WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:04.179 First one, he began to speak to them in many parables. 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:10.560 We're starting a new chapter today as we're journeying through the gospel of Mark, 00:00:10.660 --> 00:00:15.839 but we haven't exactly left the circumstances and context of chapter 11. 00:00:16.899 --> 00:00:22.039 Remember, this is now Jesus' third day coming to Jerusalem from Bethany. 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:26.140 This is the final week leading up to his crucifixion, 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:34.100 and his time in Jerusalem thus far in this week has been dramatic, to say the least. 00:00:35.100 --> 00:00:39.200 Remember the first day, Jesus rides on a donkey into the city, 00:00:39.299 --> 00:00:42.760 and there are crowds of people that are shouting his praises, 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:47.780 indicating that their belief is that he is this Messiah King. 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:50.799 And though they were confused about what his purpose was, 00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:54.480 they were acknowledging really in quite a grand way 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:59.000 that would have gotten the attention of all the people and residents there of the city of Jerusalem. 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:04.019 It's quite a dramatic entry that he makes as he makes his way to the temple on day one. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:06.640 And he looks around and he sees what's happening, 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:09.019 and then he quietly leaves the city, 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:12.840 only to come back the next day to even more drama, 00:01:13.239 --> 00:01:19.019 which involved Jesus clearing the temple of all the people and the animals that were desecrating it. 00:01:19.979 --> 00:01:21.699 Of course, we spent a lot of time talking about that. 00:01:21.759 --> 00:01:23.299 There was the cursing of the fig tree. 00:01:23.299 --> 00:01:29.799 Now we're in the third day, which we studied at the end of chapter 11 last week, 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:40.739 began with Jesus being confronted by a delegation of men from the ruling body of Israel, the Sanhedrin. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:43.719 We're told there were chief priests that were a part of this group. 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:47.979 There were scribes who would have been the lawyers as a part of this group, 00:01:47.979 --> 00:01:51.159 and then there were elders a part of this group as well. 00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:57.819 And they approached Jesus with a confrontation, demanding his credentials. 00:01:57.819 --> 00:02:01.019 What gives you the right to teach what you're teaching? 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:05.200 What gives you the right to act the way you're acting? 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:09.280 And of course, their challenge was meant to be a trap. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:14.860 They wanted to trap Jesus in his words in order that they might have justification, 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.939 at least public justification for his execution. 00:02:18.139 --> 00:02:20.099 That was really the purpose in the confrontation. 00:02:20.520 --> 00:02:26.159 They were trying to bait him into a conversation to which they could point to his words and say, 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:30.080 see, he's blasphemous and he's worthy of death. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:37.920 And as we would expect, Jesus responds with incredible wisdom and affirms his identity, 00:02:38.540 --> 00:02:47.360 gives the reality of his credentials and his authority without actually giving the jealous rulers reason to accuse him. 00:02:47.920 --> 00:02:49.920 He just masterfully handles these men. 00:02:50.520 --> 00:02:53.860 Well, then we get in here to the first 12 verses of chapter 12, 00:02:53.939 --> 00:02:55.900 and we haven't left that conversation. 00:02:55.900 --> 00:03:01.760 Jesus is still talking to that same group of men, that delegation from the Sanhedrin, 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.219 except now he diverts his attention away from them to the gathering crowds that are around them 00:03:07.219 --> 00:03:09.680 and beginning to come and to listen to him teach. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:13.719 And he opens up by giving this parable. 00:03:14.920 --> 00:03:16.759 I remember back from chapter four, 00:03:17.480 --> 00:03:23.340 Mark really limits his record of Jesus's teaching and parables to that chapter, 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:26.099 except for this circumstance, this instance. 00:03:26.620 --> 00:03:29.099 If you remember back to chapter four, what a parable is. 00:03:29.099 --> 00:03:35.099 Parable is a story that uses commonly understood situations, 00:03:35.340 --> 00:03:41.520 commonly understood ideas in order to communicate a vital spiritual truth. 00:03:42.319 --> 00:03:46.539 The word itself, parable, is made of two Greek words that we put together. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:47.800 It means to lay beside. 00:03:48.640 --> 00:03:50.060 It's literally a comparison. 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:57.120 Jesus used these stories to lay them beside the vital truth that he is trying to teach. 00:03:57.180 --> 00:04:01.319 And so it was a comparison or an illustration that Jesus would give. 00:04:01.400 --> 00:04:03.319 And he frequently taught through parables. 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:10.000 If you go through Luke's gospel, you'll see many, many parables that Jesus taught, 00:04:10.140 --> 00:04:12.640 even in this instance, in addition to this one. 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:18.519 But his stories always had the kingdom of God in view. 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:25.539 Jesus, when he taught his parables, he wasn't teaching moral lessons. 00:04:26.479 --> 00:04:27.979 That's not what it was about. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:34.719 And we can be guilty at times of taking the stories that Jesus told 00:04:34.719 --> 00:04:38.339 and making of them what Jesus didn't intend for them to be made. 00:04:39.019 --> 00:04:44.680 For instance, even the culture around us understands the story of the prodigal son. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.360 And if we're not careful, we'll go to a parable of the prodigal son, 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:54.620 and we'll draw all kinds of moral lessons about how we shouldn't demand our inheritance too early, 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:56.079 and we should respect our parents. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:57.900 But that's not the point of that lesson. 00:04:58.939 --> 00:05:03.019 We could go through it, and we could talk about brothers shouldn't be against each other, 00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:04.259 and shouldn't be fighting one another. 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:06.060 But that's not the point of that parable. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:09.340 Jesus' stories always had the kingdom of God in view. 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:11.300 He's not teaching moral lessons. 00:05:11.300 --> 00:05:13.819 He's teaching the truth of eternal salvation. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:16.040 And this parable is no different. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:17.840 It has the kingdom in view. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:21.780 But this particular parable, at least as we look at Mark's gospel, 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:26.699 is unique in that it's what we call a judgment parable. 00:05:27.400 --> 00:05:32.939 It's really closely related to the cursing of the fig tree that we studied in chapter 11. 00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:36.740 Remember, the fig tree wasn't an acted parable. 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.420 It wasn't something Jesus said. 00:05:38.540 --> 00:05:45.240 It was something he did to draw that comparison to the dissolution of the temple and its worship, right? 