with a similar act (John 2:13-25). Now, three years later, the temple was defiled again by the "religious business" of the leaders. They had turned the Court of the Gentiles into a place where foreign Jews could exchange money and purchase sacrifices. What had begun as a service and convenience for visitors from other lands soon turned into a lucrative business. The dealers charged exorbitant prices and no one could compete with them or oppose them. Historians tell us that Annas, the former high priest, was the manager of this enterprise, assisted by his sons.
Keep in mind that this Passover crowd was composed of at Ieast three groups: the Jews who lived in Jerusalem, the crowd from Galilee, and the people who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead (John 12:17-18). Sharing the news of this miracle undoubtedly helped to draw such a large crowd. The people wanted to see this miracle-worker for themselves.
But the Jews still did not recognize Jesus as their King. What caused Israel's spiritual blindness? For one thing, their religious leaders had robbed them of the truth of their own Word and had substituted man-made traditions (Luke 11:52). The leaders were not interested in truth; they were concerned only with protecting their own interests (John 11:47-53). "We have no king but Caesar!" was their confession of willful blindness. Even our Lord's miracles did not convince them. And the longer they resisted the truth, the blinder they became (John 12:35ff) .
Tuesday – 23rd April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:12-22
Hypocrisy (Matt 21:12-22)
Jesus performed two acts of judgment: He cleansed the temple, and He cursed a fig tree. Both acts were contrary to His usual manner of ministry, for He did not come to earth to judge, but to save (John 3:17). Both of these acts revealed the hypocrisy of Israel: The temple was a den of thieves, and the nation (symbolized by the fig tree) was without fruit. Inward corruption and outward fruitlessness were evidences of their hypocrisy.
Cleansing the temple (Matt. 21:12-16). Jesus had opened His ministry with a similar act (John 2:13-25). Now, three years later, the temple was defiled again by the "religious business" of the leaders. They had turned the Court of the Gentiles into a place where foreign Jews could exchange money and purchase sacrifices. What had begun as a service and convenience for visitors from other lands soon turned into a lucrative business. The dealers charged exorbitant prices and no one could compete with them or oppose them. Historians tell us that Annas, the former high priest, was the manager of this enterprise, assisted by his sons.
The purpose of the Court of the Gentiles in the temple was to give the "outcasts" an opportunity to enter the temple and learn from Israel about the true God. But the presence of this "religious market" turned many sensitive Gentiles away from the witness of Israel. The Court of the Gentiles was used for mercenary business, not missionary business.
When Jesus called the temple "My house," He was affirming that He was God. When He called it "My house of prayer," He was quoting Isaiah 56:7. The entire Is. 56 chapter of Isaiah denounces the unfaithful leaders of Israel. The phrase “den of robbers" comes from Jeremiah 7:11 and is part of a long sermon that Jeremiah delivered in the gate of the temple, rebuking the people for the same sins that Jesus saw and judged in His day.
Why did Jesus call the temple "a den of thieves."? Because the place where thieves hide is called a den. The religious leaders, and some of the people, were using the temple and the Jewish religion to cover up their sins.
What does God want in His house? God wants prayer among His people (1 Tim. 2:1ff), for true prayer is an evidence of our dependence on God and our faith in His Word. He also wants people being helped (Matt 21:14). The needy should feel welcome and should find the kind of help they need. There should be power in God's house, the power of God working to change people. Praise is another feature of God's house (Matt 21:15-16).
Here Jesus quoted from Psalm 8:2.
Wednesday – 24th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:17-22:14
Cursing the tree (Matt. 21:17-22). That Jesus would curse a tree may surprise us. The same power that killed the tree could also have given it new life and fruit. Jesus certainly would not hold a tree morally responsible for being fruitless.
When we consider the time and place of this event, we understand it better. Jesus was near Jerusalem in the last week of His public ministry to His people. The fig tree symbolized the nation of Israel (Luke 13:6-9; Jer. 8:13; Hosea 9:10,16). Just as this tree had leaves but no fruit, so Israel had a show of religion hut no practical experience of faith resulting in godly living. Jesus was not angry at the tree. Rather, He used this tree to teach several lessons to His disciples.
