The Motley Crew – November 10, 2010

Matthew 21:28-41

Happy Veteran's Day Tomorrow

The Questions

Read Matthew 21:28-32 – The Parable of the Two Sons

1. What is the Biblical image of the vineyard?

2. So what is Jesus saying these boys were being called to do?

3. Who are the boys?

4. Where is the 3^rd child who said and did what he is supposed to do?

5. Who do the Sanhedrists condemn with their answer?

6. But what if they had repented?

Read Matthew 21:33-41 – The Parable of the Tenants

7. The Vineyard lacks nothing. What does this mean?

8. Who ever heard of a landowner sending more servants and even sending His Son to his death?

9. Jesus was actually telling them what they were about to do. Why couldn't they see it?

All citations from the Holy Bible are from the New International Version, used with permission.

The Motley Crew – November 10, 2010

Matthew 21:28-41

Happy Veteran's Day Tomorrow

Some Suggested Answers

We opened with prayer.

A reminder: we will have class next Wednesday, Nov. 17^th, but not the following Wednesday, Nov. 24^th, which is the day before Thanksgiving. However, there will be a luncheon for Terri Dube on that date. All are invited.

Read Matthew 21:28-32 – The Parable of the Two Sons  (NIV © 2010)

28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

1. What is the Biblical image of the vineyard?

It is an image found often in Scriptures and pictures: God's church on earth. And it's imperative that the Church is in the Vineyard, actively involved in the problems of the world.

2. So what is Jesus saying these boys were being called to do?

Work for God in the world; be His missionaries. Dr. Lenski fills out this though:

The application which Jesus makes of the parable shows that “work” should here not be restricted to good works as distinct from faith. The father means, “Child, go show thyself as a child today by helping in my vineyard!” In the application Jesus speaks of those who “go into the kingdom,” and those who “believed” John. So we must combine faith (John 6:40) and good works (John 15:8). This helps to explain “today.” Whenever it is called upon, a child of God should show its relation to God by its works of faith. Lenski, p. 830.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17  (NIV © 2010)

We just can't talk the talk; we gotta walk the walk.

3. Who are the boys?

The first boy is those who are living in open sin … the tax collectors and the prostitutes … who initially hear the Word and reject it, but who sorrowfully repent and come to the Lord. The second boy is the Jewish nation … and us!

This is a theme that Jesus has been discussing throughout the 21^st Chapter. “Daughters of Zion” in verse 5 was interpreted to be the believing Jews in Israel. Likewise, the Fig Tree in verse 18 is interpreted to be the unbelieving Jews in Israel, and especially the Pharisees – Sadducees - Scribes.

It was noted that notorious sinners – publicans and prostitutes – heard the message of John the Baptist and repented of their sin. And even though the Sanhedrists saw this, they persisted in their rejection of John, and now, of Jesus. “And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.” Verse 32.

The discussion turned to the topic of treasures in heaven. Pastor Eddie said that these are the little acts of love, sometimes not even remembered, that often happen in life. These are hugs, words of encouragement, pats on the back, and the like. They are also the acts like feeding the hungry, putting shoes on the barefoot, providing food and shelter to abused women and children, visiting the sick and imprisoned.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40  (NIV © 2010)

God will remembers these little gestures, together with the phone calls, letters, notes, etc. These are the treasures to be stored up in heaven. Pastor also said that the “big things” that we often think of – baptisms, counseling, great sermons – are not as big as the little acts of love that often seem to go unnoticed (except by the recipients).

Our pride and self-centeredness will go away in heaven … and to the extent that our acts of love are not a pride-booster or an act of “self.”

Pastor Eddie reminded us of a favorite bit of Scripture loved by Lutherans:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9.  (NIV © 2010)

But equally important is verse 10:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. [emphasis added]

This was the Second Reading during Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31. Doug remembered writing in the margin of his Worship Folder: “What good works has God prepared in advance for me to do?” The answer: see Matthew 25:34-40 (above).

It was mentioned that listening for God's instructions can be very hard. But, when He speaks, we often know it immediately. Sometimes it is that “still small voice” but often we hear God speaking to us through His Word. Isaiah 46:10 was mentioned: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.”

Sometimes, it was pointed out, that what we think we want … isn't what God wants. And sometimes we rebel against what we know God wants, but that isn't the same as what we want. But when we surrender our will to do His will, then we have the peace of knowing that we are fulfilling the Kingdom. Pastor Eddie mentioned that he really didn't want to leave Pennsylvania; things were really coming together there. But, he said, he saw God's will in His Word, and the same day that he surrendered to God's will was the same day that the Lord took Pastor Reinhardt home to heaven.

4. Where is the 3^rd child who said and did what he is supposed to do?

He leaves it to us to supply … but perfect sons are hard to find. More on this in just a moment.