00:05:45.300 --> 00:05:45.920 We understood that. 00:05:46.139 --> 00:05:50.540 Well, this is really the spoken version of that enacted parable. 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:57.660 When Jesus cursed the fig tree, he's demonstrating what he's doing in the dissolution of the temple. 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:03.199 When he gives this particular parable, he's speaking judgment against the spiritual leaders. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:08.560 So do you see how this is progressing in the Passover week as it's leading to his crucifixion? 00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:14.759 Jesus lays the axe to the root of the tree, as it were, to the temple worship and the corruption that was there. 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:16.459 He's not reforming it. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:18.060 He's replacing it. 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.680 And now we take it a step further. 00:06:21.060 --> 00:06:23.779 Now that he's accomplished that and he's got that message across, 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:27.959 now he's dealing with the spiritual leaders or so-called spiritual leaders themselves. 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:32.300 He's laying the axe to the root of the tree of the spiritual leadership of Israel. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:34.120 And he's doing away with them as well. 00:06:34.660 --> 00:06:37.379 So the parables are similar. 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:41.480 And as these days leading to his crucifixion are progressing, 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:51.139 Jesus made abundantly clear that he himself was the representative of the kingdom. 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:55.500 He was replacing the temple. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:06:59.220 He was doing away with the old structures. 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:02.540 He was the new covenant embodied. 00:07:02.900 --> 00:07:04.780 And that's what he was ushering in. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:08.980 And he was making that clear as we march through these texts here at the end of his life. 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:12.360 Just as we saw at the end of chapter 11, 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:20.800 it would be a mistake to pass this story off as largely irrelevant to our modern life. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:31.259 The point of this lesson is that those who reject the Son of God face eternal judgment rather than eternal life. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:39.000 And Jesus' words may be particularly directed in that moment at the spiritual leaders, 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:40.840 but they're just as true for us. 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:47.019 Just as the Father judged the hardened hearts of the leaders in Israel, 00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:54.060 so will he judge each of us that deny and reject the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:07:54.219 --> 00:07:55.120 And that's the point. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:58.139 He's doing away with the leaders because they rejected the Son. 00:07:58.379 --> 00:08:01.079 He'll do away with us when we reject the Son as well. 00:08:01.739 --> 00:08:02.459 So let's work through it. 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:04.779 Number one, notice the scandalous story. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:06.579 The scandalous story. 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:17.199 Now, the effectiveness of this parable is the fact that it is so shockingly outrageous. 00:08:19.099 --> 00:08:24.339 As the story continues, if you just read it slowly and really take it kind of statement by statement, 00:08:25.139 --> 00:08:28.819 when we read a story like this, we read it almost woodenly, right? 00:08:28.819 --> 00:08:34.439 But imagine you are there in the temple listening to the master teacher, 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:36.639 the greatest teacher to ever live, 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.960 how he might have communicated these words to the group. 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:42.240 As they're hanging on his every word, 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:46.600 as every statement comes and the story develops and progresses, 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:51.279 you can see how the outrage for the hearer begins to grow and develop, 00:08:51.379 --> 00:08:55.340 and maybe even anger begins to develop as he tells this story. 00:08:55.340 --> 00:09:01.860 And the point of the parable is that it was being played out in front of them in real life. 00:09:03.360 --> 00:09:10.180 It's very much like the story that the prophet Nathan told King David when he sinned with Bathsheba. 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.019 Do you remember that one? 00:09:11.540 --> 00:09:16.040 It was the whole story about the lamb and the rich man stealing the poor man's lamb 00:09:16.040 --> 00:09:16.920 and all those kinds of things. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:18.560 You remember what happened with David in that? 00:09:19.040 --> 00:09:21.500 As the story progressed, he got more and more angry, 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:25.200 so that by the time he gets to the end of it, he passes judgment. 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.679 And he passes judgment on that man. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:33.220 He must be killed for this wickedness that he has committed. 00:09:33.419 --> 00:09:34.360 And what does Nathan say? 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:35.820 You're the man, David. 00:09:36.340 --> 00:09:37.799 This story is about you. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.440 And that's what Jesus is doing here. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:44.840 He's telling this story and he's building the outrage among the people. 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:46.340 And then he's going to ask them a question. 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:49.240 He's going to say, what will the owner of the vineyard do? 00:09:49.240 --> 00:09:52.159 Matthew tells us that they answered first. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:55.899 And they said, he's got to kill these wicked men. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:59.720 And the people pass judgment on themselves. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:03.879 And Jesus essentially says, you're the man. 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:05.139 You're the man. 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:06.820 That's what's happening here. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:10.279 There's a few things that I want to break down with you as we go through the story, okay? 00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:12.500 Number one, I want you to see God's people. 00:10:13.259 --> 00:10:14.120 God's people. 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:21.659 Verse one, a man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the wine 00:10:21.659 --> 00:10:27.120 press and built a tower and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:35.200 Tenant farming is the context of this story, which is the process of working a particular 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:38.120 piece of land that belongs to another person. 00:10:38.120 --> 00:10:45.259 And at the end of the year, you would pay an annual yield to the owner of the land based 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:47.820 on the fruitfulness of the crop. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.200 It's not really all that uncommon for these same type of arrangements to be used today. 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:57.259 They were very prevalent in Israel at the time of Jesus's life. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:01.080 So the story that Jesus is telling here is not a riddle. 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:05.639 Everybody listening to him understood the story itself. 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:11.659 They would have understood exactly what Jesus intended as far as the story itself is concerned. 