God wants to produce fruit in the lives of His people. Fruit is the product of life. The presence of leaves usually indicates the presence of fruit, but this was not the case. In the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), the gardener was given more time to care for the tree; but now the time was up. This tree was taking up space and doing no good.
While we can make a useful personal application of this event, the main interpretation has to do with Israel. The time of judgment had come. The sentence was pronounced by the Judge, but it would not be executed for about 40 years. Then Rome would come and destroy the city and temple and scatter the people.
Jesus used this event to teach His disciples a practical lesson about faith and prayer. The temple was supposed to be a "house of prayer," and the nation was to be a believing people. But both of these essentials were missing. We, too, must beware of the peril of fruitlessness.
Disobedience to the Word (Matt. 21:23-22:14)
This series of three parables grew out of the demand of the chief priests and elders for Jesus to explain what authority He had for cleansing the temple. As the custodians of the spiritual life of the nation, they had the right to ask this question. But we are amazed at their ignorance. Jesus had given them three years of ministry, and they still would not face the facts. They wanted more evidence.
In taking them back to the ministry of John, Jesus was not trying to avoid the issue. John had prepared the way for Jesus. Had the rulers received John's ministry, they would have received Jesus. Instead, the leaders permitted Herod to arrest John and then to kill him. If they would not accept the authority of John, they would not accept the authority of Jesus; for both John and Jesus were sent by God.
It is a basic principle of Christian living that we cannot learn new truth if we disobey what God has already told us, “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God." (John 7:17, NASB). The religious rulers had rejected the truth preached by John, and therefore Jesus could not impart new truth. Both He and John were under the same authority.
Thursday – 25th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:23-22:14
When Jesus called the temple "My house," He was affirming that He was God. When He called it "My house of prayer," He was quoting Isaiah 56:7. The entire Is. 56 chapter of Isaiah denounces the unfaithful leaders of Israel. The phrase “den of robbers" comes from Jeremiah 7:11 and is part of a long sermon that Jeremiah delivered in the gate of the temple, rebuking the people for the same sins that Jesus saw and judged in His day.
Why did Jesus call the temple "a den of thieves."? Because the place where thieves hide is called a den. The religious leaders, and some of the people, were using the temple and the Jewish religion to cover up their sins.
What does God want in His house? God wants prayer among His people (1 Tim. 2:1ff), for true prayer is an evidence of our dependence on God and our faith in His Word. He also wants people being helped (Matt 21:14). The needy should feel welcome and should find the kind of help they need. There should be power in God's house, the power of God working to change people. Praise is another feature of God's house (Matt 21:15-16).
Here Jesus quoted from Psalm 8:2.
Wednesday – 24th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:17-22:14
Cursing the tree (Matt. 21:17-22). That Jesus would curse a tree may surprise us. The same power that killed the tree could also have given it new life and fruit. Jesus certainly would not hold a tree morally responsible for being fruitless.
When we consider the time and place of this event, we understand it better. Jesus was near Jerusalem in the last week of His public ministry to His people. The fig tree symbolized the nation of Israel (Luke 13:6-9; Jer. 8:13; Hosea 9:10,16). Just as this tree had leaves but no fruit, so Israel had a show of religion hut no practical experience of faith resulting in godly living. Jesus was not angry at the tree. Rather, He used this tree to teach several lessons to His disciples.
God wants to produce fruit in the lives of His people. Fruit is the product of life. The presence of leaves usually indicates the presence of fruit, but this was not the case. In the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), the gardener was given more time to care for the tree; but now the time was up. This tree was taking up space and doing no good.
While we can make a useful personal application of this event, the main interpretation has to do with Israel. The time of judgment had come. The sentence was pronounced by the Judge, but it would not be executed for about 40 years. Then Rome would come and destroy the city and temple and scatter the people.
Jesus used this event to teach His disciples a practical lesson about faith and prayer. The temple was supposed to be a "house of prayer," and the nation was to be a believing people. But both of these essentials were missing. We, too, must beware of the peril of fruitlessness.
Disobedience to the Word (Matt. 21:23-22:14)
This series of three parables grew out of the demand of the chief priests and elders for Jesus to explain what authority He had for cleansing the temple. As the custodians of the spiritual life of the nation, they had the right to ask this question. But we are amazed at their ignorance. Jesus had given them three years of ministry, and they still would not face the facts. They wanted more evidence.
