As we continue down the path to the cross, we find Jesus taking the last few opportunities to teach about the truths of God. As always, His concern is not about Himself but about glorifying the Father and reaching the lost. He teaches through parables and direct situations.
In Matthew 21:20-21 He teaches about faith. After the withering of the fig tree, the disciples ask how it withered so fast. Jesus answers with a lesson on faith. If they have faith and do not doubt, their faith can do monumental things for the kingdom. He is taking every opportunity before His death to teach.
Matthew 21:20-22 “And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. ”
Jesus proceeds to the temple and is questioned by the chief priest and elders. They want to know by what authority he was teaching. In His profound manner of teaching, He asks them a question. They knew if they answered either way it would create a problem for them with the people. They could not answer the question and Jesus in turn will not answer them. We need to always be ready to defend our faith but we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit to determine if people want information or if they just want to argue. There is no value in arguing.
Matthew 21:23-27 “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence, was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”
He teaches about doing what is right, not saying what is right. Those Jesus was speaking with were religious leaders and they were good at talking the talk but poor at living a humble submissive life to the Father. Those who repent and obey will receive eternal life with the Father. Those who do not, regardless of their words will spend eternity in Hell.
Matthew 21:28-30 “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.”
Matthew 21:33-35 “Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and dug a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 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.”
Jesus continues His teaching with the parable of the wicked servants. It drives home to the Jews how they have rejected Him, the Messiah, God’s only Son. When the owner had sent many servants to receive the fruits of their labor they had beaten them, killed, and stoned them. Then he sends his son thinking they will respect him and honor him, but instead they kill him also. Jesus goes on to tell them that those who reject the Son will not survive. He is using this to speak to the Jews who have rejected the Son of God.
Matthew 21:37-44 “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence 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. 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. 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 marvelous in our eyes? Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
These are lessons not only for the Jews of Jesus’ time on earth but for us also. The end result for anyone who rejects Jesus is the same. Those who are like the son who said he would do as the Father ask, but didn’t, and the Jews who openly rejected the Savior are the same. Are you one of those who talk the talk, but doesn’t walk the walk? Do you go through the motions, go to church, pay your tithe, say a prayer, and go on about your life with no change or desire to give God 100% of yourself? If so your result of false religion is the same, as those who openly reject Jesus. He took time when facing death to teach those of His time and ours. Are you listening and obeying? What will you do with His words?