00:11:11.819 --> 00:11:13.860 They understood this idea of tenant farming. 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:24.159 In this case, a wealthy ruler pours an incredible amount of capital into establishing a vineyard. 00:11:24.819 --> 00:11:30.299 And the intent would be to produce wine that would then go to the market and would be sold 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.419 and they would turn a profit. 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:37.240 And I want you to notice in this story, the owner of the vineyard does everything necessary 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:39.679 to set the vineyard up for success. 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.479 He does it all. 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:43.939 He comes to the vineyard. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:45.819 He clears up all the land. 00:11:46.719 --> 00:11:50.639 He builds a hedge, probably of stone around the vineyard. 00:11:50.719 --> 00:11:55.059 That would be a protection, protection from intruders, protection from animals, 00:11:55.159 --> 00:11:57.139 anything that would come in and devastate the vineyard. 00:11:57.139 --> 00:12:03.000 He carves out of boulders a wine press, two levels of a wine press, 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:07.580 so that they could actually take the grapes that they harvest and crush them 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:09.980 and harvest the wine and put it away. 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:11.819 He built a tower. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:15.419 It would have been used for shelter and safety and storage. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:21.000 He did everything that was necessary to do in order for the vineyard to be fruitful 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:24.919 and effective and to produce a profit. 00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:30.960 And once the vineyard was prepared, the owner leased it to the care of tenants, 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:32.740 and then he left the country. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:37.860 Now, like I said, at this point, the people would have easily understood the imagery here, 00:12:38.320 --> 00:12:43.940 not only of the story, but of who Jesus intended the story to represent. 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:48.879 It was a representation of God and his relationship with his people. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:55.740 Israel was routinely symbolized in the Old Testament as a vineyard. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:13:01.139 And in this case, Jesus is even borrowing from Isaiah chapter 5. 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.659 Let me read it to you. 00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:06.460 My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:11.279 He dug it and cleared it of stones and planted it with choice vines. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:16.820 He built a watchtower in the midst of it, and he hewed out a wine vat in it, 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.960 and he looked for it to yield grapes. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.140 You see where Jesus is borrowing here. 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:24.280 He's intentionally getting them to think back to the nation. 00:13:24.440 --> 00:13:26.340 But it yielded wild grapes. 00:13:26.940 --> 00:13:29.240 And then he applies it specifically, Isaiah does. 00:13:29.240 --> 00:13:35.440 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.540 What more was there for me to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:46.259 And when I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it then yield wild grapes? 00:13:47.620 --> 00:13:49.480 These people understood the symbolism. 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:53.480 They understand, okay, Jesus is telling a story about Israel. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:57.279 This is a story about God's relationship with his people. 00:13:57.419 --> 00:14:01.439 And just as he says in Isaiah chapter 5, God says, I've done everything. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:06.320 Jesus says, I've done everything that was necessary for the vineyard to be safe and to be fruitful 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:10.680 and to be everything that I desire for it to be. 00:14:11.520 --> 00:14:13.480 And as the people listen to Jesus speak, 00:14:14.260 --> 00:14:18.460 they could have even looked up where they were on Solomon's porch there in the temple. 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:25.500 They could have seen above the gates an elaborate, intricate, carved vine, grape vine. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.200 Herod had put it there. 00:14:27.420 --> 00:14:29.120 It was made out of precious metals. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:32.460 It was carved into the rock and wealthy people would come by 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:35.779 and they would add their own fine jewels to it and encrest it. 00:14:36.060 --> 00:14:38.000 This was very clear to them. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:42.139 Jesus is talking about God and his people. 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:45.000 The interpretation was unmistakable. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:46.639 God is the owner. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.720 His people are the vineyard. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:54.000 And the religious leaders are the tenants who are responsible for its care. 00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:54.480 Okay? 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.820 We see God's people. 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:57.960 Number two, we see God's patience. 00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.720 God's patience. 00:14:59.720 --> 00:15:00.759 Verse two. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:09.420 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 00:15:09.419 --> 00:15:16.839 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:20.019 And again, he sent to them another servant. 00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:24.579 This one, they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 00:15:25.479 --> 00:15:26.539 So he sent another. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.319 Him they killed. 00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:30.980 And so with many others. 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:32.220 Some they beat. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:34.020 Some they killed. 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:37.560 So this is where the outrage of the story begins. 00:15:37.660 --> 00:15:40.200 This is where the drama begins to build up. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:48.140 And from what I understand, these types of conflicts between tenants and landowners weren't necessarily uncommon in Jesus' day. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:51.679 Making it an illustration that everyone could understand. 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:56.080 But it also wasn't an acceptable practice for what these tenants were doing. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.100 This was outrageous. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.600 Shocking. 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:04.879 It takes five years for a brand new vineyard to begin to have a fruitful crop. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:12.120 In fact, the Old Testament law had even said that you must wait five years before you do any kind of harvest when you're planting a new vineyard. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.240 Jesus would have had that. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:17.340 That would have been in the understanding of the people's minds as he told this story. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:22.480 Five years is just enough time for these tenants who hadn't seen the owner for five years. 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:26.399 They've poured in their blood and sweat and tears into this process. 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:31.019 Just enough time for them to think this belongs to us, not to him. