Matthew 21:33-46
Ps Paul Cheng
~13 min read
Dear Bethelites,
Christmas is the time when people remember the birth of the Saviour of the world. No one knows for sure when Jesus Christ was born. Christmas is a day the early Christians had set aside to commemorate the great reality that God became a man.
The word “Christmas” is made up of two words, Christ and mass. The word “Christ” means the anointed one or Messiah, a reference to Jesus. The word “mass” is a Latin word which was used to refer to the eucharist, a special service to remember the body and blood of Jesus.
So, on this special occasion known as Christmas, the early Christians would gather together to remember the body and sacrifice of Christ, how He became a man to come into this world, ultimately to die on the cross, shedding His precious blood, to save His people from their sins. Sometimes, people would use the short form of Xmas, and it does not necessarily take “Christ” out of Christmas, because the first letter of the Greek word for Christ is X.
Sadly, today, instead of keeping Christ at the centre, the world is desperately trying to remove Christ from Christmas, and replacing Him with Santa Claus, Christmas trees and worldly celebrations.
In most Christmas worship services, churches would preach messages about the story of Christ’s birth, and what a better way to be reminded of Christ’s birth, than to hear the story being told by Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore, let us consider the words spoken by Jesus in Matthew 21:33-46, the parable of the wicked tenant. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
I. The Story Notice
Jesus began by saying in verse 33, “Hear another parable.” A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
In the original Greek, there are different terms for the word another. It can be another (heteros) of the same kind, or another of a different kind (for example, the Apostle Paul spoke about the false teachers who preached another Jesus, another gospel, which was another of a different kind). Here, it is another (allos) parable of the same kind.
In the preceding verses, Jesus spoke about another parable, the parable of the two sons. In other words, this parable of the wicked tenants was just like the parable of the two sons; it was another parable of the same kind.
So, there is a connection between these two parables; the parable of the two sons, and the parable of the wicked tenants or husbandmen. Both parables have to do with the vineyard, but more importantly, both have to do with judgment. And there is a progression from the first parable to the second parable.
In the first parable, the fault of the second son was his hypocrisy; he gave the impression that he was obedient, religious and he loved the father, but in reality, he did not. In this second parable, it was more than just hypocrisy, it was wickedness. Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders that their hearts were so hardened with evil that it went beyond just hypocrisy and into wickedness, for they murdered the landowner’s son who was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a very simple parable, the householder was a reference to God, the son was Jesus, the servants were the prophets, the husbandmen were the Jews or religious leaders, and the vineyard was God’s kingdom. It is an easy, self- explanatory parable. The question is how can we apply this parable into our lives? This is what we want to learn!
Let us hear how Jesus shared this story,
“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” (Matthew 21:33).
In those days, it was common for a landowner or householder to take a portion of his land, and rent it out to the tenants. This particular landowner had invested a great deal into his land; for he had planted a vineyard, protected it against wild animals and robbers by building a hedge around it, he built a winepress for the grapes to be crushed into juice and a tower for the tenants to watch for intruders as well as to store their goods. In a sense, this landowner had blessed the tenants with great resources, provision and protection. Therefore, it was only right and proper for the landowner to expect to receive a certain portion of the fruits that were produced from the land.
That was precisely what he did,
And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it (v.34).
The only right thing for the tenants to do, was to give him a certain portion of the crops, and they could keep the remainder for themselves. But they did not do that!
And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise (vv.35-36).
That was a very wicked thing to do, but notice the progression of the wickedness. Initially, they started to beat the servants, and then they killed the servants (which implies they killed instantly or immediately), and finally, they stoned the servants (which implies a very slow and terrible death).
Isn’t this how sin works? It always starts small, and gradually escalates to utter wickedness. At the beginning, people will try to play hide and seek with sin, feeling ashamed of what they are doing, then they grow much bolder and they no longer attempt to hide their sin any more, and finally, they will not only sin blatantly but they will boast about their sin. Therefore, the only way to deal with sin is to nip it in the bud, and not let it start, otherwise it will grow.
