Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.
! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.
Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.
This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.
Let's dive in together into God's Word.
Alright, well good morning everyone.
It's great to be here with all of you as we are going back into our sermon series through the parables of Christ.
Parables are so interesting. They're very unique. They're very simple, but yet they're full of depth.
Today, as we are in this Easter season, let us remember first and foremost
the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let us recognize that it is Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus being born in a manger, Him teaching these parables that we are going over, the miracles that He performed,
walking on water, calming the storm, healing the sick, raising people from the dead.
It goes to show you the power of who our God is.
That God is consistent in His Word.
And God continues to speak to us through His Word and through others as well.
And we're grateful for our Lord and our God.
You've just heard Mark Iseri read the parable of the wicked tenants from the Gospel of Matthew.
And we're going to go into this.
Because it's a very interesting parable that shows us something of great significance.
You see, this parable is found in the Gospel of Matthew.
It's found in the Gospel of Mark and in Luke as well.
So when you see something that shows up three times, it's something that you should pay attention to.
Amen?
So we see this three times where Jesus entered in Jerusalem and He's confronting the religious leaders.
And the religious leaders, they realize that this parable is targeted.
It's aimed directly at them.
The Scripture says that they acknowledged or they realized that this parable was towards them.
So stewardship and judgment.
Let's go to that next slide.
And I want to take a moment.
Let's go one more.
I want you to look at this image here.
You see here, what is this church?
What is this?
Like a vineyard, right?
You see there, you know, you have grapes, you have the hills and all that.
I kind of think of Napa, California specifically, or Sonoma.
Those kind of things where you can see that kind of imagery.
And what we have in here are certain symbols from the text that they have certain representations.
So we have the vineyard then, which represents the people of God.
It's representing Israel.
We then have the fence, which is symbolic for God's protection.
You want to have a fence or a wall around your vineyard, right?
Because in a lot of times in Scriptures, it's saying you don't want people stealing your crops kind of thing.
That makes a lot of sense, right, why we have fences and walls especially.
And then you have the winepress here, which you see that there's the fruit that's growing on the vine or in the vineyard.
And there's this expectation from the Lord to an expectation of harvest.
So not only are we to bear fruit, there's this expectation, at least in this scene, where there must be producing fruit.
And in this case, we could just say making wine for this sake.
You have the tower in the background then, which is representing God's care and provision for his people, right?
Like when you have a tower for a vineyard especially, you want to be able to look out, yes, at the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
But you also want to be able to also protect if anyone is going into the vineyard.
Does that make sense, church?
Okay.
Now, we don't have the picture of the tenants or the servants or the son or the owners and the new tenants.
But you still get at least the scene of what is going on.
So we have the tenants, which is a representation of the people of God, their leaders, representing also the people of God.
We have also the servants, which represents the prophets that were sent by God.
Then the son, which represents Jesus Christ as the, well, as the heir, as the messenger.
And then the owner, which is God the Father.
And then new tenants.
Well, as we know in scripture, that there is the mystery of Christ that is revealed,
going from what used to be exclusive to the people of God, being available for everyone who believes in the Lord.
So, it is showing that from once the Jewish people, now going to all who believe in Christ.
Does that make sense, church?
Okay.
So, the new tenants is those who respond to Christ.
I want us to go back here.
Let's turn to the Gospel of Matthew.
And I want you to see, knowing this, what we just went over,
how beautiful this parable aligns with our understanding of God, His Word, and His plan for us.
Right?
There was a master of a house, God, who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it.
Okay?
And He dug a wine press, right?
The expectation of producing fruit.
And leased it to tenants, right?
There's this idea of stewardship that's in there.
The people of God were to steward God's promises.
And where did He go?
So, the master went to another country, or the owner went to another country.
When the season for fruit drew near, so there was a certain amount of time for fruit to be produced,
He sent His servants to the tenants to get fruit,
sending the messengers, the prophets, to go to the people of God to collect the fruit.
And what did the tenants do?
They take His servants, and do they welcome Him in?
No, it says, they beat one, they killed another, and they stoned another.
Again, He sent other servants.