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:32.340 We're the ones doing the work. 00:16:32.460 --> 00:16:34.139 We're the ones doing all the care. 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:36.240 This is for us. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:44.699 And when the owner sends a servant to collect his percentage of the produce and wine, what do the tenants do? 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.500 They beat him. 00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:50.139 They beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:52.039 Can you imagine, Dwight? 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:53.840 You send people with your farm. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.580 You're ready for a harvest. 00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:59.759 And you send somebody to go and get the harvest of Christmas trees. 00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.919 And the people that you had hired to care for them, instead of giving them the trees that you wanted, 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.440 beat them instead and send them back. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:08.139 Andy might deserve that. 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.599 So what does the owner do? 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:18.339 He does what any normal person would do. 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:23.559 He sends a band of security guards to go and deal with the problem. 00:17:24.199 --> 00:17:26.359 He's got tenants that aren't listening. 00:17:26.459 --> 00:17:27.039 They're not obeying. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.259 It's time to be dealt with. 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:30.720 But that's not what this owner does. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.980 He sends another servant. 00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.500 He sends Gus this time. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:38.039 Gus goes to collect. 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:42.399 This guy, Jesus says, they beat his head in. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:46.079 They humiliated him and then sent him away. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.899 So what does the owner do? 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.259 He sends Clementine. 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.259 He sends Clementine. 00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.879 This time it escalated. 00:17:57.819 --> 00:17:58.559 They murdered him. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:17:59.940 Murdered this one. 00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:02.799 Surely, this is a capital offense now. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:06.299 These men are worthy of death now, according to the law. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:11.100 Surely, the owner is going to send armed guards. 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:13.000 He's going to send an army to deal with this. 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.080 He's going to bring them before the judge. 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:17.019 They're going to deal with this the right way. 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:18.539 But that's not what he does. 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:25.140 He sends more and more servants time and time again, over and over and over and over. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:28.400 He sends servant after servant after servant after servant. 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:31.759 And again and again, they either beat them or they murder them. 00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.540 On and on it goes. 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:42.520 They had lost all concern for the owner and his wishes. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:46.300 They decided to do things their own way. 00:18:46.820 --> 00:18:49.920 They wanted to keep the prophets for themselves. 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:51.759 It was outrageous. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:59.299 And the servants in Jesus' story represent all of those prophets we read about in the Old Testament. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:04.779 All of those men, and sometimes women, that God would send to the nation, 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:09.000 proclaiming judgment, preaching the gospel, preaching the word. 00:19:09.700 --> 00:19:10.879 And what did the people do? 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:16.259 Instead of responding in repentance to the truth of their corruption, 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:23.019 they beat, humiliated, and murdered the servants that God sent. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:26.619 The New Testament bears witness to this over and over again. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:27.700 Hebrews 11. 00:19:28.180 --> 00:19:33.240 Some were tortured, refusing to accept release so that they might rise again to a better life. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:38.099 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.460 They were stoned. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:41.039 They were sawn in two. 00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.660 That tradition says that was Isaiah. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:45.559 It was literally cut in half because they didn't like his message. 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:47.259 They were killed with the sword. 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:54.899 They went on about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, the writer says, 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:56.919 of whom the world was not worthy, 00:19:57.639 --> 00:20:01.919 wondering about in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:06.159 The writer of Hebrews is saying this is how the Jews treated the servants of God. 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.500 They did all of these things. 00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.399 Jesus said it in Luke 11. 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:12.000 Therefore, also the wisdom of God said, 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:17.440 I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute, 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:24.000 so that the blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation, 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:27.880 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, Jesus says, 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:30.400 who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:34.240 Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:38.319 Remember Acts 7, last week we read it in Stephen's message. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.160 What did he say when he got to the end? 00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.559 Boldly he says, 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:46.019 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:48.019 you always resist the Holy Spirit. 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:50.839 As your fathers did, so do you. 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:53.799 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? 00:20:54.359 --> 00:20:58.180 And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the righteous one, 00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:02.059 whom you have now betrayed and murdered. 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:04.440 But don't be confused. 00:21:05.159 --> 00:21:10.539 The wicked tenants in this story serve to show us something remarkable, 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:15.480 not about their wickedness, but something remarkable about the owner, 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:18.599 God, the owner of the vineyard. 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:22.200 Look, their wickedness, honestly, their wickedness is not that surprising. 00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.599 It's a shocking circumstance. 00:21:24.119 --> 00:21:25.279 We're not surprised by that. