PROPERLY APPROACHING (American)PRIVILEGE-I—Matthew 21:33-46
OR:
A CHRISTIAN APPROACH To AMERICAN PRIVILEGE
Attention:
A reading of ‘The Declaration of Independence’
Need:
We are A Privileged & Proud Nation/People...But many Americans, including yourselves, may find your ‘privilege & pride’ are misplaced--or--centered on illegitimate sources.
Characters/Representations in the parable:
Landowner—God
Vineyard—Israel as the focus of God’s attentions & love(& thus also speaks to the Church)
Wall—Ownership/Separation/Protection
Wine Press—Anticipation of fruitfulness/A return
Tower—Concern/Protection
Vine-growers—Spiritual Leaders/Nurture
Slaves—Prophets(Apostles & speaks to(?Preachers/Teachers?)
Son—Son of God/Jesus
Thru this parable, Jesus highlighted/clarified a proper approach to an God-ordained privilege.
There is a Proper(Christian) Approach to (American)Privilege.
What is a Proper/Christian Approach to (American)Privilege?
Or
How should America approach her God-ordained privilege?
9 approaches to American privilege.
1—Approach your (American)privilege with...
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(:33a)
Explanation:(:33a)Recognition
:33a—“Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard & set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it & built a tower....”
Jesus was still speaking to the chief priests & elders(:23ff.).
He presented “another parable” to them which related to the current situation of their failed spiritual leadership.
Their failure was previously(“another”) presented—probably(?) in the same conversation— thru a parable of two sons(:28-32), which contrasted obedience versus disobedience to God.
*Jesus tells of a “certain” “man”(untranslated) who was a “landowner” or “householder”[oikodespothv].
*This certain “Landowner” is none other than God.
He is the owner of all because He is the Creator of all(Gen. 1:1--2:3; Ps. 50:10; Jn. 1:1-3).
Gen. 1:31-2:3—“Then God saw everything that He had made, & indeed it was very good. So the evening & the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens & the earth, & all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, & He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day & sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created & made.”
Jn. 1:1-3—“In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, & without Him nothing was made that was made.”
Ps. 50:10-14—“For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, & all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.”
*The “Landowner” intentionally “planted a vineyard.” He wanted the “vineyard.”
The “vineyard” represents God’s Kingdom/His people.
For it’s owner, a “vineyard” is a means of provision(fruition/income), obligation(meaningful work), expertise(knowledge), & joy(producing what is intended).
This particular “vineyard” ‘has an obligation’ to supply the needs of the “Landowner”(Master of the house).
*The “landowner” “set a hedge”/put a wall/ or fence around the “vineyard.”
a. The “hedge” represents the ‘firm boundary’ of His command/revelation/word.
b. It represents the ‘firm boundary’ of separation & sanctification of His people to Him.
c. It represents the ‘firm boundary’ of God’s protective watch-care over His people.
d. It represents the ‘firm boundary’ of corporate/shared Identification as God’s people & God as their only God.
e. It represents the ‘firm boundary’ of God’s ownership of the “vineyard” as as undeniable, being plain for all.
*God, the “landowner” put a “winepress” in the “vineyard.” This was directly associated with the crop—grapes, grape juice, raisins, wine. —Thus the ‘housemaster’ anticipated a future harvest & return for His investment.
*The Landowner also built a “tower” in the vineyard.
The “tower” represents the prophets & spiritual leadership.
The “tower” provided for continual surveillance of the land in securing it’s watch-care & protection...it’s doctrinal security.
This describes first of all, the creation of the nation of Israel, with it’s spiritual underpinnings taking precedence. It was & is a nation which intended to faithfully represent the blessings of God’s governance.
Likewise, our nation(America) has definite spiritual underpinnings! One of the major reasons for America’s being established in the first place, was to escape the tyranny & blasphemy of a politicised/state religion. That is what drove the English Separatists to undertake a journey on the ship, Mayflower, from London to the New World in 1620.
English Dissenters or English Separatists were Protestant Christians who separated from the Church of England due to disagreement in matters of Christian belief. They opposed official governmental control, subsidy, & interference regarding religious matters.
But more than anything, it is what America’s separation from sovereign British rule entailed in 1776.
*All this is to say that: God has blessed America with humble, yet decidedly biblical spiritual beginnings. And we are entirely blessed to be born here, work here, live here, love here. We live without threat from other nations.
