Thursday 27 August 2015

Matthew 21: 33--46 Jesus tells the Parable of the TENANTS.


Jesus Prophesies being Thrown Out, Rejected and Killed by Israel.
Mat 21:33  "Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, made a fence round it, dug a wine-tank in it, and built a strong lodge; then let the place to vine-dressers, and went abroad.
Mat 21:34  When vintage-time approached, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes;
Mat 21:35  but the vine-dressers seized the servants, and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones.
Mat 21:36  Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first; and these they treated in the same manner.
Mat 21:37  Later still he sent to them his son, saying, "'They will respect my son.'
Mat 21:38  "But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another, "'Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'
Mat 21:39  "So they seized him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Mat 21:40  When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"
Mat 21:41  "He will put the wretches to a wretched death," was the reply, "and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season."
Mat 21:42  "Have you never read in the Scriptures," said Jesus, "'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BEEN MADE THE CORNERSTONE: THIS CORNERSTONE CAME FROM THE LORD, AND IS WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES'?
Mat 21:43  "That, I tell you, is the reason why the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it.
Mat 21:44  He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt; but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed."
Mat 21:45  After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;
Mat 21:46  but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him, they were afraid of the people, for by them He was regarded as a Prophet.

Introduction

In this parable we have the dealings of God with men illustrated in the dealings of God with the Jews, and pictured in the parable of the vineyard renters. Explain the first references of the parable. Vineyard, God’s chosen people. Husbandmen, the ordinary leaders and teachers of the nation. Servants, the prophets or special messengers. Destruction, the final siege of Jerusalem. Others, the transfer of gospel privileges to the Gentiles. The Pulpit Commentary




Mat 21:33  "Listen to another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, made a fence round it, dug a wine-tank in it, and built a strong lodge; then let the place to vine-dressers, and went abroad.
Notes
Here was Jesus in the Temple before the High Priests and the Pharisees telling this Parable about them.
There was a Householder -- oikodespotēs Thayer Definition: 1) master of the house,  householder Surely the Householder was God Himself,, the Supreme being of the Universe. It was He who had given Israel the land as an inheritance forever. Read Psalm 135: 8-12
He made a fence around it,.... God protected the Land of Israel,, they were sheltered from nations much larger and more powerful. Ps 124 and 125
He dug a Winepress……. There was to be much wine flowing and God blessed them even as He is doing today as Israel yields its Grapes and produce for export. Wine is a symbol of Joy and blessing
let the place out to Vinedressers… γεωργός geōrgos Thayer Definition: 1) a husbandman, tiller of the soil, a vine dresser    These were share farmers who were to pay the rent in a percentage of the Fruit.
He went abroad.  He travelled to a far country or visited a foreign land. The Lord placed the country in their hands and left.
Went from home - entrusted the cultivation of the vineyard to the priests, etc., with the utmost confidence; as a man would do who had the most trusty servants, and was obliged to absent himself from home for a certain time. Our Lord takes this parable from Isa_5:1, etc.; but whether our blessed Redeemer quote from the law, the prophets, or the rabbins, he reserves the liberty to himself to beautify the whole, and render it more pertinent. A.Clark

Mat 21:34  When vintage-time approached, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers to receive his share of the grapes;
Notes
He sent his servants - Prophets, which, from time to time, he sent to the Jewish nation to call both priests and people back to the purity of his holy religion.
Receive the fruits of it - Alluding to the ancient custom of paying the rent of a farm in kind; that is, by a part of the produce of the farm. This custom anciently prevailed in most nations; and still prevails in the highlands of Scotland, and in some other places. The Boldon book, a survey made of the state of the bishopric of Durham in 1183, shows how much of the rents was paid in cows, sheep, pigs, fowls, eggs, etc., the remaining part being made up chiefly by manual labor.

Mat 21:35  but the vine-dressers seized the servants, and one they cruelly beat, one they killed, one they pelted with stones.
Notes
The History of Israel shows how roughly they treated God’s Messengers.
Moses: They continually criticized and grumbled against Him
Num 16:1  Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Num 16:2  and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown;
Num 16:3  and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?
Num 16:4  And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
Num 16:5  and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.
Mat_5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

Mat_23:31  Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.
Eaton’s Bible Dictionary Zechariah (2.) The son or grandson of Jehoiada, the high priest in the times of Ahaziah and Joash. After the death of Jehoiada he boldly condemned both the king and the people for their rebellion against God (2Ch_24:20), which so stirred up their resentment against him that at the king's commandment they stoned him with stones, and he died “in the court of the house of the Lord” (2Ch_24:21). Christ alludes to this deed of murder in Mat_23:35, Luk_11:51. (See ZACHARIAS [2].)
Sons of or Children of them ... - Resembling them; approving their conduct; inheriting their feelings. See the notes at Mat_1:1. They not only showed that they were descended from them, but that they possessed their spirit, and that, in similar circumstances, they would have done as they did.

