8/7/20

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Death Of John The Baptist (14:1-12) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

The Death Of John The Baptist (14:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. A sad story in the Bible is that of "The Death Of John The Baptist"
   a. His imprisonment occurred near the beginning of Jesus' ministry - Mt 4:12
   b. Some time later, John sent two of his disciples to Jesus - Mt 11: 1-3
   c. Eventually he was beheaded by Herod - Mt 14:1-12

2. The sadness of the story, though, is tempered by the contrast
   between John and those responsible for his death...
   a. A remarkable contrast between a godly man and a depraved family
   b. A contrast that certainly provides several object lessons,
      encouraging godly living

3. In this study, we shall review what is said about "The Death Of John
   The Baptist"...
   a. Noticing the four key persons in this narrative
   b. Considering a few lessons and points that might be gleaned from this passage

[We begin with...]

I. THE FAITHFULNESS OF JOHN

   A. JOHN PROVED TO BE A FAITHFUL PROPHET...
      1. His message was a call to repentance - Mt 3:1-2
      2. He called the religious leaders to repentance as well - Mt 3:7-8
      3. Nor did he back away from pointing out the sins of the king- Mt 14:3-4
         a. Herod had married his brother Philip's wife, Herodias
         b. It was an unlawful marriage, for several reasons:
            1) Philip was still living, making it adultery - Ro 7:1-3
            2) She was Herod's niece, making it incest  
            3) The Law prohibited marrying a brother's wife - Lev 18:16; 20:21
      4. Rather than change his message to accommodate the king, John
         was willing to go to prison and ultimately die for the Word of God!

   B. HIS FAITHFULNESS SHOULD INSPIRE US TODAY...
      1. To be true to God's Word, even when not politically correct
      2. To proclaim God's law on marriage, even if it angers others
         a. God's law on marriage goes all the way back to the creation - Mt 19:4-8
         b. Christ defined the one circumstance when one may divorce
            and remarry - Mt 19:9
         c. Therefore not all marriages are "lawful"; there may be 
            times when we must tell one:  "It is not lawful for you to
            have her" - Mt 14:4
            
[The faithfulness of this godly man stands out, especially when 
contrasted with the members of the ungodly family we now consider.  
Beginning with...]

II. THE SHAMELESSNESS OF SALOME

   A. SALOME WAS A GIRL WITH NO SHAME...
      1. Of course, she was the daughter of a shameless woman - Mt 14:6
      2. From the Greek, Robertson describes her dance as "some kind of
         rapid motion...a shameful exhibition of lewd dancing"
         (Robertson's Word Pictures)
      3. She danced this way, not just before Herod, but his guests as
         well - Mk 6:21-22

   B. HER SHAMELESSNESS IS OFTEN REPEATED TODAY...
      1. Much modern dance is similar to the lewdness of Salome's dancing
         a. Designed to arouse fleshly passions
         b. "Because of its physical appeal, dance lends itself to 
            erotic purposes and has been practiced to these ends by 
            both sexes." - Encyclopedia Britannica, "The Art Of Dance"
      2. Such shamelessness is condemned as lewdness (lasciviousness,licentiousness)
         a. The Greek word for "lewdness" (aselgia) is "unbridled lust
            ...wanton acts or manners (including) filthy words,
            indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males 
            and females" (Thayer)
         b. Condemned as a work of the flesh - cf. Ga 5:19-21
      3. Christians (esp. women) are to possess a sense of
         "shamefacedness" - 1Ti 2:9 (KJV)
         a. That is, a sense of propriety (NKJV), that which is proper
         b. The Greek word (aidos) means "a sense of shame, modesty" (Vine)
         c. "Aidos would always restrain a good man from an unworthy
            act..." (Trench)

[The shamelessness of Salome contributed to the death of John the 
Baptist.  Similar lack of propriety among men and women leads to much 
trouble today as well.  Of course, this young girl was undoubtedly 
influenced by her mother...]

III. THE VENGEFULNESS OF HERODIAS

   A. HERODIAS WAS A VENGEFUL WOMAN...
      1. She was the subject of John's rebuke to Herod - Mt 14:3-4
         a. She had been married to Philip, Herod Antipas' half-brother
         b. Herod had been married to the daughter of Aretas, an 
            Arabian king of Petraea
         c. After Herod had been a guest in Philip's home, he and
            Herodias eloped while still married to their spouses
         d. At some point they married, for which John rebuked them - Mk 6:17-18
      2. In her vengefulness...
         a. She prompted Herod to imprison John - Mk 6:17-18
         a. She wanted to kill John, though temporarily prevented from
            doing so - Mk 6:19
         b. She prompted her daughter to ask for John's head on a platter - Mk 6:22-25
   
   B. SUCH VENGEFULNESS OFTEN DESTROYS LIVES TODAY...
      1. Through vengeance people often resort to desperate measures
         a. E.g., Simeon and Levi, whose vengeance killed those of
            Shechem - Gen 34:1-31
         b. It moved Joab to kill Abner, an honorable man - 2Sa 3:27;1Ki 2:29-33
      2. Vengeance led to the downfall of such people as:
         a. Haman, who tried to kill Mordecai and the Jews - Esther 3-7
         b. The Edomites and the Philistines, who took vengeance on Judah - Eze 25:12-17
      3. Vengeance destroys families, friends, associates; hurting most
         those who exercise it
      4. Which is why we are commanded to leave vengeance to God - Pro
         24:29; Ro 12:17-19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9
   
[Finally, we consider the king who was manipulated like a pawn, as we look at...]