Our Christian underpinnings have secured a foundation for the expression of God’s righteousness, & the knowledge of it because of a church that is free from political machinations.
“Another”—allov—Adj.—1) Another, other. Allov as compared with eterov denotes numerical in distinction from qualitative differences; allov adds('one besides'), eterov distinguishes('one of two'); every eterov is an allov but not every allov is a eterov; allov generally denotes simple distinction of individuals, eterov involves the secondary idea of difference of kind. Strong—a primary word; “Else,” i.e. Different(in many applications).
“Parable”(See :45)—parabolh—Noun Fem.—1) A placing of one thing by the side of another, juxtaposition, as of ships in battle; 2) metaph.—2a) A comparing, comparison of one thing with another, likeness, similitude, 2b) An example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated, 2c) A narrative, fictitious but agreeable to the laws & usages of human life, by which either the duties of men or the things of God, particularly the nature & history of God's kingdom are figuratively portrayed, 2d) A parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; 3) A pithy & instructive saying, involving some likeness or comparison & having preceptive or admonitory force—3a) An aphorism, a maxim; 4) A proverb; 5) An act by which one exposes himself or his possessions to danger, a venture, a risk. Strong—A similitude(“parable”), i.e. symbolically--Fictitious narrative(of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage.
From—para—1) From, of at, by, besides, near. Strong—a primary preposition; properly--Near; i.e. (with genitive case)--From beside(literally or figuratively), (with dative case)--At(or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case)--To the proximity with(local especially)--Beyond or opposed to, or causal--On account of.—&—ballw—1) To throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. Strong—a primary verb; To throw(in various applications, more or less violent or intense).
“Certain”[TR/Byz]—tiv—Pronoun—1) A certain, a certain one; 2) Some, some time, a while. Strong—an enclitic indefinite pronoun; Some or any person or object.
“Man”—anyrwpov—Noun Masc.—1) A human being, whether male or female—1a) generically--To include all human individuals, 1b) To distinguish man from beings of a different order—1b1) Of animals & plants, 1b2) Of from God & Christ, 1b3) Of the angels, 1c) With the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin, 1d) With the adjunct notion of contempt or disdainful pity, 1e) With reference to two fold nature of man, body & soul, 1f) With reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt & the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God, 1g) With reference to sex, a male; 2) indefinitely--Someone, a man, one; 3) in the plural--People; 4) Joined with other words, merchantman. Strong—Man-faced, i.e. A human being.
From—anhr—a primary word; A man(properly as an individual male)—&—wq(the countenance; from optanomai).
*“Landowner/Householder”—oikodespothv—Noun Masc.—1) Master of the house, householder. Strong—The head of a family. Used 12X.
From—oikov—of uncertain affinity; A dwelling(more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication--A family(more or less related, literal or figuratively).—&—despothv—Noun Masc.—1)A master, lord. Despothv relates only to a slave & denotes absolute ownership & uncontrolled power. Strong—perhaps from dew[to bind] & posiv(a husband); An absolute ruler(“despot”). English=‘Despot’
“Who”—ostiv, including the feminine--htiv & the neuter--o,ti—Pronoun—1) Whoever, whatever, who. Strong—Which some, i.e. Any that; also(def.)--Which same.
“Planted”—futeuw—Verb—1) To plant. Strong—To set out in the earth, i.e. Implant; figuratively--To instill doctrine. Used 11X.
From a derivative of—fuw—a primary verb; probably originally, to "puff" or blow, i.e. To swell up; but only used in the implied sense--To germinate or grow(sprout, produce), literally or figuratively.
“Vineyard”(See :39, 41)—ampelwn—Noun Masc.—1) A vineyard. Used 23X.
From—ampelov—A vine(as coiling about a support).
“Set...Around/Round About/Put Around”—peritiyhmi—Verb—1) To place around, set about; 2) To put on a garment; 3) To put or bind a thing around another; 4) To present, to bestow, confer, a thing upon one. Strong—To place around; by implication--To present. Used 8X.
From—peri—1) About, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near. Strong— properly, Through(all over), i.e. Around; figuratively--With respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time—&—tiyhmi—To place(in the widest application, literally & figuratively; properly--in a passive or horizontal posture, & thus different from isthmi, which properly denotes an upright & active position, while keimai is properly reflexive & utterly prostrate).