I mean, if one servant got killed, if I was the owner, I'd be pretty upset.
But continuing of sending servants here, giving more opportunity for the people of God.
Okay?
He sent other servants, more than the first.
And did they welcome Him in?
No.
They did the same to them.
And finally, He sent His Son, the heir.
He sent His Son to them, saying,
They will respect My Son.
Right?
That makes perfect sense.
They're being disrespectful.
They're doing all these terrible things to these messengers that I'm sending.
Surely they would respect My Son.
They're living in the vineyard.
They're being there.
They're dwelling there.
Well, this is not the case.
When the tenants saw the Son, they said to themselves,
This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.
Thinking that the death of the Son,
they would, by killing him,
they would gain.
But here's the thing.
And just as we talk about in this Easter season,
evil thinks it can win.
But in the end, evil does not win.
When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes,
what will he do to those tenants?
He said to them,
He will put wretches to a miserable death
and let out the vineyard to other tenants
who give him the fruits in their season.
That is a very important thing, church,
when we read that.
Because it's representing the old covenant,
the old system in which the Jewish people had
prior to the new covenant.
But it's all based in this kind of vineyard language,
as it were.
Those who will give him the fruits in their seasons,
which goes to show the importance.
Church, it's important for us to recognize
to believe in Jesus Christ,
the death, burial, and resurrection.
It's also important that upon believing in him,
we are to bear fruit.
We are to be molded by our Lord and our God,
being transformed, right?
The transformation of mind,
the transformation of heart,
the very essence of who we are
should be on a trajectory of being more like him.
That doesn't mean we're going to be perfect, though, does it?
Are any of us perfect in here?
Don't raise your hand.
We'll talk later, right?
But the reality is,
nobody is perfect.
But God continues to mold us.
He continues to make us like him.
And so that's a very pivotal point there.
Jesus said to them,
have you not read in the scriptures?
It's in the Gospel of Luke,
where the Pharisees actually interject and said,
this isn't the case.
But Jesus is still saying in here,
have you not read the scriptures?
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
This was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Therefore, the kingdom of God
will be taken away from you
and given to a people producing fruit,
which goes to show,
paving the way for salvation
to be available for all who believe.
And in that belief,
we are called to be transformed,
to grow in Christ,
and to live and love like Jesus Christ.
Amen?
Does this make sense, church?
Okay.
And the one who falls on this stone
will be broken to pieces,
and when it falls on anyone,
it will crush him.
And when the chief priests
and the Pharisees heard this parable,
they perceived that he was speaking about them.
And although they were seeking to arrest him,
they feared the crowds
because they held him to be a prophet.
I want you to think for a moment.
That language about tripping over a stone
and breaking,
how many of you know Daniel 2, verse 35?
It's in your notes.
Where it talks about a stone
that gets thrown into a great statue.
Some of you know what I'm talking about.
The statue is made of bronze and iron and copper,
and it shatters to pieces.
It's actually a direct connection to Daniel,
which is representing all of the kingdoms of the world
will be shattered against God.
Nations, people, groups, people
without the stone will not prevail.
So it's this wonderful tie-in
with the Old Testament
and just with lots of scripture in this.
And so it's very interesting that in Daniel,
where you have this stone,
that's a very small stone,
it takes down this giant statue
and then grows into a mountain.
What in the world's happening there?
It's representing the kingdom of God,
just like we've talked about the mustard seed, right?
The seed that gets planted into the ground
and it grows into something that is more powerful,
something that is great,
because that's how God works.
It gets planted and it expands.
And so the stone being our foundation,
it expands.
Do you build your life on Jesus Christ?
Is he your firm foundation?
Is he the anchor for your life?
And it's interesting in this language
when it's saying that someone who falls,
trips and falls on the stone
is very similar to the idea of the stone
being cast upon this statue
and shattering to pieces.
Does that make sense, church?
Do you understand?
I sure hope that you do.
And so in all of this,
the vineyard is planted with care.
God entrusts his people.
The servants are beaten and they're killed.
It's prophetic rejection.
The son is killed outside of the vineyard,
which foretells of Christ's crucifixion
and judgment comes
and the wicked tenants are destroyed.