5. Who do the Sanhedrists condemn with their answer?

Themselves. Dr. Lenski adds: “So will every man who refuses to do the Father's gracious will utter his own damning verdict.” (page 832). In the same manner, the Fig Tree – who promised great fruit but delivered none – condemned itself, just like the Pharisees, etc. Jesus was merely pronouncing the Judgment now rather than at the end of times.

The publicans and the prostitutes were two of the most despised classes of open sinners, yet Jesus states that they will see the Kingdom before the Sanhedrists! How much of a shock must that have been!

You are right in condemning that first child; these publicans and harlots who at first openly refuse the obedience of faith and yet later on regret their wickedness and go, believe and obey. … All those who today confess with their lips but deny by their lives are like these Jewish rulers. Lenski, p. 833

And “the perfectly righteous” are not the ones who think they're perfectly righteous, but rather are the ones who are perfectly righteous. The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican comes quickly to mind. In the same manner, anytime we congratulate ourselves for some extra-fine spiritual act, we're lost because the “I” is too involved. It's only when we rely exclusively on God, and give all credit to God, that we're on the right track. In that respect, it's like humility … it's easy to try too hard.

6. But what if they had repented?

They would have been forgiven, and welcomed into the Kingdom.

In this parable, the Sanhedrists are dealt with as individual men, and centers its teaching on the past, that is, that John the Baptist and the other prophets that God has brought into the world.

Now, Jesus deals with the Sanhedrists in their official capacity as leaders and rulers of their people. In addition, the teaching centers on the present and in the future.

Read Matthew 21:33-41 – The Parable of the Tenants  (NIV © 2010)

33"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

35"The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

38"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' 39So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

40"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

41"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

See also Isaiah, Chapter 5, “The Song of the Vineyard,” which begins

 1 I will sing for the one I love
   a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
   on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
   and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
   and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
   but it yielded only bad fruit.  (NIV © 2010)

7. The Vineyard lacks nothing. What does this mean?

God's kingdom has everything that you need. “The tower was built for watchmen and at the same time as a storehouse,” wrote Dr. Lenski. “So Israel had everything for its religious needs, from the Temple on down.”

And in the same manner, we have been provided with everything that we need, too.

As the prophet Isaiah asked, “What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?”But then He observes: “When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?” Isaiah 5:4.

The “vinegrowers” are the Sanhedrists.

Our eyes are focused altogether on these outrageous vinegrowers who were in possession of the precious vineyard when the great owner now at the proper season sends for the fruit that is due him according to the lease. Lenski, p. 837.

8. Who ever heard of a landowner sending more servants and even sending His Son to his death?

No one except God, and that's the point. The Old Testament is the long account of God sending numerous prophets to the Jews over the centuries; in the main, they were ignored, mistreated and rejected. Then He sent John the Baptist, who was rejected, too. Now He sends His Son, and the parable becomes prophesy. Here is the 3^rd Son missing from the previous parable: Jesus!

The slaves are sent at this particular time, the vinegrowers are in permanent charge. As the latter are the permanent religious rulers of Israel, so the former are the prophets who were sent at particular times. Lenski, p. 837.

And it continues to be open season on the followers of Christ. There was the story of a Catholic Church in Iraq that was attacked on Oct. 31. According to published reports, at least 58 people were killed in the deadly standoff in Baghdad. Seventy-five others were wounded in the attack. Officials say the majority of the casualties were women and children. Two priests were also listed among the dead, as well as 17 security officers and five gunmen. At least three additional attacks have been reported in Iraq since then, taking additional lives.

The same scenario is being acted out elsewhere in the world, as, for example, in Ethiopia, as Pastor Eddie told us recently.

9. Jesus was actually telling them what they were about to do. Why couldn't they see it?

Jesus here tells his murderers exactly what they are even now on the point of doing. What they as yet kept under cover he tells them openly to their faces before the assembled crowds. Note that each generation of Jewish leaders sanctioned the deeds of their fathers by repeating them. They made all the previous murders their own by adding to them …. They killed Jesus because they feared to lose their own positions. Their blind unbelief hid the spiritual nature of the kingdom from them, and thus the fact that they could never hold the outward rule while its inwardness was foreign to them, remained hidden from them. Lenski, pp. 839-40.

When, in the parable, it says that “... they took him and threw him out of the vineyard ...”, the reference is specifically to Jerusalem, and is a prophesy: Calgary was outside of the city limits. The first martyr, Stephen, was also stoned to death outside of the walls of the city. Acts 7:54-60.

Jesus loves you. Now, pass it on!

We closed with prayer.

"God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’”

Job 37:5-6  (NIV © 2010)

Parallel Verses

The Parable of the Two Sons occurs only in the Gospel of Matthew.