“Hedge/Wall/Fence”—fragmov—Noun Masc.—1) A hedge, a fence; 2) That which separates, prevents two from coming together. Strong—A fence, or inclosing barrier(literally or figuratively). Used 4X.
“Dug”—orussw—Verb—1) To dig. Strong—apparently a primary verb; To "burrow" in the ground, i.e. Dig. Used 3X.
“Winepress”—lhnov—Noun Fem.—1) A tub or trough shaped receptacle, vat, in which grapes are trodden; 2) The lower vat, dug in the ground, into which the must or new wine flowed from the press. Strong—apparently a primary word; A trough, i.e. Wine-vat. Used 5X.
“In”—en—
“Built”—oikodomew ALSO oikodomov(Acts 4:11)—Verb—1) To build a house, erect a building—1a) To build(up from the foundation), 1b) To restore by building, to rebuild, repair; 2) metaph.--2a) To found, establish, 2b) To promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness, 2c) To grow in wisdom & piety. Strong—from the same as oikodomh; To be a house-builder, i.e. Construct or figuratively--Confirm.
“Tower”—purgov—Noun Masc.—1) A tower; 2) A fortified structure rising to a considerable height, to repel a hostile attack or to enable a watchman to see in every direction. Strong—apparently a primary word (“burgh”); A tower or castle. Used 4X.
Argumentation:
Ezek. 16:1-14—“Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, “& say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: “Your birth & your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite & your mother a Hittite. As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. And when I passed by you & saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you thrive like a plant in the field; & you grew, matured, & became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked & bare. When I passed by you again & looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you & covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you & entered into a covenant with you, & you became Mine,” says the Lord GOD. Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, & I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth & gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen & covered you with silk. “I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, & a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, & a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold & silver, & your clothing was of fine linen, silk, & embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, & oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, & succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord GOD.”
America is who/what we are as a nation because God orchestrated that ‘grand experiment.’
Unfortunately, that ‘experiment’ is suffering setbacks from those who neither believe, nor abide in, nor proffer the wisdom of God’s Church.
1Tim. 3:15, 16—[Paul to Timothy—]“...I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar & ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”
Thus the Church fails in that it turns to humanism, & self, & flesh, & the world in times of such distress. Christianity cannot be nationalized nor are we meant to be a proper nation. Our nation suffers from the fact that men & women boys & girls are sinners in need of the Savior. Christians must see that humanity is given opportunity to respond to salvation in Christ!
And with all our differences & ever-changing populations from around the world, God still has His hand upon America in such a fashion as to allow for a conduit for openly sharing the truth both at home & abroad.
Ps. 34:8, 9—“Oh, taste & see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.”
Ps. 119:97-112—“MEM. Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”
NUN. Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn & confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word. Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, And teach me Your judgments. My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end.”
1Pet. 1:22-2:3—“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives & abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, & all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
1Jn. 1:1-4—“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, & our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, & we have seen, & bear witness, & declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father & was manifested to us-- that which we have seen & heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; & truly our fellowship is with the Father & with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
You can NEVER take up the word of God & advance it fully & appropriately thru law. But thru law, opportunity is either taken from or given to, the advancement of God’s truth.
Ps. 36:7-9—“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.”
1Jn. 4:2-12—“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, & every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, & is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, & have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, & the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth & the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; & everyone who loves is born of God & knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us & sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, & His love has been perfected in us.”
Ps. 84:8-12—“O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun & shield; The LORD will give grace & glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Ps. 33:1-17—“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness & justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, & it was done; He commanded, & it stood fast. The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.”
Christian, just imagine where we could be, IF we could convince our populace of God’s glory. Of His Son’s salvation & Lordship. Of Christian sympathies, & loves, & compassions, & wisdom, & direction!
Illustration:
There is a secular song in which many sympathize & abide. It is full of ‘pie-in-the-sky’ humanism, secularism, & untruth. It is founded upon a basic humanistic belief that proffers an ‘inherent goodness’ for mankind. Of course such a belief flatly contradicts God’s revelation & disposes of a need for salvation & the Savior Jesus Christ!
‘Imagine’—by: John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band.
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world, you
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one.
Application:
?YOU Approach (American)Privilege with ACKNOWLEDGEMENT?
?How do YOU Approach your (American)Privilege?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Action:
Approach your (American)privilege with...
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT(:33a)
Pt.# 1 only! presented 07/02/2017am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave.(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