But the landowner was very gracious, and he continuously sent one servant after another. Throughout the Old Testament history, we have read how God sent prophet after prophet to preach to the Israelites. They not only rejected those prophets but they also killed them.
Traditionally, it was believed that the people took the prophet Isaiah and cut him in half with a wooden saw. They took the prophet Jeremiah and threw him into a pit and stoned him. They rejected Ezekiel, and Amos had to run for his life. Zechariah was stoned, and Micah was smashed in the face, and the list goes on and on. That was why Jesus said in Luke 11:51, From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple (before the temple was built, the sacrifices were offered on the altar, so between the altar and the temple, means it was over a long period of time); verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation (because this would be the generation who would kill the only begotten son of God).
Some people may ask, “It is truly unbelievable why the landowner would do that, allowing his servants to be killed one after another.” Well, this is just how gracious and patient our God is. 2 Peter 3:9, God is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son (v.37).
Finally, the landowner said, “I am going to send my son.” The word reverence (entrepo) means to turn around. In other words, “Surely, the people would feel so ashamed of what they had done to my servants and turn around when they see my Son.”
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. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him (vv.38- 39).
They knew exactly who He was (landowner’s son), and they planned His murder. In our modern language, this was first degree murder for it was premeditated. That was exactly what the religious leaders did.
Let us be reminded that as Jesus told this parable, in two days’ time, they would crucify Him on the cross. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus said this, prior to His death? He not only knew that the Jews had killed the prophets of old, but He also knew they were going to kill Him. Yet He was willing to come. This is the supreme love of God!
Maybe some are tempted to think that this parable only applies to the Jews or the religious leaders. But this parable is not only applicable to them, for it is just as applicable to us as well. If Jesus were to speak to us today, what would He say to us? Consider this, “Has God not blessed us like the way the Israelites were blessed with the land? Has He not protected us and our families like the way He built the hedge around the vineyard? Has He not provided for all our needs like the way He watered and cared for the land? Is it not right and proper for God to expect to receive fruits from us, as in spiritual fruits; the fruit of repentance, the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit, etc? Has He not sent preacher after preacher to minister His Word to us?” We may not have physically killed the preachers, like the Jews who killed the prophets of old. But have we not treated God’s preachers with little respect; by rejecting, ignoring, disobeying, critiquing and attacking the messengers and their messages verbally? We may not have been faithful any more than the Israelites were faithful.
Dear friend, what do you think God would do to those people who take His grace, mercy and blessings for granted? That was the question Jesus asked those who were listening to this parable. He could have given the answer Himself, but instead He turned to the very people He was accusing, and asked them what the landowner would do when He returned.
II. The response
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 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 (vv.40-41).
They were right, in fact, that was the only answer anyone could possibly give. However, they did not realise that in giving the right answer, they were pronouncing their own condemnation.
Notice, there were two things that the landowner would do; firstly, there would be a judgment (He will miserably destroy those wicked men), secondly, there would be a replacement (He will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen). Take note of these two things, judgment and replacement, for we return to it shortly.
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? (v.42)
It was like a slap to the face of the religious leaders, “You who say you know the scriptures, and you are knowledgeable of the scriptures, but have you not read in Psalm 118:22-23?”
In those days, when the builders wanted to build a building, they needed a cornerstone. It was the most important stone in the building. It was the foundation; once this foundational cornerstone was laid, it would set the angles for the walls, draw the line for the entire building, and establish the shape and direction of the building.
This cornerstone was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Apostle Peter was preaching in the city of Jerusalem, he said in Acts 4:10-11, 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. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. That cornerstone which the Jews had rejected, would be restored to become the head of the corner. The rejected cornerstone was the crucified Christ, and the restored cornerstone was the resurrected Christ.
III. The judgment
So, what happened when the Jews rejected Christ? There would be the judgment!
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (v.44).
In other words, Jesus was telling the people, “You could have been part of my kingdom and be blessed, but you rejected me, therefore you would be broken and be crushed into powder.”
