Fruitfulness

What kind of faith is saving faith? Let’s look at living faith, its fruit, its evidence and the parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46.

The Servants

Matthew 21:33-37 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’

Pashhur beat Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1-6). Jezebel killed prophets (1 Kings 18:1-13). Joash stoned Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). What did the owner of the vineyard want? He wanted faithful tenants to “collect his fruit.” The vineyard pictures God’s kingdom belonging to “a people who will produce its fruit.”

The Murder

Matthew 21:38-39 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

How many sins in the church are condoned and approved of because we think that God is a long way off? Do we delude ourselves that God is not looking? He may not immediately act, but God is always looking. This is about the murder of Jewish prophets and Jesus.

The Owner

Matthew 21:40-41 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Ultimately God owns everything and we are but tenants. Both Jews and Christians have persecuted God’s messengers and his Son. We too are guilty of disobeying God. As the current tenants, what will He say to us when He returns? What fruit have we produced for Him in His vineyard?

The Stone

Matthew 21:42-44 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Jesus said that the stone which the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. A cornerstone is the first stone laid in masonry construction. All other stones are set in reference to it. Our faith is oriented towards Jesus, not the faulty edicts, canons, and traditions of mere humans.

The Pharisees

Matthew 21:45-46 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Humanity has rejected God. Yet, God persists sending His servants. Loving the unlovable is difficult and loving those who hate you is almost impossible, except with God. God loves us enough to rescue us from ourselves. We are incapable of managing this earthly estate upon which we are God’s tenants.

Application

The ancient Quadriga helps us understand the Bible in four dimensions: 1) the literal betrayal by murderous tenants, and the spiritual meaning in three parts, 2) an allegory of people killing God’s servants, 3) a moral lesson, and 4) eternal implications. Do we faithfully bear the fruits of the kingdom?

The Ten Commandments

One of this week’s readings is the Decalogue. We are “ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6) How ought Christians understand the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament law in spirit?

No other gods

Money, materialism, materialistic false gospels. Rather than a self-sacrificing Jesus, some worship a tooth-fairy Jesus, who grants their every wish. Christians ought not worship knowledge, science, governments, leaders, technology, popular fads, celebrities, luxury, or our own egos (Jeremiah 17:9; Proverbs 16:25).

No idols

An image is not an idol unless it is bowed down to and served. The covering cherubs were statues and were not worshipped as idols. We cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Paul encouraged Christians to flee idolatry, which is fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:14-22).

No taking the name of God in vain