Matthew 21:33-46

Unfaithful Stewards, Faithful God

A Disturbing Parable (vv 33-39)

Nehemiah 9:30 For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets…

Jesus knows that God is not as foolish as his parable pictures, but Jesus is willing to go these lengths to convey an almost incredible description of love. --Dale Bruner 

A Damning Interpretation (vv 40-44)

Matthew 21:41 He will bring those wretches to a wretched end. (NIV) 

Son (English) = Ben (Hebrew)

Stone (English = Eben (Hebrew) 

1 Peter 2:7-10 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

When I look at the relationship between Israel and the Church I see something similar to the relationship between the caterpillar and the butterfly. The butterfly doesn’t replace the caterpillar. The butterfly IS the caterpillar in a more developed and consummate form. The butterfly is what God intended the caterpillar to become. Likewise, the church doesn’t replace Israel. The church IS Israel as God always intended it to be. Let me explain that further. I believe that what we see in the NT isn’t the replacement of Israel but an expanded definition of who Israel is. During the time of the old testament one was an Israelite (primarily) because one was a physical, biological descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One’s ethnicity was the deciding factor. But with the coming of Christ and the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles, the meaning of what constitutes a “true Jew” has undergone revision, or perhaps a better word would be expansion. Not one believing Jewish person has been replaced. Not one believing Jewish person has been set aside or lost their promised inheritance...I don’t believe in replacement theology. I believe in inclusion theology: Gentiles have now been included in the commonwealth of Israel and are as much “true Jews” as are believing ethnic Jews. It isn’t replacement, but fulfillment, just as the butterfly fulfills and completes what God intended when he first made a caterpillar. --Sam Storms

A Disappointing Reaction (vv 45-46)

1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

John 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:8-10  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.