A Messiah's Story About God's Grace
Text: Matt. 21:33-46
Introduction
1. Illustration: I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I want to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.- John Newton
2. What is grace?
a. We talk about it.
b. We sing about it.
c. We preach about it.
d. But what is it?
3. The word undeserved is the key to understanding grace. Man does not deserve God's favor; he cannot earn God's approval and blessings. Yet, strange as it may seem, some people choose to reject God's grace.
4. Jesus tells us in this parable...
a. God offers His grace through others
b. God offers His grace through His Son
c. Some people reject God's grace
5. Read Matt. 21:33-46
Proposition: The biggest mistake a person can make is to reject God's grace.
Transition: The first thing that we learn from this parable is...
I. God Offers His Grace Through Others (33-36).
A. He Sent His Servants
1. This is the second of the three parables that Jesus tells that criticize the religious leaders of Israel.
2. He begins this parable by saying, “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country."
a. Wealthy landowners, whose income from the land allowed them lives of complete leisure, controlled much of the rural Roman Empire.
b. Their estates were generally worked by tenant farmers, who were usually free peasants, but sometimes by slaves.
c. They generally lived far away, often in cities, and had little personal contact with their workers.
d. However, the landowner in this parable is so benevolent that aristocrats would have considered him naive (Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
e. In other words, he gave his workers more than they deserved.
f. The way the vineyard itself is laid out is a clear indication of the concern and care that the landowner had for his workers.
g. The wall and the watchtower were used to keep out thieves and wild animals.
h. The winepress was hewn out of solid rock and had at least two vats or tubs. The grapes were trodden in the upper vat, and the juice flowed through the trough into the lower vat (Horton, 459).
i. He set up the vineyard in a way to make it easy for his workers to do their jobs, and as you can tell he spared no expense in doing so.
j. It is obvious that in this story the landowner represents God, and the farmers represent the religious leaders of Israel.
k. In fact, this isn't the first time in Scripture that such an analogy is made.
l. Isaiah 5:7 (NLT)
The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.
3. Jesus continues the story saying, "At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop."
a. The grape harvest did not happen the same year that the crops were planted, but usually happened five years later.
b. It is now time to bring in the harvest and so the landowner sends his servants to collect his profits.
c. The servants here represent the Old Testament prophets. Throughout Israel's history God sent his servants the prophets to warn Israel, but they refused to listen.
d. He sent the prophets to remind the people of the covenant they had with God, and to help them bear spiritual fruit, which the law could not do.
e. It has been said that the law was like a thermometer; it would indicate when they were cold but it couldn't heat them up.
f. Therefore, God sent the prophets to call them to a life of holiness and spiritual worship (Horton, 459).
4. However, Jesus illustrates how people reject the messengers of God by saying, "But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another."
a. Many absentee landowners were notorious for their harsh treatment of their tenants.
b. Here, the scene is reversed, and the landowners servants are abused when they come to collect a portion of the harvest (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary: Matthew, 697-700).
c. The farmers are ruthless in their treatment of the servants.
d. The word "beat" means to "flay, thrash, or work to death." They literally beat him to a pulp.
e. In addition, they also stone one and outright murder the third.
f. Here the tenants act as if they are the ones with power, and they exploit it mercilessly (as opposed to the ideal of a benevolent landowner).
g. This attitude fits the Jewish tradition that Israel martyred many of the prophets God sent (Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
5. But Jesus shows us how God is willing to go the extra mile when he says, "So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same."
a. The fact that he kept sending them is an illustration of God's patience and long-suffering.
b. Each blow received by a prophet was a blow against God himself, but he shows his patience and compassion against our evil and rebellious attitudes (Horton, 461).
c. The great thing about God's character is not only that He gives us His grace, but also that He continues to offer it when we foolishly refuse it.
B. God's Messengers
1. Illustration: I don't know about you, but one of my all-time favorite TV shows is MASH. I especially loved it when the company clerk Radar would have to give bad news to the head nurse "Hot Lips" Hoolihan. He would tell her the news and expect to have to face her wrath even though he was just the messenger. In fact, one time he even wore a battle helmet and shoulder pads! Can't you imagine that this is how some of the Prophets in the Old Testament must have felt?
2. The Prophets came bringing hope and encouragement.
a. Romans 15:4 (NLT)
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
b. The purpose of their message was not to bring judgment but to avoid it.
c. The purpose of their message was not to usher in God's wrath but to keep it from coming.
d. They gave people the chance to turn from their sins and be forgiven.