And then there is the cornerstone prophecy,
which Christ is the new foundation
and the kingdom is transferred
for all who bear fruit.
So not we must believe in the Lord,
but we also must grow in him
and be moved to do good in his name.
So what does all of this mean then
as we go into this?
Here at Ontario Community Church,
we use what is known as the OIA method.
O as an observation.
What in the world is going on in the text?
I is for interpretation.
What are the lessons we can learn?
And thirdly is the application.
What do we do about this?
So let's go to that next slide.
It is the I interpretation.
What can we learn and interpret from this?
The first thing is that God sends people
even when we reject them.
God's patience is showing
that God is not quick to anger
because he is continually sending these prophets
to speak to the people
to get them to change,
to get them to see their evil ways
and to turn to the Lord.
That's a pattern that we see
and we also can recognize
that mercy is shown before judgment
that God does extend mercy.
It's much like when we think about salvation here
for the Christian.
God gives a certain amount of time
but not forever.
That's an important thing.
And so in 2 Chronicles,
it's in your notes,
chapter 36, verses 15 through 16,
it mentions that time and time again
he sent messengers.
Again, showing the mercy of God.
In Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1 through 2,
in time past,
God spoke now through his son,
which is talking about Christ,
from prophets to Christ.
And so in all of this,
it just means that God
doesn't give up easily on you.
God is merciful and he gives,
he gave the people of God
lots and lots of time.
In the same way,
he gives us the opportunity
to turn to him in faith.
The second thing then
is rejecting the son
leads to what, church?
To judgment.
The murder of the son
goes to show the depravity, right?
It goes to show the depth
of the rebellion of these people.
And the stone imagery then
is showing that Christ,
well, he is showing a new system,
a new way of doing things.
Instead of following the law,
it is now about grace.
Going from the old system
to the new system.
In Psalm 118, 22,
the very reference
that Christ is using,
the stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
And then as I mentioned
in Daniel chapter 2,
the stone became a mountain
that filled the whole earth.
Do you see the pattern
when it comes to the stone here?
And then in Acts 4.11,
Jesus is the stone.
If you need it more clear,
in Acts 4.11,
Jesus is the stone
that the builders rejected.
How powerful.
How powerful is that?
And so Jesus dying on the cross,
right, his death, burial,
and resurrection
is the cornerstone
for our salvation.
We think of that
as the firm foundation
in which we build our lives.
Let us not be like the fool
who builds their house on the sand.
Who does that anyways, right?
You want to build your house
on the firm foundation then.
And then thirdly,
the kingdom is given to those
who will bear fruit.
The tenants then,
they failed to steward
all that they were given.
Right?
Fruitfulness is a sign.
It's kind of this
outward expression
of faith to the Lord.
You're going to have
to produce fruit.
Right?
I will tell you,
believe in Jesus Christ.
That's the call for us.
Be saved,
but also be transformed.
Grow in Christ
and do good
in his holy name.
Bear fruit.
And what does bearing fruit
look like?
It's being transformed
from the inside out,
knowing that you're becoming
more like Jesus
in what you say
and in what you do.
And in the gospel accounts,
it mentions in Matthew and John,
every tree or every branch
that does not bear fruit,
he cuts off.
And certainly,
that's a heavier one,
isn't it?
But we are called to bear fruit.
Let that be an encouragement
for you.
How is your fruit?
Are you producing fruit?
If you're not,
let this be a call for you
to produce fruit.
We then go into
the application then.
How can I apply
and live this out
in my life?
Well, the first thing is to,
well, it's pretty obvious.
What does it say, church?
Receive the Son.
Don't reject Him.
Jesus,
we have to acknowledge
who He is.
That He is what we need
in our lives.
That Jesus Christ,
again,
is the way,
the truth,
and the life.
God extends
an invitation
for each and every one of us
to come
to the feast.
Will you respond
to that?
Receive the Lord
and integrate Him
into every part
of your life.
Having Christ
as the center
of your life.
maybe you're resisting
God's call
for your life.
Don't do that.
Listen to God's call
because I'm here
to tell you
that Jesus provides
a better way.