Mat 21:36  Again he sent another party of servants more numerous than the first; and these they treated in the same manner.
Mat 21:37  Later still he sent to them his son, saying, "'They will respect my son.'
Notes
Surely Jesus is speaking of Himself here.

Mat 21:38  "But the vine-dressers, when they saw the son, said to one another, "'Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'
Notes
They said to one another, "'Here is the heir: come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'
We see the goodness of God in sending his messengers to a lost world, Mat_21:33-38. His prophets he sent one after another, and they were put to death. His well-beloved Son he sent, and He also was put to death. Nor is his mercy yet stayed. He still sends his message to sinners. Thousands have died, as his Son did, in attempting to spread the gospel, but still he sends it. We have often, often rejected it, yet still he sends it. What earthly monarch would be treated in this manner? What earthly parent would be so patient and so kind?Barnes

Mat 21:39  "So they seized him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Notes
The sufferings of the Son of God
Mat 27:29  And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Mat 27:30  And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31  And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.
Mat 27:32  And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
Mat 27:33  And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,
Mat 27:34  they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.
Mat 27:35  And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;
Mat 27:36  and they sat and watched him there.


Man of Sorrows what  a Name?
For the Son of God who came,
Ruined sinners to reclaim,
HALLELUJAH, WHAT A SAVIOUR!!!!!

Mat 21:40  When then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-dressers?"
Mat 21:41  "He will put the wretches to a wretched death," was the reply, "and will entrust the vineyard to other vine-dressers who will render the produce to him at the vintage season."
Notes
This is just what the Romans did in AD 70. They drove the Jews from Jerusalem and hundreds of thousands met a wretched death.

Mat 21:42  "Have you never read in the Scriptures," said Jesus, "'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BEEN MADE THE CORNERSTONE: THIS CORNERSTONE CAME FROM THE LORD, AND IS WONDERFUL IN OUR EYES'?

Notes
The stone - The figure is taken from building a house. The principal stone for size and beauty is that commonly laid as the cornerstone.
Which the builders rejected - On account of its want of beauty or size it was laid aside, or deemed unfit to be a cornerstone. This represents the Lord Jesus, proposed to the Jews as the foundation or cornerstone on which to build the church, but rejected by them - the builders - on account of his lack of comeliness or beauty; that is, of what they esteemed to be comely or desirable, Isa_53:2-3.
The same is become ... - Though rejected by them, yet God chose him, and made him the foundation of the church. Christ is often compared to a stone, a cornerstone, a tried, that is, a sure, firm foundation - all in allusion to the custom of building, Act_4:11; Rom_9:33; Eph_2:20; 1Pe_2:7.
Lord’s doing - The appointment of Jesus of Nazareth to be the foundation of the church is proved by miracle and prophecy to be the work of God.
Marvellous in our eyes - Wonderful in the sight of his people. That he should select his only Son - that he should stoop so low, be despised, rejected, and put to death - that God should raise him up, and build a church on this foundation, embracing the Gentile as well as the Jew, and spreading through all the world, is a subject of wonder and praise to all the redeemed.


Mat 21:43  "That, I tell you, is the reason why the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and given to a nation that will exhibit the power of it.
Notes
Therefore say I - Thus showing them, that to them alone the parable belonged. The kingdom of God shall be taken from you - the Gospel shall be taken from you, and given to the Gentiles, who will receive it, and bring forth fruit to the glory of God.
Bringing forth the fruits - As in Mat_21:34 an allusion is made to paying the landlord in kind, so here the Gentiles are represented as paying God thus. The returns which He expects for his grace are the fruits of grace; nothing can ever be acceptable in the sight of God that does not spring from himself.A.C


Mat 21:44  He who falls on this stone will be severely hurt; but he on whom it falls will be utterly crushed."
Notes
This is an allusion to the punishment of stoning among the Jews. The place of stoning was twice as high as a man; while standing on this, one of the witnesses struck the culprit on the loins, so that he fell over this scaffold; if he died by the stroke and fall, well; if not, the other witness threw a stone upon his heart, and despatched him. That stone thrown on the culprit was, in some cases, as much as two men could lift up. Tract Sanhed. and Bab. Gemara, and Lightfoot. See also the note on Joh_8:7 (note).
He, whether Jew or Gentile, who shall not believe in the Son of God, shall suffer grievously in consequence; but on whomsoever the stone (Jesus Christ) falls in the way of judgment, he shall be ground to powder, λικμησει αυτον - it shall make him so small as to render him capable of being dispersed as chaff by the wind. This seems to allude, not only to the dreadful crushing of the Jewish state by the Romans, but also to that general dispersion of the Jews through all the nations of the world, which continues to the present day A.C.

Mat 21:45  After listening to His parables the High Priests and the Pharisees perceived that He was speaking about them;
Mat 21:46  but though they were eager to lay hands upon Him, they were afraid of the people, for by them He was regarded as a Prophet.
Notes
The most wholesome advice passes for an affront with those who have shut their hearts against the truth. When that which should lead to repentance only kindles the flame of malice and revenge, there is but little hope of the salvation of such persons.

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