3. The Prophets often felt as if they were all alone.
a. 1 Kings 19:10 (NLT)
Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the LORD God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
b. They were simply God's messengers, and yet they were often rejected and abused.
c. They brought a message of forgiveness and hope, but were often beaten and even murdered.
4. When God sends His messengers in our life we have a choice.
a. Joshua 24:15 (NLT)
But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”
b. We can reject them and receive what we do deserve - God's wrath.
c. Or we can accept them and their message and receive what we do not deserve - God's grace.
Transition: God not only offered His grace through the Prophets, but He also...
II. God Offers His Grace Through His Son (37-39).
A. My Son
1. Jesus now shifts the analogy from the Prophets to Himself. He says, “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’"
a. The parable continues to show both the grace of God and the rebellion of the nation; especially it's religious leaders.
b. Normally one who was insulted so badly would never consider sending his own son.
c. However, the landowner was willing to give them one last chance. His thinking was that surely they would treat his son with dignity and respect (Horton, 461).
d. In fact, the patience of the owner and the brutality of the growers are so absolutely astounding, so unrealistic and abnormal, that some critics say Jesus overdrew the story or that the gospel writers exaggerated His original version.
e. But those extremes are essential to the parable's point.
f. It was the very uncommonness of the owner's patience and of the growers' wickedness that Jesus' wanted His hearers to notice (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 16-23).
2. However, in the ultimate illustration of hardness of heart, “But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’"
a. When the son arrived the farmers wrongly assume that the landowner had passed away and the son was there to claim his inheritance.
b. They assumed that the vineyard was up for grabs.
c. The tenants presume too much about the inheritance.
d. Although they could have seized it under certain legal conditions, the owner could also stipulate—and after their misdeeds certainly would—that someone else inherit the vineyard; or representatives of the emperor could have seized it.
e. The story paints the farmers as incomparably wicked and stupid; yet the farmers are a transparent metaphor for the religious leaders who serve themselves rather than God (Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament).
f. Jesus foretells what they will do to him secretly and blindly.
g. They will condemn him for being a messianic pretender and have him killed by the Gentiles, thinking that will enable them to retain their claim to religious authority in Israel.
h. Jesus has been telling his disciples of his crucifixion at the hands of the religious leaders for several months, and now he tells the rulers themselves in parabolic form (Wilkins).
3. So they put their plan into action as "they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him."
a. The farmers grab the son and throw him out of the vineyard in an effort to keep the vineyard from being defiled from a dead corpse, which would have made it ceremonially unclean according to Mosaic law.
b. Once outside the vineyard they murder him.
c. The parallel is unmistakable as Jesus is already aware of what the religious leaders plan to do to him.
d. They wanted to hold on to their positions without submitting to God with the faith and obedience he required.
e. They thought that by getting rid of him they could enjoy the power and wealth of their positions (Horton, 461).
f. Once again, we see the ultimate expression of God's grace rejected.
B. For God So Loved the World
1. Illustration: In his book entitle 3:16: The Numbers of Hope, Max Lucado said, "A twenty-six word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather two thousand years of storms and questions. If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here. We all need the reminder. The heart of the human problem is the heart of the human. And God's treatment is prescribed in John 3:16.
2. Jesus incarnation, death, and resurrection are the ultimate example of God's grace.
a. John 3:16 (NLT)
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
b. God loved us so much that He was willing to sacrifice the one most important to Him - His Son.
c. It is the ultimate expression of undeserved love.
d. It is the ultimate expression of undeserved mercy.
e. It is the ultimate example of undeserved hope.
f. It is the ultimate example of God's amazing grace!
3. His grace is so amazing because we didn't deserve it.
a. Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
b. He didn't come after we got it together.
c. He didn't come after we repented
d. He didn't come because we were serving Him.
e. He died for us while we were still lost in our sin.
4. His grace is so amazing because it is all we need.
a. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
b. It is only by grace that we are saved.
c. It is only by grace that we are forgiven.
d. It is only by grace that we can have eternal life.
e. We cannot earn it.
f. We cannot buy it.
g. We can only receive it.
Transition: However, the sad reality of life is...