A better way
than what the world
has to offer.
A better way
than what,
when we think of
this constant fighting,
brother against brother,
left versus right,
and denominations
fighting against one another.
There is an ugliness
in that
when really what matters
is us coming to the Lord,
coming before Him
and being molded.
Let's remember that.
Don't reject the Lord.
I know
it's so important
for us to recognize
that God
is constant
and He does not fail us.
I've said it before
and I'll say it again.
Man can
and man will fail you.
But God
will not fail you.
That's important.
The second thing then
is to let the stone
establish
and shape
your life.
He is the foundation
for our lives.
Consider Christ
as the most important stone
that you have
when we talk about
this foundation.
When we're considering
that prophecy of Daniel
and this tie-in
with the parable,
the stone
which the builders rejected
has become
the cornerstone.
And
in the same way
that this stone
can destroy a statue
or people can trip on it
and get destroyed,
those are the ones
that are going
against the stone.
Well, let us consider
when we have the stone
as our foundation.
Not only having it
as our foundation,
but continuing
to let the stone grow
just like the mustard seed,
right?
Being planted
and growing
or the stone
going
from a small stone
into a mountain,
growing
and transforming
your life.
When we think
of leadership,
when we think
of family
or finances,
every part
of our life
will be transformed
by Jesus.
That is the beautiful thing.
And when we think
about it,
I'm sure that many
of you may know
someone that is
close to the Lord.
Someone that you know
who you have seen
has been transformed
and it's remarkable.
There's one individual,
I won't give him
the name.
If he's watching,
he'll probably
make fun of me,
but there's a gentleman
that I know
who was really
like the gothic
dark type of person
who was listening.
And there's nothing
wrong with dressing
in black.
I do it all the time,
okay?
But he was living
a very worldly life
where there was
such division
in his marriage
and in his relationships.
people prayed for him.
His wife,
he started attending church
and it was kind of
this rebellion
that was happening.
And over a few years,
it was little by little
where God was
transforming the man
to where he became
a believer in Jesus Christ,
to where he became
baptized.
And he's a much
different man.
If you knew him,
I've known him
for about a decade.
From when I first
met him,
he was kind of scary,
I admit,
to where he is now,
a very loving man.
Now, he doesn't
understand everything
about scripture.
Who does?
But God is continuing
to work in him
in his life.
And in the same way,
you might identify
as someone
who is rebelling
against the Lord.
Maybe you have
rebelled before.
Or does no one
here rebel anymore,
right?
We've all had our moments
where we rebelled
against God
and we thought
we could do it
on our own.
We thought that the world
or that our own way,
our own understanding
was better than
what God offered.
What God offers
is not just salvation,
but transformation.
The ability to love,
right?
When I've talked about
the peace that surpasses
all understanding,
when I've talked about
the inexhaustible joy
that comes from him,
there is so much.
And so,
let your life
be dedicated
for the Lord.
And so,
in the same way
where you've heard
that story,
you either have
the rock
as your foundation
or the sand,
well,
you can either,
you're either built
by the stone
or you're shattered
by it.
That's another way
to look at it.
And the third thing,
then,
is to grow
and to bear fruit
as witness
to others.
It's a call
for us
to believe in Christ,
to grow in him,
but to go out
into the world
and to share
in the good news
of the gospel.
Talking about
character change,
your life-changing
love,
justice,
and mission.
All of these things
are part of the
transformation
that happens.
Now,
here's the thing.
As we come
to Christ
and as we grow
in Christ,
there comes a point
where you gotta
live it out.
If you receive,
right now,
a check for a million dollars
and it was legit,
you wouldn't tell
people about it?
I mean,
I know technically
you probably shouldn't
because people
would come after you
for it,
but just for the
sake here,
you would most
likely want to
tell people about it.
Right?
If you think of a debt
that's been cleared
or receiving
a wonderful gift,
we can think of
all these things
here on the earth.
When we think
about this,
well,
think about a far
greater gift
that comes from above.
Think of a far
greater gift
that comes from Christ.
Wouldn't you
want to go out
to the world
and tell your friends
and your family
of the transforming
power of Jesus Christ?
