The problem with Israel’s leaders

• Seen in their words… Vs. 27-33
  • We are now only 3 days before the crucifixion of Jesus…
    • Having left the dead fig tree (a picture of Israel – no fruit) – Jesus returns to the temple
    • The Chief Priests, Scribes, and elders confronted Jesus there in the temple…
      • These 3 groups represented the Sanhedrin – the ‘congress’ or rulers of Israel…
      • They asked Him 2 questions regarding “cleansing of the Temple” the day before…
      • “By what authority (power) did you do these things?  Who gave it to you?”
      • They were the ‘authority’ in Israel – they certainly had not given Jesus permission
    • They asked not looking for an answer – they were looking for a fight…
      • There is a difference between a real question – and someone looking for a argument
      • I have had Mormons come and want to ‘talk’ about Jesus…
      • But they are not looking to learn – they are looking to prove they are right…
      • I love when people have real questions – they want to learn about Jesus
      • I will spend as much time – anytime – when someone has a real question
      • I have little patience for questions that are set ups for an argument…
  • Jesus did not buy their question – instead he said:  “I have one question for you…”
    • The Baptism of John – was it from Heaven or from men – ANSWER ME! (Imperative)
      • The Pharisees had already asked John the same question – John 1:19
      • John had told them exactly whom he was – one who prepared the way for the Lord!
      • They knew John was sent from God – but still they had rejected him
      • The same way they knew Jesus was from God – but also rejected Him
    • So they reasoned (through logic– imperfect) how to answer Jesus
      • If they said John’s baptism was from Heaven – then why didn’t they believe
      • If they said from men – they feared the people who believed John was a prophet
      • The people might have even killed them – Luke 20:6 – “All the people will stone us…”
      • They were caught in their lie – knowing who John was – but having rejected him
      • So they answered Jesus – “we don’t know”
    • Therefore Jesus would not tell them by what authority He did things either!
      • Jesus showed their dishonest words – by showing their dishonest question…
      • Like the person who comes up at lunchtime to ask you ‘how are you doing’…
      • But you really know they are asking you – ‘what’s for lunch’…
      • You could not trust what they religious leaders said – they had ulterior motives…
      • As believers we should not have ulterior motives to our words
      • We are called to be men and women of our word
      • Matthew 5:37 – “But let your ‘Yes‘ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.”

• Their actions… Matthew 21:28-32
  • The Parable of a man who had two sons (only recorded for us in Matthew’s Gospel)
    • Jesus continued: now listen to this story (Imperative)
    • The 1^st son was commanded to go and work in the Vineyard (campo) but he refused…
    • Afterwards he “repented” and choose to go and work after all
    • The 2^nd son was also commanded to go and work – and he answered, “Yes, Lord!”…
    • But then he did not go and work after all
    • If you had two kids – and asked both to do a get water from the well…
    • One said no – but did it – the other said yes – but did not – who was obedient…
    • It was the 1^st son who was obedient – not in words – but in actions!
  • Jesus point – it is not about what you say – but about your actions!
    • The Religious leaders said all the right things – they said, “Yes, Lord!”
      • But in the end their actions did not line up with their words…
      • I could tell you all day long that I am the president of the Philippines…
      • But in the end you would want proof – the evidence is in the actions
      • We can say all the right things to sound like a Christian
      • You might come to church every Sunday…
      • But just like being in a Jollibee does not make you a hamburger…
      • Neither does being in a church make you a Christian…
      • It is not about what we say – it is about the actions from our lives
    • Tax collectors (customs agents) and prostitutes said they would not obey God
      • But if in the end they repented – then they would be the children of God
      • We may have refused to obey our Heavenly Father in the past – rebelled against God
      • We might have been the 2^nd son – wanting to go and do our own thing…
      • But when we choose to follow Jesus – we were no longer defined by our past
      • We become the faithful son – the one who does the will of the Father!
    • John the Baptist came showing the way of to get to heaven – pointing to Jesus
      • The Religious leaders did not want to believe but the sinner did!
      • Even when the religious leaders saw that – they still did not believe…
      • They were full of hypocrisy – saying one thing but doing another
      • They were hypocritical in their words and in their actions because of…
• Their Heart … vs. 1-8
  • Jesus gave a 2^nd parable to reveal the motives of the religious leaders hearts
  • A certain landowner built a lavish Vineyard (campo)
    • Wine press cut out of solid rock, a hedge for boundaries, tower for protection
    • He then goes abroad leaving hired men to take care of the campo for Him
    • The Landowner of the vineyard is not others than God Almighty
    • The Vineyard refers to the nation of Israel – and the Kingdom of God 
    • Isaiah 5:7 – “For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel…”
    • The hired workers are the religious leaders of Israel
    • They were supposed to watch after God’s people – care for them
    • God desired Israel – and His Kingdom – to bear fruit for Him
    • John 15:8 – “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…”
  • As the harvest drew near the owner sent servants (doulos) to receive the fruit
    • The hired men beat one, stoned one, and killed another
    • When more servants were sent – they did they same to them!
    • The servants who were sent were the prophets of the Old Testament…
    • They were sent by God to encourage Israel to turn back to God – bear fruit for God…
    • Including John the Baptist – who was the forerunner of Jesus!
    • Acts 7:52 – “Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute!”
  • Finally the owner sent His only son – saying, “They will respect My Son…”
    • But the hired men said – if we kill the son the vineyard will be ours!
    • So they killed him – and cast him out of the Vineyard – Hebrews 13:12!
    • The Son is none other than Jesus Christ – the heir to the Kingdom of God
    • The religious leaders never wanted to serve God or His people (hired laborers)
    • Their motivations were selfish – they only were looking out for themselves!
  • Their problem was in their heart…
    • The Religious leaders were not there to tell the people the truth about God – words
    • Weren’t interested in living a life showing an example of how to life for God – actions
    • They were only interested in what they could get from the people of God!
    • Why are people not men and women of their word…
      • Why would someone want to act (but not truly live) like a Christian…
      • Because of selfishness – not wanting to live for Jesus – but to live for ourselves
      • Acting religious – not to serve God – but so others can see how ‘holy’ they are
    • A mirror never lies – our lives are the mirror of our heart…
      • What we say (words) and do (actions) reflect what is in our heart!
      • Luke 6:45 – “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
      • Matthew 12:53 – “For a tree [person] is known by its fruit [actions].”
      • If we are looking to Jesus – then Jesus will be reflected in our words and actions
      • If we are only looking out for ourselves – then our lives will show it!

