  
|
|
About-Him.Com Devotional 08-06-2005
Http://About-Him.Com/ My Thoughts on the Life of Christ, from His Baptism to His Ascension. 188: Parable of the Two Sons Mt 21:28-32 Matthew 21:28 ¶ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. After Jesus had driven the moneychangers out of the temple, His authority to minister and perform miracles in the temple was challenged by the temple rulers. Jesus took the offensive by giving The Parable of the two Sons. A certain farmer, who had two sons, had a vineyard which needed attention. Upon hearing the father’s request, the elder said that yes he would be glad to help out and work in the vineyard. However, he simply did not go as he said that he would. The younger brother said that he would not go, but later reconsidered and worked in the vineyard as requested. Jesus asked His antagonists which brother had done the will of his father? Of course the only answer that they could give was that it was the younger. As Jesus issued a stinging denunciation to these ruling religious authorities, It dawned on them that He was comparing them to the first son. They did not enjoy hearing that the publicans and harlots were replacing them as God’s chosen. It all went back to John the Baptist who had come as a keeper of the law and who lived a simple sacrificial lifestyle. This impressed the elders, scribes and Pharisees at the first. However, when John demanded a true application of the law and inward holiness, they rejected Him. Jesus said that they had rejected the council of John by refusing John’s baptism, which was unto the remission of sins. They felt that John's baptism was only for sinners, so it certainly couldn’t apply to them whatsoever. They had witnessed the miracles of Jesus, from turning water into wine to the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Jesus did not fit their mold and would not conform to their agenda, and they rejected Him. They were even now conspiring how that they might kill Him. The publicans and harlots, rejected John at first but were convicted of their sins and submitted to and obeyed John’s message. It would be they who would look for the Lamb of God, the Holy Ghost baptizer, the very Son of God (John 1:29-34). Conclusion and Application: Jesus had fought a constant battle with these folks, since the day that He read the text of Isaiah 61 in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4:18). Jesus denounced their ultra strict interpretation of the law while rejecting it’s weightier matters, such as justice and mercy (Matthew 23:23). I trust that we don’t forget justice and mercy, because we all must have it. Well, it’s easy to keep hitting on those Scribes and Pharisees, isn’t it? How about us? Do we try to make Jesus conform to our idea of righteousness, rather than vice versa? These fellows had commercialized the gospel of the day. How about Us? They dissected and twisted the word of God to their own advantage? We don’t do that, do we? They had no compassion for the great unwashed. Do we? They had forgotten that there was a place for God’s mercy and grace in His word (Matthew 23:23). The words of John illustrates the Parable of the Two Sons very well. John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: {power: or, the right, or, privilege} 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth. Jesus came to His own (Israel) first, but they rejected Him. Thus, the doors to the kingdom were swung open to the vilest of people. We believed and obeyed His word and were washed in His blood and born of His Spirit. For this, we are eternally grateful and we desire to continue laboring in His vineyard that others might believe also and be saved. In About-Him
Online Sermons http://about-him.com/sermonlink.htmlOur Bible Studies http://about-him.com/bslinkpage.html Our Music: http://about-him.com/audio.html Flash Theater http://about-him.com/player.html Scripture list on 30 subjects http://about-him.com/wordarc.html Humor
A student was heading home for the holidays. When she got to the airline counter, she
presented her ticket to New York and as she gave the agent her luggage she asked,
"I'd like you to send my green suitcase to Hawaii and my red suitcase to London." The agent said, "I'm sorry, we can't do that." "Really? I am so relieved to hear you say that because, that's exactly what you did to my luggage last year." Somebody Has Said
"Character is always lost when a high ideal is sacrificed on the altar of conformity and
popularity." C.H. Spurgeon
Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh.
It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your
faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
|