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
Vain and purposeless use of God’s name is common in today’s world. Some avoid God’s name lest they accidentally blaspheme. Yet, the Lord’s prayer encourages us, in the spirit of this law, to hallow God’s name (Matthew 6:9). We cannot hallow something that we avoid. Let’s honor God’s name.
Remember the sabbath day
A day off for worship and bodily rest is wise, but not a New Testament law. The spirit of the Sabbath law is: rest in Jesus for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30), a spiritual rest that neither Moses, nor Joshua could give Israel on a physical Sabbath day (Hebrews 3-4).
Honor Parents
This command and the promise of a long and happy life are repeated as is, in the New Testament. “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
You shall not murder
The spirit of this command is to value life. It’s a principle that Christians use in regard to many topics like abortion and the poor. In Matthew 5 Jesus explained that a spirit of murder begins in the heart and involves things like unrighteous anger, name-calling and unwillingness to reconcile.
No adultery
Jesus warned in Matthew 5 against careless glances, inappropriate touching and easy divorce, which would also lead to adultery. The principle applies to any sexual expression outside of a faithful marriage between a man and woman.
No stealing
Theft is everywhere. Stealing things, stealing time from an employer, or stealing fair wages from an employee. “Let him who stole, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28 NKJV)
No false witness
In Matthew 5 Jesus taught the spirit of the law involves not making false promises or oaths. As Christians, we ought to be known for our honesty in business, telling the truth, keeping our marriage vows, and teaching our children the value of truth over fairy tales and childhood myths.
No coveting your neighbor’s things
The opposite of coveting is thankfulness for what we have and contentment (Philippians 4:11). If we have earned an income through honest work, ethical pricing, honorable trading, paying fair wages to our employees, and worked diligently for our employers, then we can rightly enjoy what we purchased.
Saving faith is not a dead faith without fruit but a living faith that produces much fruit. God has given his kingdom to a people who will produce its fruit. What fruit are we allowing God to produce in us?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Exodus 20:3-17 the Ten Commandments
Psalm 19 all creation proves the glory of God
Revelation 2:8-11 the Smyrna Church
Matthew 21:33-46 in Rhyme
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A landowner planted some grapes
A tower, a hedge, what it takes
He leased it out and went far away
Then sent his servants for his pay
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The tenants beat, killed, and stoned them
And in the end, he sent his son
But they cast him out and killed him
What will the owner do to them?
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He’ll bring them to a wretched end
Find men who’ll pay his dividend
The stone the builders rejected
Is now the corner erected
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The kingdom is taken from you
Given to those bringing fruits due
Fall on this stone and you’ll be crushed
If it falls on you, you’ll be dust
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The chief priests and Pharisees knew
It was them He was speaking to
But though they sought His detention
They feared the people’s dissention
