Self-Condemnation | Matthew 21:33-46

Scripture

• Matthew 21:33–46

About this sermon

Introduction: Words tell the story about a person’s life. Out of man’s mouth comes the abundance of his heart. ESV Matthew 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ESV Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Out of the mouth comes the content of one’s character. What is true of careless words — what is true of evil words — is true of unconsciously accurate words. SOMETIMES PEOPLE UNCONSCIOUSLY TESTIFY AGAINST THEMSELVES. THEY TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THEMSELVES IN MATTERS WHERE THEY SEEK TO DENY THAT TRUTH. This was true of Judas. ESV Matthew 26:24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so." This was true when Jesus was examined by the high priest. ESV Matthew 26:62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." And it is true in our verses this morning. Jesus gives a parable — He tells a story — and He asks the chief priests and the elders to supply the ending. The ending that they supply amounts to their own guilty verdict, as Jesus applies what they say to THEIR OWN LIVES. This morning we see the judge issuing His verdict through their own words, and in that way putting their condemnation in their own mouths. We will examine this parable under four headings. (1) The beginning of the story (2) The conclusion of the story (3) The application of the story (4) The condemnation from the story. I. THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY (vs.33-39) Jesus describes something that these people would have been very familiar with. A rich landowner who makes the decision to plant a vineyard and lease it out as an investment. John MacArthur — “In New Testament times, the hillsides of Palestine were covered with grape vineyards, which were a mainstay of the economy. It was not unusual for a wealthy man to buy a piece of land and develop it for a vineyard. He would first put a wall of stone or a hedge of briars around it to protect it from wild animals and thieves. He would then make a wine press, sometimes having to cut it out of bedrock… Often the owner would build a tower, which would be used as a lookout post against marauders, as shelter for the workers, and as a storage place for seed and implements.” The kind of investment envisioned in the story required a lot of care. THE VINEYARD IS PREPARED A WALL IS CONSTRUCTED A WINE PRESS IS CREATED A TOWER IS ERECTED He then rents it out to vine-growers and goes on a journey. The vine-growers care for the vineyard, harvest its fruit, and pay a portion of the harvest to the landowner. That’s how it’s supposed to work. BUT THAT’S NOT HOW IT WENT. When it came time for the landowner to receive his portion of the harvest, he sent representatives (servants) to get his payment. The vine-growers abused them. One was beaten. One was killed. One was stoned. THE OWNER SENT ANOTHER GROUP OF SLAVES, EVEN MORE THAN THE THREE, AND THE SAME HAPPENED. Finally, he sent his son expecting that his son would be respected. THEY KILLED HIS SON. They KILLED HIS SON KNOWING that it was his son (Perhaps they thought the father was dead). Not only did they want to keep the portion that belonged to the owner — they wanted to steal the whole vineyard. What belonged to the son they wanted for themselves. This is how Jesus told the story. II. THE CONCLUSION OF THE STORY (vs.40-41) So, our Lord asks them, “WHEN THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD COMES, WHAT WILL HE DO TO THOSE VINE-GROWERS?” “You get to finish the story.” Given these circumstances, what will happen? WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN? Luke tells us that Jesus told this parable in the hearing of the crowds. ESV Luke 20:9 And he began to tell the people this parable: … YET IT IS CLEAR THAT HE IS COMMUNICATING DIRECTLY AT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS. THEY KNEW THIS. This explains Matthew’s statement in verse 45, that the religious leaders understood that Jesus was talking about them. HE INTERACTS WITH THESE MEN, BUT HE DOES SO IN THE HEARING OF THE CROWDS. How would they finish the story? They supply an ending that emphasizes THREE THINGS.

Topics

• Hell & Judgment