I would like to explain and apply two parables in one sermon, for the Lord showed me how (Luke 8:11-18).
Both parables were directed against the generation of our Lord’s ministry, but they have warnings for us also.
Parable of the Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46)
The PARABLE EXPLAINED
We are told clearly that this passage is a parable, so we emphasize the lesson rather than the details.
The certain householder is God Himself, Who chose Israel as own His peculiar people on earth.
The vineyard is the church and kingdom of God, the religious relationship of God with Israel including His presence, religion, revelation, temple, salvation, etc. (Isaiah 5:1-7).
The hedging of the vineyard is God’s careful and special protection of His O.T. church.
The digging of a winepress in it is God’s giving of pleasure and prosperity to His church.’
The building of a tower is God’s blessing of eminence to this nation that were no longer obscure.
The husbandmen are the Jews, to whom God gave His church and kingdom to keep on earth.
The far country is heaven, where God dwelt while sending servants to check on His vineyard.
The time of the fruit is when God examined His church for their obedience and worship to Him.
The servants are the prophets and John, whom God sent to stir the people up to His worship.
The mistreatment of the servants is the nation of Israel abusing or killing God’s prophets.
The son of the householder is the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom God sent to His own people.
The casting out of the son is Israel’s rejection of Jesus as the Lord of His religion and temple.
The killing of the son is the sham of a trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the wicked Jews.
The coming of the lord is God coming to avenge the death of his son by the wicked husbandmen.
The miserable destruction of the wicked murderers is God’s destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
The letting to other husbandmen is God transferring the kingdom from the Jews to the Gentiles.
The fruits in their seasons is the Gentile church giving God the worship and obedience He seeks.
The LESSON DEFINED
The primary lesson is easy enough – to condemn the Jewish chief priests and religious leaders.
But it also includes His prophecy of what they would do to Him and what He would do to them.
He quoted from Psalm 118:22-23 to show the Old Testament prophesied of the coming events.
Jesus bluntly told the chief priests and Pharisees that God would give their kingdom to Gentiles.
Falling on the stone Christ Jesus is repentance and faith that changes a person’s life to obedience.
The stone Christ Jesus falling on a person is the Word of God’s severe judgment or chastening.
Jesus spoke plainly enough, applying the prophecy to the men standing right before Him then.
The chief priests and Pharisees rightly knew how long a generation was – it would include them!
The chief priests and Pharisees knew He had declared all these things specifically against them.
But because they had never loved truth enough to oppose the people, they let their enemy go.
The PARABLE FULFILLED
These wicked Jews conspired with Judas and pressured Pilate into torturing and murdering Jesus.
Those who repented and changed their lives for Him were saved from that untoward generation.
Jesus raised up the apostle Paul from among the Pharisees and sent His kingdom to the Gentiles.
While some of the wicked priests and Pharisees were still living, Jesus came and destroyed them.
The LESSON APPLIED
God our Father in heaven will defend His Son and His gospel and avenge evildoers with judgment.
If a man will fall on Jesus Christ and repent for his foolishness, he will be broken and saved from it.
If a man refuses to obey Jesus Christ, God will bring judgment even in His churches to punish such.
This can be true of individuals in a church (I Cor 11:30) or a whole church itself (Revelation 2:5).
Are you rendering to God the fruits of righteousness and holy living that He demands and expects?
Parable of the Marriage of the King’s Son (Matthew 22:1-14)
The PARABLE EXPLAINED
We are told clearly that this passage is a parable, so we emphasize the lesson rather than the details.
The Kingdom of Heaven is the spiritual rule of Jesus Christ including heaven, His local churches, and the gospel administration of worship being preached by John and Christ.
The certain King is God, Who made His Son Jesus Groom of the New Testament church.
The wedding is the gospel-church administration of the new covenant with the Messiah.
The servants are prophets and apostles, who by prophecy and preaching gave invitation.
Those who were bidden are the Jews, who had first knowledge of the gospel invitation.
The dinner of oxen and fatlings are the glorious gospel blessings of the covenant of grace.
The all things are ready is the complete fulfillment of Bible prophecy and Divine timing.
They made light of it is the carnal response of fleshly Jews to the glorious gospel.
The remnant is those wicked Jews who slew the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles.
The King’s armies are the Romans under Titus, who destroyed the Jews in 70 A.D.
The servants are the apostles, prophets, and elders of the New Testament after Pentecost.
The ones found in the highways are the Gentiles by the universal preaching of the gospel.
The guests, both bad and good, are the Gentile converts that filled the churches of Christ.
The King coming in to see the guests is the final judgment before the throne of God.
The wedding garment is the righteousness of Christ, which clothes the true saints of God.
The speechless condition of the rude wretch is his lack of excuse or defense for his sins.
The servants are angels called by the holy God to separate the wicked and the righteous.
The outer darkness with its attendant miseries is hell, where the wicked spend eternity.
The LESSON DEFINED
The first lesson is national rejection of the gospel by the Jews and their total destruction (1-7).
The gospel was first sent to the nation of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:24; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:8).
The Jews had little use for Christ’s gospel (Matthew 11:16-19; 11:20-24; 12:38-45; 16:2-4).
They persecuted and killed apostles (Acts 5:40; 7:59; 8:1; 12:1-3; 13:50; 14:19; I Thess 2:14-16).
They rejected the kingdom, and it was sent to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48; Romans 11:11-24).
They were utterly destroyed by the Roman armies (Matthew 3:7-12; 21:33-46; 24:1-33).
Therefore, great care must be taken to obey the gospel (Romans 11:18-22; Hebrews 2:1-4).
The second lesson is unconditional election and its revelation at the Day of Judgment.
There are many deceived they are Christ’s by profession (Matthew 7:21-23; II Peter 2:1).
The Lord shall separate the good from the bad one day (Matthew 13:47-52; Rev 20:15).
There are false talkers without grace (I John 2:4,18-19; I Cor 11:19; Psalm 144:11-15).
Doers of the law are justified rather than hearers (Rom 2:13; Titus 1:16; James 2:14-26).
Therefore, great care must be taken for Christ’s righteousness (Galatians 2:16; Rev 19:8).
The LESSON APPLIED
How do you hear the gospel? With great joy and repentance? Or with little care or fruit?
Jesus warned us to hear carefully with fruit (Luke 8:18; Deut 32:46-47; James 1:21-25).
Cornelius and the Bereans were noble (Acts 10:33; 17:11-12; I Thess 1:6-10; 2:13).
Do you make light of Jesus Christ and gospel blessings by loving this world and its things more?
Are you a belly-worshipping enemy of Jesus Christ by minding earthly things (Phil 3:18-19)?
Have you made your calling and election sure? Or is your life as barren of grace as a child of hell?
Faith is by Christ’s righteousness, but must diligently add to it (II Peter 1:1-15; James 2:14-26).
No price should be too great to secure our souls (Mark 9:47; 10:23; I Timothy 6:6-10).
Do you have Paul’s great desire to be found in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:7-21)?
Conclusion:
This morning I preached to you from I Pet 1:17 about pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. Are you?
Are you convicted to fall on Jesus Christ and be broken, or will He fall on you and grind you to powder?
What are you doing (or not doing in your life) that makes light of the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ?
Do you have a wedding garment on? Are you clothed in Christ’s righteousness to be acceptable to God?
How diligently are you trying to make your calling and election sure to be part of the few, not just the many?