In taking them back to the ministry of John, Jesus was not trying to avoid the issue. John had prepared the way for Jesus. Had the rulers received John's ministry, they would have received Jesus. Instead, the leaders permitted Herod to arrest John and then to kill him. If they would not accept the authority of John, they would not accept the authority of Jesus; for both John and Jesus were sent by God.
It is a basic principle of Christian living that we cannot learn new truth if we disobey what God has already told us, “If any man is willing to do His will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God." (John 7:17, NASB). The religious rulers had rejected the truth preached by John, and therefore Jesus could not impart new truth. Both He and John were under the same authority.
Thursday – 25th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:23-22:14
They rejected God the Father (Matt. 21:23-32). The vineyard, of course, speaks of the nation of Israel (Isa. 5; Ps. 80:8-16). The two sons represent the two classes of people in that nation: the self-righteous religious people and the publicans and sinners. When John came ministering, the religious crowd showed great interest in his work, but they would not repent and humble themselves and be baptized (Matt. 3:7-12; John 1:19-28). The nonreligious crowd, however, confessed their sins and obeyed John's words and were baptized.
The leaders committed two sins: They would not believe John's message and they would not repent of their sins. Of course, they felt that they had no need to repent (Luke 18:9-14). But when they saw what repentance did for the publicans and sinners, they should have been convinced that John's message was true and salvation was real, Again and again, the religious rulers rejected the clear evidence God gave them.
Their rejection of John was actually a rejection of the Father who had sent him. But God is gracious, and instead of sending judgment, He sent His Son. This leads to the next parable.
They rejected the Son! (Matt. 21:33-46). We are still at the vineyard. This parable is based on Isaiah 5:1-7, and in it Jesus reminded the Jews of God's goodness to them as a nation. God delivered them from Egypt and planted them in a rich land of milk and honey. He gave them material and spiritual blessings and asked only that they bear fruit for His glory. From time to time, God sent His servants (the prophets) to the people to receive the fruit. But the people mistreated the servants, and even killed some of them.
What should the householder do? He could have sent his armies to destroy these wicked men. But instead he sent his own son to them, the reference, of course, is to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is "the Heir" (Heb. 1:2). Instead of receiving and honoring the son, the men cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus was crucified" outside the gate" (Heb. 13:12-13, NASB), rejected by His own nation.
The people listening to the parable were caught up in the drama and did not realize that they passed sentence on themselves. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23 to explain that He was that Son and the religious leaders were the husbandmen (Matt 21:45). The crowds had quoted from Psalm 118:26 when they had welcomed Jesus into the city, so this Scripture was fresh in the minds of the rulers.
Often in the Old Testament, God is referred to as a rock or a stone (Deut 32:4,18, Deut 32:30-31; Ps. 18:2, Ps. 18:31-46). The stone is also a messianic title. To Israel, Jesus was a stumbling stone (Isa. 8:14-15; Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Cor. 1 :23). Israel rejected the Messiah, but in His death and resurrection He created the church. To the church, Jesus is the foundation stone, the head of the corner (Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5). At the end of the age, Jesus will come as the smiting stone (Dan. 2:34), destroy Gentile kingdoms, and establish His own glorious kingdom.
Friday – 26th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 22:1-14
Of course, the Jewish leaders knew the messianic import of the Scripture Jesus quoted. They were the builders who rejected the stone (Acts 4:11). What were the consequences? For one thing, the kingdom would be taken from Israel and given to another nation, the church (1 Peter 2:9), and note the context, 1 Pet 2:6-10). Those who would attack this stone would be "pulverized"; those whom Christ judges will be crushed to bits.
The leaders committed two sins: They would not believe John's message and they would not repent of their sins. Of course, they felt that they had no need to repent (Luke 18:9-14). But when they saw what repentance did for the publicans and sinners, they should have been convinced that John's message was true and salvation was real, Again and again, the religious rulers rejected the clear evidence God gave them.
Their rejection of John was actually a rejection of the Father who had sent him. But God is gracious, and instead of sending judgment, He sent His Son. This leads to the next parable.