Saying,
look,
I believe in Jesus.
I'm going to
declare his name.
And maybe
you might be
in a situation
where you just
can't
speak the words.
How many of you
have been in that
situation?
You go out
and you want to
share the good news
of the gospel
and it's not allowed
or it might ruin
the relationship.
Right?
Do we have any of those?
Don't raise your hand.
Please.
But I'm sure
for a lot of us
we've had those
situations where
it might be
your workplace.
It might be
Uncle Steve
if there's anyone
named Steve here.
Or Uncle John.
Whatever it is.
There might be
that family member
you just don't
talk about the Lord
when you go over
to his house.
It may not be
the words that you say.
It can certainly
be the actions
that you do.
Doing everything
in excellence
for the glory of God.
Let your schoolwork
or your job performance
let that reflect
the light
love and truth
of Christ.
And so
in everything
that we are
we're called
to share
in the gospel
message
by words
through actions
living and loving
like Jesus.
Because you want
to have people
who see Christ
in you
as you live
your life.
Do you realize
that people
can come to Christ
just by the way
that you live
your life?
Say,
you know what?
There's something
that's different
about you.
I don't know
what it is.
There's something
that's different
about you.
What is it
about you?
And you allow
for that conversation
to happen
because that's
some of the most
powerful ways
that we evangelize
is through
relationships.
Breaking bread
together.
As I mentioned
in the Easter message
where Jesus
was on the road
with Emmaus
with the two
disciples
and they broke
bread together.
They talked
about the scriptures
and they understood.
And then Christ
disappeared
just randomly.
But it was
to show
that their hearts
were on fire
for the Lord.
And as we
come to Christ,
as we get
baptized,
as we grow
in Christ
and we start
understanding
the deeper
things of God,
let us be
moved
to serve
the community,
to serve
the church,
and to live
like Jesus
Christ.
that is so
important
for us.
In Galatians
chapter 5
verse 22
and 23
mentions the
fruit of the
Spirit.
In Matthew
28, 19
which talks
about fruit
through making
disciples.
And so
can we go
back to that
vineyard
picture real
quick?
As we
close here,
I want you
next time
you go
visit a
vineyard
or you
look at
an image,
it's just
a generic
image,
you can
see lots
of pictures
of vineyards,
consider
this concept
of stewardship
that with
our time,
our talent,
and our
treasure,
we are to
steward what
God has
given to
us.
Consider
the stone
and let
that be the
foundation for
your life.
And when
you hear
the word
of God,
the words
of someone's
testimony,
receive
Jesus Christ.
Receive
salvation from
the Lord
through belief.
Grow in
him and
be moved
to do good
in his name.
Ask yourself
this question
then.
Will you
be a
faithful
tenant
inheritance?
Or will
you let
that
opportunity
pass away?
Let's
pray together.
And
Father,
we thank
you for
this time
and this
opportunity
to go
through this
very unique
parable
that not
only shows
the old
and the new
covenant,
but also
shows your
mercy,
how you
send,
how you
sent your
messengers to
the people
of God,
but also
how you
send people
to us
to change
our minds
and metanoia,
to repent,
to come to
believe in
you.
Father,
I pray
let there
be comfort
where comfort
is needed.
Let there
be understanding
where understanding
is needed.
And may we
not be like
those wicked
tenants that
rejected the
messengers
and rejected
the son.
Instead,
may we be
in tune
to your
calling,
to your
invitation,
to believe
in you,
to be saved,
the invitation
for salvation,
but also
the invitation
to grow,
to live out
this faith
essentially
to produce
fruit.
We love
you,
we praise
you,
we glorify
you,
and we
honor you.
we thank
you for
this time
together.
It is in
the name
of Jesus
that we
pray and
we all
say together
amen.
Amen.
Thank you
for listening
for this
week's
message
from
Ontario
Community
Church.
I pray
that you
are encouraged
and strengthened
in your
walk with
Christ.
For more
sermons
and resources,
visit
Ontario
Community
Church
dot org.
May God
bless you
as you
live out
his grace
and truth
every single
day.