For Additional Study

Online Resources

Book of Concord in PDF Format, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod <http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/TrigBOC.pdf> (2MB file)

These texts are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely. The source of these translations is Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921).

A number of important Lutheran texts can be found in the Belief and Practice section of the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112

John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott, Illustrated New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/ain/

Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/

Harold F. Buls
http://www.pericope.org/buls-notes/index.html and
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-bul.html
Adapted from Exegetical Notes, Series A, Festival Season Sundays, Gospel Texts, by Harold H. Buls, Concordia Theological Seminary Press: Ft Wayne IN, 1980

The Adam Clarke Commentary
http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/

Burton Coffman, Commentary on the Whole Bible
http://www.studylight.org/com/bcc/

John Darby, Synopsis of the Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/darby/matthew1.htm

The Greek Interlinear Bible,
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
Based on NA26/27. A word-by-word translation of the Greek New Testament.

David Guzik, Commentaries on the Bible
http://www.studylight.org/com/guz/

The Geneva Study Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/geneva/matthew1.htm

John Gill, Exposition of the Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/gill/matthew1.htm

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete)
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mh/matthew1.htm

Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mhc/matthew1.htm

Jamieson, Faussett and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/jfb/matthew1.htm

B.W. Johnson, People's New Testament
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/johnson/matthew1.htm

John Lightfoot, Bible Commentary
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/light/matthew1.htm

Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians
http://www.studylight.org/com/mlg/

J. W. McGarvey, Original Commentary on Acts
http://www.studylight.org/com/oca/

J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel (also known as "Harmony Of the Four Gospels")
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/four/matthew1.htm

Alexander Maclaren's commentaries on the books of the Bible (various titles)
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/m#a2330

The NET Bible. <http://bible.org/netbible/> A completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes. It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Excellent notes, citing both the Greek and Hebrew, as needed. Greek and Hebrew fonts available without cost.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures of the New Testament
http://www.studylight.org/com/rwp/

C. I. Scofield, The Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
http://www.studylight.org/com/srn/

Charles H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David
http://www.studylight.org/com/tod/

R.A. Torrey, The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
http://www.studylight.org/com/tsk/

W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
http://www.antioch.com.sg/bible/vines/

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/wesley/matthew1.htm

Other Additional Resources:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/SPLC/Motley%20Crew%20Research%20Resources.html

Other Resources

Barker, Kenneth L., ed., TNIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)

Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. Readers Edition. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)

Davies, Benjamin, ed., Baker's Pocket Harmony of the Gospels (Baker Book House, 1975). Formerly printed as Harmony of the Four Gospels.

Goodrick, Edward W. and John R. Kohlenberger III, eds., The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999). This is the second edition, originally published as the Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It was originally published as The NIV Exhaustive Concordance. It should be distinguished from The NIV Complete Concordance by the same authors.

Green, Jay P., ed., The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Vol. IV. Second Edition. (Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)

Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook. New Revised Edition (24^th Edition). (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1965)

Hickie, W.J., Greek-English Lexicon to the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1977). This is a reprint of an older edition, originally published by Macmillan, August. 1893. A contemporary review described this as "A handy little volume, compiled on sound principles from trustworthy authorities." The 1911 edition is available online and for download at http://openlibrary.org/b/OL17866849M/Greek-English_lexicon_to_the_New_Testament

Hoerber, Robert G., ed., Concordia Self-Study Bible. NIV (Great Rapids, Zondervan: 1973, 1984).

Lenski, R.C.H., The Interpretation of St. Matthew's Gospel (Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943, reprinted 1964)

The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2009).

Nave, Orville J., ed., Nave's Topical Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979)

New Bible Dictionary. Second Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1962)

Nicoll, W. Robertson, The Greek Expositor's Testament. Vol. 1. Five Volumes. (New York: George H. Doran Co., ca. 1910). Excellent notes on the Greek text and summaries of commentators. Available at Google Books ( www.books.google.com ) and the Internet Archive ( www.archive.org - easier to find here than at Google Books).

NIV Archeological Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005)

Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture (Text from Project Gutenberg)

Robertson, A.T., Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2000). This “Concise Edition” is derived from the six-volume work by Robertson published in 1933. Robertson was also the author of 45 books, including numerous commentaries, a Harmony of the Gospels, etc. Also available online

Rogers, Cleon L. Jr., and Cleon L. Rogers III, eds., The New Linguistic and Exegetical Key to the Greek New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998). This is the second edition of the excellent work by Fritz Rienecker, A Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, translated and edited by Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

Strong, James, ed., The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990)

Vine, W.E., Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Original Greek Words with their Precise Meanings for English Readers (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, no date). Originally published circa 1940.