They rejected the Son! (Matt. 21:33-46). We are still at the vineyard. This parable is based on Isaiah 5:1-7, and in it Jesus reminded the Jews of God's goodness to them as a nation. God delivered them from Egypt and planted them in a rich land of milk and honey. He gave them material and spiritual blessings and asked only that they bear fruit for His glory. From time to time, God sent His servants (the prophets) to the people to receive the fruit. But the people mistreated the servants, and even killed some of them.
What should the householder do? He could have sent his armies to destroy these wicked men. But instead he sent his own son to them, the reference, of course, is to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He is "the Heir" (Heb. 1:2). Instead of receiving and honoring the son, the men cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus was crucified" outside the gate" (Heb. 13:12-13, NASB), rejected by His own nation.
The people listening to the parable were caught up in the drama and did not realize that they passed sentence on themselves. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23 to explain that He was that Son and the religious leaders were the husbandmen (Matt 21:45). The crowds had quoted from Psalm 118:26 when they had welcomed Jesus into the city, so this Scripture was fresh in the minds of the rulers.
Often in the Old Testament, God is referred to as a rock or a stone (Deut 32:4,18, Deut 32:30-31; Ps. 18:2, Ps. 18:31-46). The stone is also a messianic title. To Israel, Jesus was a stumbling stone (Isa. 8:14-15; Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Cor. 1 :23). Israel rejected the Messiah, but in His death and resurrection He created the church. To the church, Jesus is the foundation stone, the head of the corner (Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:4-5). At the end of the age, Jesus will come as the smiting stone (Dan. 2:34), destroy Gentile kingdoms, and establish His own glorious kingdom.
Friday – 26th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 22:1-14
Of course, the Jewish leaders knew the messianic import of the Scripture Jesus quoted. They were the builders who rejected the stone (Acts 4:11). What were the consequences? For one thing, the kingdom would be taken from Israel and given to another nation, the church (1 Peter 2:9), and note the context, 1 Pet 2:6-10). Those who would attack this stone would be "pulverized"; those whom Christ judges will be crushed to bits.
They rejected the Holy Spirit (Matt. 22:1-14). This parable must not be confused with the parable of the great supper (Luke 14:16-24) even though they have elements in common. Again we meet the Father and the Son; and the Son is alive (in spite of what the husbandmen did) and has a bride. The suggestion is that the Lord Jesus and His church are depicted (Eph. 5:22-33). The period described in this parable must be after His resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The Father is still inviting the people of Israel to come, in spite of what they did to His Son. When we study the first seven chapters of Acts, we discover that the message is going out to none but Jews (Acts 2:5, 10, 14, 22,36; 3:25; 6:7). "To the Jew first" was God's plan (Rom. 1:16; Acts 3:26). How did the nation's leaders respond to the ministry of the Holy
The Father is still inviting the people of Israel to come, in spite of what they did to His Son. When we study the first seven chapters of Acts, we discover that the message is going out to none but Jews (Acts 2:5, 10, 14, 22,36; 3:25; 6:7). "To the Jew first" was God's plan (Rom. 1:16; Acts 3:26). How did the nation's leaders respond to the ministry of the Holy
Spirit through the apostles? They rejected the Word and persecuted the church. The same rulers who permitted John to be killed, and who asked for Jesus to be killed, themselves killed Stephen! Later, Herod killed James (Acts 12:1ff).
How did the king in the parable respond to the way the people treated his servants? He became angry and sent his armies to destroy them and their city. He then turned to other people and invited them to come to the feast. This is a picture of God's dealing with Israel. They rejected the Father when they refused to obey John the Baptist's preaching. Israel rejected the Son when they arrested Him and crucified Him. In His grace and patience, God sent other witnesses. The Holy Spirit came upon the early believers and they witnessed with great power that Jesus was alive and the nation could be saved (Acts 2:32-36; 3:19-26). The miracles they did were proof that God was at work in and through them.
But Israel also rejected the Holy Spirit! This was Stephen's indictment against the nation: "You do always resist the Holy Ghost" (Acts 7:51). With the stoning of Stephen, God's patience with Israel began to end, although He delayed the judgment for almost 40 years. In Acts 8 we read that the message went ·to the Samaritans, and in Acts 10 we read that it even went to the Gentiles.