III. Some People Reject God's Grace (40-46).
A. When the Owner of the Vineyard Returns
1. Now Jesus turns to the religious leaders and asks, “When the owner of the vineyard returns, what do you think he will do to those farmers?” And the religious leaders replied, "The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”
a. Jesus posed a rhetorical question to them that is reminiscent of Isaiah 5:4.
b. Isaiah 5:4 (NLT)
What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?
c. The religious leaders answer the question in the only way it could be answered.
d. The landowner would take action either by military force or legal means.
e. These religious leaders were blinded by their own self-righteousness and had no idea they were pronouncing their own judgment.
f. Their place would be given to every tribe, and nation, and tongue. Jesus was prophesying the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Kingdom (Horton, 463).
g. They no doubt were highly pleased with this unusual opportunity to parade their self-righteousness before Jesus.
h. They were completely unaware that, as they fed their pride on Jesus' baited question, they sprang the trap of their own condemnation (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 16-23).
2. Then Jesus points out their spiritual ineptitude saying, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.’"
a. Jesus quotes a verse from Ps. 118 to reinforce the judgment of the religious leaders.
b. The early Church, especially by Peter, often quoted these same verses.
c. Jesus points out that what the farmers did to the son is what the religious leaders would do to the Cornerstone - Jesus!
d. A cornerstone was the most basic and essential part of a building, from which the proper placement and alignment of every other part was determined.
e. If the cornerstone was imperfectly cut or placed, the symmetry and stability of the entire building would be adversely affected (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 16-23).
f. Furthermore, by quoting this verse Jesus is telling these religious leaders, who take such pride in their knowledge of Scripture, that they don't know the Word as well as they think.
g. However, Jesus is also making another point here. The word translated "rejected" means to reject after careful examination, and by this rejection, means to declare useless.
h. Therefore, by rejecting the Cornerstone they show themselves incapable of judging what God sees as important (Horton, 463).
3. Then He declares the judgment that awaits them by saying, " I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit."
a. Because they had rejected the Cornerstone, God would take away the vineyard from them.
b. They would no longer be God's people, and God would give the Kingdom to those who would accept the Cornerstone.
c. Up to this time the Jewish religious leaders were the principal means by which God exercised his reign over his people.
d. But the leaders failed so badly in handling God's "vineyard" and rejecting God's Son that God gave the responsibility to another people who would produce the kingdom's fruit (Carson, Expositor's Bible Commentary: Matthew).
4. Then Jesus declares, "Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
a. There are two separate images here. The first one is a clay pot that is broken when it falls upon a rock.
b. Those who accept Jesus will be broken to pieces as he breaks their sins, failings and shortcomings.
c. However, he then takes our pieces and puts us back together without spot or blemish.
d. The second image is that of someone who is crushed by a large stone.
e. This represents those who will face the crushing blow of judgment when God deals with our sin on the day of the Lord.
f. It is far better to be broken now then to be broken then (Horton, 465).
5. As you might expect, "When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet."
a. These religious leaders may not have been the sharpest knives in the drawer, but it was obvious that this story was aimed at them.
b. They became angry and wanted to have Jesus arrested.
c. However, their fear of the crowds prevented them from doing so at this time.
d. They would wait for a more opportune time latter in the week.
e. The religious leaders are told they will reject Jesus and be crushed...God in the Scriptures foretells this very event; and these men; prompted by hatred, rush to bring it to pass (Carson).
B. Rejecting God's Grace
1. Illustration: "God’s hardening is a consequence of our hardening our own hearts...God will harden none, damn none, unless they willfully reject His grace. Here is a sobering thought: If you enter eternity with a hard, impenitent heart, you have no one to blame but yourself." -Wm. Gurnall
2. The greatest mistake anyone can make is to reject the grace of God.
a. Hebrews 2:3 (NLT)
So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
b. How can we reject His grace?
c. How can we reject His love?
d. How can we reject His forgiveness?
3. Some people make the mistake that judgment will not come.
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (NLT)
2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.
3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
b. The events of the last week only make things worse.
c. People are saying, "See, there is no judgment coming. It's all a joke!"
d. People are saying, "Let's eat, drink, and be merry!"
e. Some people are even saying, "Come on, let's make some money off of these stupid people!"
f. But make no mistake about, Jesus is coming and so is the judgment and wrath of God!
4. God is not delaying; He is merely giving us more time.
a. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
b. He is the God of the second chance.
c. He is the God of mercy.
d. He is the God of grace.
e. However, He is also a God of justice.
Transition: Don't make the mistake of rejecting the grace of God, because you do not know how long you have left.
Conclusion
1. Jesus tells us in this parable...
a. God offers His grace through others
b. God offers His grace through His Son
c. Some people reject God's grace
2. How about you?
3. Have you accepted the grace of God?
4. If He came for you today what would be your fate?
5. Don't make the biggest mistake of your life.
