A Final Lesson
April 14, 2014//
Topics to Dig Into
Matthew
21:43 (MSG)
21:43 (MSG)
Jesus
said, “Right – and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles: The stone the
masons threw out is now the cornerstone.
This is God’s work; we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it! This is the way it is with you. God’s kingdom will be taken back from you and
handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life.”
said, “Right – and you can read it for yourselves in your Bibles: The stone the
masons threw out is now the cornerstone.
This is God’s work; we rub our eyes, we can hardly believe it! This is the way it is with you. God’s kingdom will be taken back from you and
handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life.”
What did Jesus teach between Palm Sunday and
The Last Supper? I’m guessing these
final lessons were extremely important – messages people then (and now!) need
to hear. Warning! Some of it is pretty harsh.
The Last Supper? I’m guessing these
final lessons were extremely important – messages people then (and now!) need
to hear. Warning! Some of it is pretty harsh.
In one parable, Jesus described God assigning
responsibility to the Israelites for maintaining and harvesting His vineyard/kingdom. According to crop sharing customs, the
tenants would owe the owner/God rent periodically. So three times God sent prophets to speak
with the Israelites about collecting His due.
The prophets brought messages from God, the owner – instructions for better
kingdom care and requests for God’s portion.
The tenants had managed the vineyard independently for so long that they
had forgotten their agreement with the owner.
They didn’t want to change their ways and resented the implication that
they owed the owner anything. Instead of
listening to God’s messages, the religious leaders beat and persecuted the
prophets. Finally God sent his son Jesus
who perhaps would carry more weight with the religious leaders, but instead the
leaders saw an opportunity to seize power by killing the heir.
responsibility to the Israelites for maintaining and harvesting His vineyard/kingdom. According to crop sharing customs, the
tenants would owe the owner/God rent periodically. So three times God sent prophets to speak
with the Israelites about collecting His due.
The prophets brought messages from God, the owner – instructions for better
kingdom care and requests for God’s portion.
The tenants had managed the vineyard independently for so long that they
had forgotten their agreement with the owner.
They didn’t want to change their ways and resented the implication that
they owed the owner anything. Instead of
listening to God’s messages, the religious leaders beat and persecuted the
prophets. Finally God sent his son Jesus
who perhaps would carry more weight with the religious leaders, but instead the
leaders saw an opportunity to seize power by killing the heir.
In this retelling, I’ve mixed the parable
with the traditional interpretation.
However, we shouldn’t leave the interpretation in an ancient vineyard. The Bible speaks to modern day situations too. Applying the parable to Holy Week 2014 poses many
questions.
with the traditional interpretation.
However, we shouldn’t leave the interpretation in an ancient vineyard. The Bible speaks to modern day situations too. Applying the parable to Holy Week 2014 poses many
questions.
What if we believers are responsible for
growing God’s post-resurrection kingdom until Christ returns? Are our efforts productive? Is God sending messengers to correct our behavior? Are we receptive? Do we honor the owner/tenant relationship or
do we assume an ownership attitude? What
agreement do we have with God as to our share and His share? Are we honoring this contract (or covenant)? Are we willing to share the results of our hard
work and the accompanying accolades with Him?
And ultimately, would we give it all over to Jesus or try to maintain power
and control?
growing God’s post-resurrection kingdom until Christ returns? Are our efforts productive? Is God sending messengers to correct our behavior? Are we receptive? Do we honor the owner/tenant relationship or
do we assume an ownership attitude? What
agreement do we have with God as to our share and His share? Are we honoring this contract (or covenant)? Are we willing to share the results of our hard
work and the accompanying accolades with Him?
And ultimately, would we give it all over to Jesus or try to maintain power
and control?
To comment, click the title at the
top of this email then comment at the bottom of the blog. If you’d like
to comment privately, you can email me at papachung3@aol.com.
top of this email then comment at the bottom of the blog. If you’d like
to comment privately, you can email me at papachung3@aol.com.
Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