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.019 That happens all the time. 00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:28.960 We see that in the news today. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:33.600 Wicked people, wicked people trying to abuse others, 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:35.779 trying to gain everything for themselves. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:37.819 We see it happening right now before our eyes. 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.100 The wickedness itself is no surprise. 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.519 What's surprising is the owner. 00:21:44.840 --> 00:21:46.720 After the treatment of the first servant, 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.740 a wealthy ruler such as this one would have sent that group of armed agents, 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:52.019 but that's not what he did. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:59.799 The Lord sent servant after servant to give these tenants another opportunity to do what was right. 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:05.539 And I want you to please see the incredible grace and patience of God. 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:16.980 It is within God's divine right to immediately and utterly consume every person who defies him, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:22.579 every person who denies him, every person who sins against him. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:26.740 In that moment, it is his divine right to consume us all. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:34.380 But his divine patience sends us messenger after messenger after messenger 00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:37.720 to call us to repentance, to call us to forgiveness. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.940 What is this about? 00:22:39.160 --> 00:22:43.360 This is about the loving, long-suffering, and patience of our God. 00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:48.399 Jesus himself said in Matthew 23, 00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:56.000 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it, 00:22:56.539 --> 00:23:01.219 how often would I have gathered your children together 00:23:01.219 --> 00:23:06.959 as a hen gathers her brood under her wings and you were not willing. 00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:12.059 Despite the fact they killed the prophets, despite the fact they stoned, 00:23:12.059 --> 00:23:13.700 again and again, Jesus says, 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.779 I have stretched out my hands to you. 00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:18.500 I have stretched out my hands, Romans chapter 10, 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:20.799 to a disobedient people. 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.919 Romans 2. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:28.799 Do you suppose, old man, that you will escape the judgment of God? 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:35.059 Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, 00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:40.440 not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:44.180 Paul goes on. 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:48.019 But because of your hard and impenitent heart, 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:56.039 you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:58.340 What do we see about this story? 00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:05.580 God is patient and he is long-suffering and he continues to see us send us messengers, 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:09.980 but don't think that those messengers will continue to come over and over and over. 00:24:10.099 --> 00:24:11.139 Eventually, they stop coming. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:14.659 Eventually, what comes is the righteous judgment of God. 00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:20.799 The truth is, God's been sending some of you, many messengers. 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:23.519 You've been getting a lot of messengers. 00:24:24.319 --> 00:24:26.059 It might be in the form of a pastor. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:29.240 It might be in the form of a godly spouse. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:35.740 It might be in a child who seems to care more about the things of God than your heart seems to care about. 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:39.620 It may be in a co-worker or a friend that's trying to encourage you in the things of the Lord. 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:46.200 And over and over, God's sending you messengers, sending you servants that are here to try to tell you the truth. 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.880 And what is his purpose in that? 00:24:48.299 --> 00:24:51.799 That he might lead you to repentance and faith. 00:24:51.799 --> 00:25:03.659 It's only due to the patience of God that you're still alive, that you have any blessing at all in your life. 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:11.779 And this patience is meant to bring you real life, eternal life. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.659 But his patience doesn't endure forever. 00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:25.460 As long as you continue rejecting him and denying him, you are storing up eternal wrath for his coming judgment. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:30.060 And I will tell you this morning, don't waste the patience of God. 00:25:31.100 --> 00:25:33.720 Don't waste the patience of God. 00:25:34.580 --> 00:25:36.220 Number three, God's love. 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:43.980 Verse six, he had still one other, a beloved son. 00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:49.800 Finally, he sent him to them, saying they will respect my son. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:54.259 Those tenants said to one another, this is the heir. 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:58.420 Come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours. 00:25:58.620 --> 00:26:02.380 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:06.680 This, of course, is the climax of the parable. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:11.980 Again, the people would have expected the owner to send an army. 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:15.259 He sends a son. 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.900 What farmer would do this? 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.740 What farmer would do this? 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:26.660 Who would send his only son to such wicked, vile men? 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:30.340 Don't forget the backdrop of the story. 00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:38.460 This whole conversation started because of a confrontation that these leaders had with Jesus about his authority. 00:26:38.460 --> 00:26:47.980 And in the parable, it's the inerrant authority of the son that leads the owner to send him to the vineyard. 00:26:48.920 --> 00:26:50.420 James Edwards said it this way. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.220 I think this is helpful. 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:55.500 In sending his son, he appeals to the right of law. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:03.940 For the son was the only person, save himself, who possessed legal claim over the vineyard. 00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:08.079 This is why the owner says they will respect my son. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:21.079 The son goes as the father's representative with the father's authority to do the father's business to the father's property to claim the father's due. 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.759 Do you see? 00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:29.359 Do you see how the story was so obviously about these leaders who had questioned Jesus? 00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.759 That's the connection here. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:36.879 Notice that the tenants were entirely aware of the son's identity. 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:41.940 They couldn't say, well, we thought he was a fake. 