All God needed to do, was simply to take away the hedge of protection, and the enemies would flood in to crush the Israelites. That was precisely what happened to Israel in AD 70, when God removed His hand of protection, and the Roman General Titus came in and destroyed Jerusalem, the Jews were killed and the rest were dispersed throughout the whole world for almost two thousand years.
IV. The replacement
But what happened after the judgment of the Israelites. Remember, there was a judgment and there was a replacement.
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof (v.43).
What nation is this? 1 Peter 2:9 gives the answer, But ye (the believers, the church) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Dear friend, this is where we have a part to play. If we are true believers, we are the church, the holy nation that will bring forth the fruits of repentance and righteousness that the Jews had failed to produce. This is the wisdom of God!
The rejection of the Jews had turned into the salvation of the Gentiles (for you and me). Today, when we traced the roots of our salvation; how we were once aliens and strangers to the Almighty God, our forefathers were idol-worshippers, pagans and outside the kingdom of God. How was it possible for us to come and believe in Jesus Christ? It is all the Lord’s doing. He had turned the rejection and judgment of the Jews, into the salvation of the Gentiles.
But the day will come, according to Romans 9- 11, when the last Gentile has come into the kingdom of God, that all Israel will be saved. For they will look to the One whom they had pierced and they will cry out to Him as the Saviour of the world.
So, Jesus was saying to the Jews, “You have been blessed with the knowledge, and received my provision and protection. You have been taught by the prophets of old, you have witnessed my miracles, heard my teachings, experienced my goodness, and you still do not believe me. You have lost the right to be in my kingdom and the place of blessing. I will pluck you out, and give my kingdom to a people who were at one time, not my people, the Gentiles and they will produce the fruits - spiritual fruits.”
Let us not think for a moment that just because we are believers, we do not care about the way we live our lives. Listen carefully to what Jesus said,
my kingdom will be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,
… which means it is expected of us to produce fruits. If we do not produce spiritual fruits in our lives, there are only two possibilities. Firstly, we may not be true believers in the first place, because like the Israelites, we have deceived ourselves; true believers will and must produce fruits. Secondly, perhaps we may be true believers, but we are rebellious and disobedient, and God our Father will chastise us so that we will produce fruits. Remember Jesus said in John 15 about the branch that was attached to the vine, and the Father would purge or prune the branch so that it would produce more fruits. It can be painful when God purges us, but it is necessary, so that you and I can produce fruits.
The sad reality is that some people will never understand, because like the religious leaders, they knew that Jesus was talking about them. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them (v.45). They knew He was referring to them, yet they did not repent from their sins. Their hearts were so hardened!
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet (v.46). Sadly, they were more fearful of the people, than of God Himself. Dear friend, this is the Christmas story told by our Jesus Himself, and can you see how it relates to your life. God sent His prophets to preach to the people, but they rejected those prophets, killed them and stoned them to death. Then finally, God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and true enough, they not only rejected Him, but crucified Him on the cross of Calvary. Because of their rejection, they were judged, they lost their right to be in God’s kingdom, and the entire nation of Israel was set aside for a period of time. And the kingdom of God was opened to the Gentiles (which includes you), and those who respond to the preaching of the Gospel, and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, they are brought into His kingdom.
If you have truly been saved, then you will produce spiritual fruits to glorify the One who has saved us. This is the Christmas story, God sent His Son!
Perhaps, you are still an unbeliever lingering outside the kingdom of God. You have celebrated many Christmases, and heard the story of Christ’s birth on countless occasions, and you have been rejecting Him. You will be miserably destroyed. You will be crushed into powder, because without the Saviour, the day will come, when you will die in your sins and be sent into eternal hell forever. Today is the day of salvation! Turn to Jesus and call out to Him, “Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I am totally lost. I cannot save myself. Only you alone can save me, through your death and the shedding of your precious blood which can wash away my sins. Lord, save me, and come into my life as my Lord and Saviour!” Jesus will say to you, Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out (John 6:37) When that happens, it will be the greatest Christmas you have ever celebrated in your entire life!
A blessed Christmas to you!
In Christ, Pastor Paul Cheng
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