Saturday – 27th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:17-22:14
This final rejection is, to me, the awful "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 12:22-32. This was a national sin, committed by Israel. When they rejected John, they rejected the Father who sent him; but there remained the ministry of the Son. When they rejected the Son, they were forgiven because of their ignorance (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17). No sinner today can be forgiven for rejecting Christ, for this rejection is what condemns the soul (John 3:16-22).
But there remained the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came upon the church at Pentecost, and the apostles performed great signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; Heb. 2:1-4). The rulers rejected the witness of the Spirit, and this brought final judgment. They had rejected the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and there were no more opportunities left.
This "sin against the Holy Spirit" cannot be committed today in the same way as Israel committed it, because the situation is different. The Spirit of God is bearing witness through the Word to the Person and work of Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit who convinces the world of sin (John 16:7-11). The Spirit can be resisted by unbelievers (Acts 7:51), but nobody knows that crisis hour (if there is one) when the Spirit stops dealing with a lost sinner.
Matt.21:11-14 seem like an appendix to the parable, but they are vitally important. The wedding garment was provided by the host so that everybody was properly attired and the poor did not feel conspicuous. Salvation is personal and individual. We must accept what God gives to us-the righteousness of Christ - and not try to make it on our own. Since these parables had a definite national emphasis, this personal emphasis at the end was most important.
The nation's leaders were guilty of spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and deliberate disobedience to the Word. Instead of accepting this indictment from Jesus and repenting" they decided to attack Him and argue with Him. The result: judgment. We should be careful not to follow their example of disobedience.
How did the king in the parable respond to the way the people treated his servants? He became angry and sent his armies to destroy them and their city. He then turned to other people and invited them to come to the feast. This is a picture of God's dealing with Israel. They rejected the Father when they refused to obey John the Baptist's preaching. Israel rejected the Son when they arrested Him and crucified Him. In His grace and patience, God sent other witnesses. The Holy Spirit came upon the early believers and they witnessed with great power that Jesus was alive and the nation could be saved (Acts 2:32-36; 3:19-26). The miracles they did were proof that God was at work in and through them.
But Israel also rejected the Holy Spirit! This was Stephen's indictment against the nation: "You do always resist the Holy Ghost" (Acts 7:51). With the stoning of Stephen, God's patience with Israel began to end, although He delayed the judgment for almost 40 years. In Acts 8 we read that the message went ·to the Samaritans, and in Acts 10 we read that it even went to the Gentiles.
Saturday – 27th April
Topic: The King’s Judgments
Read: Matthew 21:17-22:14
This final rejection is, to me, the awful "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 12:22-32. This was a national sin, committed by Israel. When they rejected John, they rejected the Father who sent him; but there remained the ministry of the Son. When they rejected the Son, they were forgiven because of their ignorance (Luke 23:34; Acts 3:17). No sinner today can be forgiven for rejecting Christ, for this rejection is what condemns the soul (John 3:16-22).
But there remained the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit came upon the church at Pentecost, and the apostles performed great signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; Heb. 2:1-4). The rulers rejected the witness of the Spirit, and this brought final judgment. They had rejected the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and there were no more opportunities left.
This "sin against the Holy Spirit" cannot be committed today in the same way as Israel committed it, because the situation is different. The Spirit of God is bearing witness through the Word to the Person and work of Jesus Christ. It is the Spirit who convinces the world of sin (John 16:7-11). The Spirit can be resisted by unbelievers (Acts 7:51), but nobody knows that crisis hour (if there is one) when the Spirit stops dealing with a lost sinner.
Matt.21:11-14 seem like an appendix to the parable, but they are vitally important. The wedding garment was provided by the host so that everybody was properly attired and the poor did not feel conspicuous. Salvation is personal and individual. We must accept what God gives to us-the righteousness of Christ - and not try to make it on our own. Since these parables had a definite national emphasis, this personal emphasis at the end was most important.
The nation's leaders were guilty of spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and deliberate disobedience to the Word. Instead of accepting this indictment from Jesus and repenting" they decided to attack Him and argue with Him. The result: judgment. We should be careful not to follow their example of disobedience.
No comments:
Post a Comment