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:44.500 We thought he was somebody just pretending to be a son. 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:50.940 No, it was the very fact of his identity that led them to want to kill him. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:52.879 They thought delusionally. 00:27:53.019 --> 00:27:57.000 If they could just kill the son, kill the heir, they could have the property. 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.079 They could have the land. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:01.199 All the prophets would then be legally theirs. 00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:06.539 It was because they knew who he was that they killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:10.179 And so it was with these chief priests and scribes and elders. 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:13.199 They weren't ignorant of Jesus's identity. 00:28:13.859 --> 00:28:18.559 It was the very fact of his identity that led them to pursue his execution. 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:24.980 And this was all foundationally a struggle of authority as it is for every one of us. 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:29.220 We fight against the lordship of Christ in our lives. 00:28:29.299 --> 00:28:32.019 But Jesus knew exactly what was in their hearts. 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:34.059 And he exposed them here. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.599 Exposed them. 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:41.200 But again, the main takeaway is not the wickedness of them killing the heir. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:46.220 It's the indescribable love of the owner. 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:50.960 Why would God send his son to these vile people? 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:55.220 Because of love, he did this. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:59.160 And notice what the son was sent to do. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.539 He was not sent to arrest the tenants. 00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:09.960 He was not sent to condemn the tenants, despite what they had done. 00:29:10.140 --> 00:29:12.460 He was sent to convert them. 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:22.079 And if they had only listened to the son, the owner would have forgiven them for all the evil they had committed to all of those servants who had come before. 00:29:22.660 --> 00:29:25.779 And this was the purpose in Jesus's first coming. 00:29:26.120 --> 00:29:27.819 He did not come to condemn. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:34.079 He came to convert, to lead us to repentance, that he might save us. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:35.700 And he said as much. 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:37.559 John 3, 17. 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:46.419 God did not send his son to the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:48.399 That's why he sent the son. 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:54.659 Do you see the incredible patience of God, but the incredible love of God? 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:56.379 That's why he sent him. 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.779 Then we see God's judgment. 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.460 Verse 9. 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:04.339 What will the owner of the vineyard do? 00:30:04.339 --> 00:30:11.299 He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:20.039 Like I said, Matthew revealed that Jesus actually asked this question and then gave the crowd a chance to respond. 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:23.899 They actually gave this answer and then he affirmed it. 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:24.859 Let me read it to you. 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.619 Matthew 21. 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:37.519 They said to him, he will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons. 00:30:37.679 --> 00:30:40.659 That was the people that gave that answer in Matthew's gospel. 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:46.019 And here we see in Mark's gospel, Jesus affirmed their answer. 00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:46.979 You're right. 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:49.720 That's exactly what the owner is going to do. 00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:55.880 Jesus, the master teacher, had the people right where he wanted them. 00:30:57.279 --> 00:31:07.019 Their outrage had reached its limit as they condemned the wicked tenants to a brutal execution. 00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:13.940 And the people ultimately prophesied judgment against the spiritual leadership of the nation. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:19.099 And the delegation of representatives who were there knew it. 00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:22.680 And Jesus affirms it. 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.259 Yes. 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:26.559 He will destroy these tenants. 00:31:27.240 --> 00:31:32.819 And he will give the stewardship of the vineyard to another group of people. 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:42.119 Now, I want you to imagine you're in the, probably the Solomon's porch, probably the court of the Gentiles is where this is taking place most likely. 00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:46.559 And I want you to imagine that you're in the crowd listening to Jesus tell this parable. 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:50.079 And when he gets to the end here and he says, yes, you're right. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:53.419 The owner is going to come and he's going to destroy the tenants. 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:56.059 And then he's going to give it to others, Jesus says. 00:31:56.119 --> 00:32:02.799 You can only imagine, picture with me, Jesus motioning over and looking at those 12 apostles sitting next to him. 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:05.960 Because that's exactly who he gave it to. 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:10.720 The vineyard here isn't simply the nation of Israel. 00:32:10.939 --> 00:32:13.839 It is the grand scope of all of God's people. 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:17.139 It's the grand scope of all of God's people. 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.960 We call that the church. 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:22.240 And who is it that Jesus gives his authority to? 00:32:22.439 --> 00:32:25.599 He takes it away from the spiritual leaders in Israel. 00:32:25.599 --> 00:32:34.859 And he hands it over to these 12 ordinary common men who he used then to go and impact the world in a magnificent way. 00:32:35.699 --> 00:32:36.519 That's what's happening. 00:32:37.419 --> 00:32:41.859 The responsibility of caring for this precious vineyard was given to the apostles. 00:32:41.859 --> 00:32:47.799 And it continues today with all who continue in the apostles' doctrine. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:49.139 That's us. 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.259 That's us. 00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:56.619 We have the responsibility and stewardship of this vineyard, this kingdom. 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:05.299 And it's worth noting here that the judgment in this parable is not against the vineyard. 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:08.640 It's against the tenants. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:13.039 Remember, the owner secured the fruitfulness of the vineyard. 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.279 It was going to be fruitful. 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:19.940 It was going to provide what he determined for it to provide. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.019 That was settled. 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:23.180 The judgment, he doesn't come and destroy the vineyard. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:25.039 He just gives it off to someone else. 00:33:25.240 --> 00:33:27.180 He has secured the fruitfulness of it. 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:33.559 The leaders were supposed to tend to the vineyard for God's glory. 