• The choice… vs. 9-12
  • What will the owner do to these hired men – He will destroy those hired men…
    • Then He will then give the vineyard to others who will give Him of the fruit…
      • Israel was called to be a light to the world – Zachariah 4:11-14
      • They were supposed to bear fruit for God – and teach others about the Lord
      • Because Israel missed Jesus – God set them aside for a season – Romans 11:25
      • God gave the vineyard to the church – to bear fruit for God!
    • We are called to bare good fruit for God – what kind of fruit comes from our lives…
      • John 15:8 – “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit…”
      • When we bare good fruit – living our life for God in Words / Actions / and Heart
      • We are a light to the world – and bring glory to our Father in heaven…
      • John 15:6 – “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch…”
      • But if like the Jewish leader we seek to serve ourselves and not the Lord…
      • We can be removed from the Vineyard just like the Jewish leaders were…
  • The stone that the builders rejected – Psalm 118:22…
    • Jesus quotes from the Psalms regarding a story from the 1^st Temple of Solomon
      • All of the stones of the Temple were finished in the quarry – I Kings 6:7
      • The 1^st stone sent to the building site was the chief cornerstone…
      • In construction – the most important piece – sets the angles and location
      • When the workers received the stone – they were not ready – set it aside – forgot
      • The stone the builders rejected – became the chief cornerstone!
      • The Religious leaders had rejected Jesus Christ
      • He was destined to become the Chief cornerstone in the church of God!
    • There are only 2 choices…
      • Matthew 21:44 – “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
      • We can be like the 2^nd son – the tax collectors & harlots – the sinners…
        • Who see their need for salvation – fall broken on Jesus…
        • Who repent of their sin – and fall broken on the Grace of Jesus…
        • If we see our words and lives reflecting a heart that is selfish – fall on Jesus!
        • Psalm 51:17 – “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”
        • He can change our hearts – give us new life! Abundant life!
        • If we know other people who cannot be trusted – always have ulterior motives
        • People whose lives (in spite of their words) do not reflect Jesus
        • Don’t be frustrated with their words or actions – the problem is their heart
        • We need to pray for God to change their heart
      • Or we can be like the 1^st son – like the religious leaders…
        • And Jesus will fall on you – and you will be ground into powder (chaff – labhung)
        • Full of ulterior motives, hypocrisy in actions, and selfish motives in the heart
        • In the end Jesus will fall in judgment – we will be scattered and lost
        • Both in this life – and for eternal life as well…
  • The Chief Priests and Pharisees knew Jesus was speaking of them
    • Yet the did not do anything to Him (but they wanted to!)
    • Not because they feared God, but they did nothing because they feared the crowd
    • Sad that these men were more concerned about the moment – then eternity
    • If we are more concerned about what people think of us – than what God thinks
    • It is a good sign we need heart surgery – we need to fall broken on Jesus!