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:37.559 Instead, they chose to exploit it for their own gain. 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:42.299 And the same kind of exploitation happens in local churches today. 00:33:42.299 --> 00:33:50.139 Prideful church leaders exploit God's people for their own benefit. 00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:54.119 But listen, we can come to this parable and we can rest assured, 00:33:54.680 --> 00:34:00.919 God's perfect justice and judgment will come against all who abuse 00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:05.899 and attempt to exercise their own authority over God's vineyard. 00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:12.900 And I've had some conversations with some of you this week at this idea of authority from that last passage. 00:34:13.300 --> 00:34:15.260 Something we didn't get to last Sunday was this. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:19.599 Jesus has all this authority, but he also delegates that authority. 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.280 Do you understand that? 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:24.539 Remember when he sent the disciples out on their mission? 00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:26.900 He did it twice in his ministry. 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:28.160 At least that's recorded for us. 00:34:28.440 --> 00:34:30.880 Remember, he gave them authority of that same word. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:33.000 He gave them authority to cast out devils. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.940 He gave them authority to preach the gospel. 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:37.719 In the Great Commission, Jesus says, 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:40.820 All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:44.480 Because of that, I am now giving you authority, he says, 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:47.199 to go into all the world and preach the gospel. 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:49.659 Baptizing them, teaching them, discipling them. 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.980 That's what Jesus did. 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.639 It's a delegated authority. 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:56.480 But listen, what we do with that authority, it's not our authority. 00:34:56.920 --> 00:35:00.139 It's not for us to determine to do things the way we want to do it. 00:35:00.139 --> 00:35:03.639 It's not for us to run the church the way we want to run the church. 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:06.839 It's not for us to live the life the way we want to live the life. 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:08.839 He doesn't give us authority. 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:12.799 He delegates his own authority to us. 00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:15.900 But what these churches, some pastors, 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.960 what these men in this parable were doing, 00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:21.559 is they were exploiting that authority. 00:35:22.019 --> 00:35:24.119 They were using their own authority 00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:27.440 instead of serving the authority of God. 00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:30.259 And God will judge that. 00:35:30.799 --> 00:35:32.799 Well, that's the bulk of it, right? 00:35:33.059 --> 00:35:33.900 The scandalous story. 00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:36.179 Number two, look at the supporting scripture. 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.759 Don't be scared by number two. 00:35:38.819 --> 00:35:39.639 I'm almost done, I promise. 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:42.719 Verse 10. 00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:46.559 Have you not read in the scripture, Jesus says? 00:35:46.679 --> 00:35:48.679 This is where, he's driving the point home now. 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:53.139 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:35:53.960 --> 00:35:55.519 This was the Lord's doing. 00:35:56.319 --> 00:35:58.079 It's marvelous in our eyes. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.859 Psalm 118. 00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:03.480 Like any good preacher, 00:36:04.259 --> 00:36:07.319 Jesus anchors the point of his parable to the scripture. 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:12.759 It wasn't just an illustration of his current circumstance. 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:19.240 His parable symbolized the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. 00:36:20.620 --> 00:36:26.600 Psalm 18 was one that they would have already used a number of times that week 00:36:26.600 --> 00:36:28.280 in Jewish worship for Passover. 00:36:28.680 --> 00:36:30.480 It was one of the Hillel Psalms. 00:36:31.140 --> 00:36:33.380 So when Jesus says, have you not read the scripture? 00:36:33.580 --> 00:36:35.600 He's not asking them, have they actually read it? 00:36:35.680 --> 00:36:36.840 He's bringing to their attention. 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:39.680 You've been reading about this all week long. 00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:42.740 This has been a part of your worship and you've been blind to it, he said. 00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:49.820 It's the same passage that the people shouted in praise as he rode on the donkey into the city. 00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.940 They were aware of this. 00:36:51.220 --> 00:36:52.640 It was fresh on their minds. 00:36:55.040 --> 00:37:00.220 Jesus was letting them know that it was being fulfilled before their very eyes. 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:04.920 And the apostles used the same text over and over to preach the gospel. 00:37:06.040 --> 00:37:09.340 Acts chapter 4 in Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:15.920 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:18.880 And there is salvation in no one else. 00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:23.600 For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.660 And he appeals to Psalm 118. 00:37:26.760 --> 00:37:29.800 Paul does the same thing in Ephesians chapter 2. 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:33.180 Peter does it again in 1 Peter chapter 2. 00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:37.200 And he actually verbatim quotes Psalm 118 all over again. 00:37:39.100 --> 00:37:44.880 This whole conversation began with the leaders demanding the source of Jesus' authority. 00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:50.280 Is there any question now as to whether he answered them plainly? 00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.420 Yes. 00:37:53.380 --> 00:37:54.860 Of course he did. 00:37:56.000 --> 00:38:00.720 But he didn't just say that he was the Messiah and the Son of God. 00:38:01.400 --> 00:38:02.619 He didn't just say it. 00:38:03.180 --> 00:38:07.200 He proved it with the Bible. 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:11.000 He proved it with the Scriptures. 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:20.699 The one who wrote the Scriptures still appealed to those Scriptures to prove his own identity and to preach the gospel. 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:26.299 And if Jesus himself found that to be the necessary method for preaching the truth, 00:38:26.399 --> 00:38:32.699 who are we to set our Bibles on the nightstand and go about trying to convince people of the gospel in any other way? 00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:35.839 What is the purpose of our worship? 00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:38.960 What is the driving force of what we do Sunday by Sunday? 00:38:39.119 --> 00:38:40.460 It is the Word of God. 00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:43.159 What is the driving force of our evangelism? 00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:44.379 It's the Word of God. 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:52.839 We see the supporting Scripture, Jesus himself appealing to the Word of God to perform his ministry and to preach his truth. 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:55.259 And we must be committed to the same thing. 00:38:55.259 --> 00:39:01.539 We must be committed to God's Word, and we must be faithful to let it guide everything that we do. 00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:07.219 As we go to the world, we must appeal to the authority of the Bible. 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:10.359 Not our own intellect or observation. 00:39:11.159 --> 00:39:11.839 The Bible. 00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:16.399 Number three, the stubborn reaction. 00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:18.779 Verse 12. 00:39:20.619 --> 00:39:21.579 Before we read it, 00:39:23.419 --> 00:39:27.419 I just want you to see again the graciousness of Jesus here. 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:32.820 Look at all he has done for these men in this conversation. 00:39:34.280 --> 00:39:35.700 You go back to chapter 11. 00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:38.539 He leads them to John the Baptist. 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:40.400 And he says, 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:41.360 He says, 00:39:41.480 --> 00:39:42.039 Think, men. 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:44.079 Think about John. 00:39:44.700 --> 00:39:45.780 Think about his ministry. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:48.700 What does that say about who I am and my authority? 00:39:48.820 --> 00:39:49.880 He's helping them. 00:39:50.200 --> 00:39:50.920 He's helping them. 00:39:51.059 --> 00:39:52.280 And then he gets to this parable. 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.480 What's this parable about? 00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:58.719 He's trying to open their hearts and their minds to the truth. 00:39:58.840 --> 00:39:59.860 He's helping them. 00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:01.699 He's even using the crowd. 00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:02.940 He's saying, 00:40:03.119 --> 00:40:05.860 Men, even they understand this. 00:40:06.059 --> 00:40:09.559 Even they understand what you're doing is wicked and vile and against God. 00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:12.719 You see the graciousness in how he's teaching them? 00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:14.199 He's not denying their judgment. 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:16.320 But you see what he's doing and leading them? 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:27.519 Surely, surely at this point, they will confess their guilt and cry for mercy. 00:40:28.220 --> 00:40:30.820 Surely at this point, that's what they'll do. 00:40:32.180 --> 00:40:33.039 Verse 12. 00:40:34.460 --> 00:40:36.320 And they were seeking to arrest him. 00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:40.280 That is, that's the reason they had come to have the conversation to begin with. 00:40:40.420 --> 00:40:44.280 They had come seeking to arrest him, but they didn't because they feared the people. 00:40:44.280 --> 00:40:49.480 For they perceived that he had told the parable against them. 00:40:50.620 --> 00:40:51.700 So what did they do? 00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:54.460 They sang, just as I am. 00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:59.260 And they got down on their knees and said, Lord, have mercy. 00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:00.620 No, they walked away. 00:41:01.640 --> 00:41:02.300 They walked away. 00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:06.360 It's not that they didn't understand. 00:41:07.019 --> 00:41:08.940 It's not that they were ignorant of the truth. 00:41:08.940 --> 00:41:15.820 It's that they were so hard-hearted toward God that they rejected the truth out of pure spite. 00:41:17.159 --> 00:41:18.579 They knew it was true. 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:19.659 They just didn't care. 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.780 They wanted their way. 00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:26.840 Luke 16, Jesus said that even, they were asking for a sign. 00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:32.019 And Jesus said, even if someone died and came back from the grave in resurrection, 00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:38.360 you still wouldn't believe because you're a bunch of hard-hearted people, men. 00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:42.599 And guess what happens later this week? 00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:44.480 Jesus dies. 00:41:45.300 --> 00:41:47.800 Three days later, he resurrects from the grave. 00:41:48.159 --> 00:41:49.119 And guess what the men do? 00:41:49.679 --> 00:41:51.039 Did they deny his resurrection? 00:41:51.940 --> 00:41:52.420 Nope. 00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:55.280 Nope. 00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.800 They just covered it up. 00:41:57.560 --> 00:41:58.600 They covered it up. 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:00.380 They knew the truth. 00:42:00.600 --> 00:42:02.680 They just didn't want to accept it. 00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:06.140 So they deceived themselves into believing that it wasn't real. 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:10.580 And they did the saddest thing that anyone ever does. 00:42:11.320 --> 00:42:13.720 They left him and they went away. 00:42:16.500 --> 00:42:18.260 Spurgeon said, you've heard me quote this before, 00:42:18.260 --> 00:42:22.040 the same sun which melts the wax hardens the clay. 00:42:22.039 --> 00:42:27.539 And the same gospel which melts some persons to repentance, 00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:30.679 hardens others in their sins. 00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:33.900 And what we see being played out in chapter 12 00:42:33.900 --> 00:42:36.159 is Jesus teaching the truth, 00:42:36.559 --> 00:42:38.659 these men understanding that truth, 00:42:38.820 --> 00:42:42.900 but the gospel itself hardening their hearts so that they walk away. 00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:48.420 And the passage is finally and fundamentally 00:42:48.420 --> 00:42:50.820 about what people do with the sun. 00:42:50.820 --> 00:42:52.740 And that's ultimately what it's about. 00:42:54.800 --> 00:42:58.320 The undeniable truth is that those who believe in Jesus 00:42:58.320 --> 00:43:00.340 receive forgiveness of sin, 00:43:00.840 --> 00:43:02.300 reconciliation with God, 00:43:02.660 --> 00:43:03.360 eternal life, 00:43:03.500 --> 00:43:04.160 eternal peace. 00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:06.000 But all who reject the sun 00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:09.260 will face the eternal judgment of God in hell. 00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:11.000 And every single one of us in here 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:13.160 are faced with two decisions as we listen to that 00:43:13.160 --> 00:43:14.640 and as we see this in the scriptures. 00:43:15.420 --> 00:43:17.000 Sinclair Ferguson said it this way, 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.320 when God's word searches out men's motives 00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:22.340 and exposes their hearts, 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:24.800 two reactions are always possible. 00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:28.519 Men may see themselves as they really are, 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:30.480 repent of their sin, 00:43:30.760 --> 00:43:31.699 and turn to the Lord. 00:43:32.500 --> 00:43:35.619 We might think that would be the inevitable response 00:43:35.619 --> 00:43:37.000 to Jesus' own preaching. 00:43:37.000 --> 00:43:40.219 But another kind of response is possible. 00:43:40.780 --> 00:43:42.519 We can harden our hearts 00:43:42.519 --> 00:43:44.960 against the one who exposes our need 00:43:44.960 --> 00:43:48.679 and resolve with unmitigated bitterness 00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:50.860 to be rid of his influence. 00:43:50.860 --> 00:43:55.780 So what's your response? 00:43:57.720 --> 00:44:00.700 Will you turn from sin and to the Lord? 00:44:01.599 --> 00:44:03.880 Or will you continue to harden your heart 00:44:03.880 --> 00:44:06.120 in a desperate attempt 00:44:06.120 --> 00:44:10.500 to rid yourself of his influence of truth? 00:44:10.500 --> 00:44:11.199 Well, let's take a look at that. 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199 00:44:11.199 --> 00:44:11.199