IV. THE WEAKNESS OF HEROD

   A. HEROD ANTIPAS WAS A WEAK MAN...
      1. Son of Herod the Great, we see his weakness manifested by:
         a. His superstition, supposing Jesus to be John raised from the dead - Mt 14:1-2
         b. His unfaithfulness, in leaving his first wife and marrying Herodias - Mt 14:3-4
         c. His fear of the multitude and John himself, which prevented
            Herod from killing him at first - Mt 14:5; Mk 6:20
         d. His manipulation by Salome and Herodias - Mt 14:6-8
         e. His fear of his guests, before whom he was afraid of ridicule - Mt 14:9
      2. His weakness eventually led to his death
         a. For Herodias later prompted him to join her in appealing
            for favors from Caesar
         b. But they were accused of high treason and banished to Lyons
            in Gaul, where he died in great misery (Josephus, 
            Antiquities Of The Jews)

   B. SUCH MORAL WEAKNESS CAN BE A PROBLEM TODAY...
      1. We can be destroyed by weakness through:
         a. Succumbing to temptation
         b. Allowing others to pressure us in doing evil - 1Co 15:33
      2. Christians need to stand strong...
         a. Cf. The example of young men as Joseph and Daniel - Gen 39:
            1-12; Dan 1:8
         b. Looking to God for help and strength - 1Co 10:13; Ep 3:16; Php 4:13
         c. Seeking the approval of God, not men - Ga 1:10

CONCLUSION

1. In "The Death Of John The Baptist", it initially appears that evil
   was the winner...
   a. Herod succeeded in imprisoning and killing John
   b. Herod and Salome succeeded in manipulating Herod and getting rid of John

2. There are times today when it seems that evil people are the ones
   who win in life...
   a. People who blatantly disregard God's law on divorce and remarriage
   b. Young people who gain popularity through shameless conduct

3. But as revealed by the Psalmist (Ps 73:1-28), such apparent success is fleeting...
   a. God will eventually bring the wicked into judgment
   b. Sometimes judgment is received even in this life, as with the 
      exile of Herod and Herodias    
   c. Whose shoes would you want to be in now?  Herod's? Herodias'? Salome's?

May the faithfulness of John remind us that serving God is the only way
to eternal life and true happiness...! 
 Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Satan, Job, and a False Implication by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

 

 http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1889

Satan, Job, and a False Implication

by  Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The Bible describes Satan as the accuser of the righteous, who has accused them before God day and night (Revelation 12:10). In one of the most vivid scenes portraying Satan’s accusatory nature, the patient patriarch Job bore the brunt of Satan’s slander. The sons of God had come to present themselves before God, and Satan came also. God asked Satan if he had considered Job, a righteous man who hated sin. In answer to God’s question, Satan retorted: “You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” (Job 1:10-11).

Satan’s comments seem fairly easy to understand—God had blessed Job with physical and financial blessing and it was due to those blessings that Job served God. But, if one is not careful, he or she will miss one of Satan’s false implications embedded in the statement. Satan subtly implied that it is easier for a man to serve God if he is rich and his possessions are increased, than it is for him to serve God if he is poor. Unfortunately, this idea has been maintained by many in the past and the present. In truth, however, Satan’s implication is false. It has never been easier to follow God if a person is financially wealthy. On the contrary, wealth often has great potential to have a negative effective on a man’s relationship with God.

First century listeners to Jesus were quite shocked to hear that such was the case. After the sad refusal of the rich young ruler to sell his possessions, Christ made some startling comments. He said: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25). When Christ made this statement, His hearers “were astonished beyond measure, saying among themselves, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (vs. 26). Jesus explained that it was possible for such to happen, but it was not easy.

In Job’s case, Satan had done everything he could to tempt him with riches and physical wealth. God allowed Job’s wealth to accumulate and Job proved he could do what few have done—serve God faithfully as a rich man. Satan’s attempt to lure Job into sin with riches had failed, and he realized that the man’s soul was not for sale.

The idea that riches and physical blessings make serving God easier is a false notion and Satan knew it. So did God. And so should we. Let us all “be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

 

 

Satan is not the Ruler of Hell by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

 
http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=4200
 
Satan is not the Ruler of Hell
by  Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Cartoons have done much to influence the idea that many people have of Satan. The picture of a red, demon-like character with small horns protruding from his head, an arrow-head pointed tail, and a pitchfork in his hand comes to the minds of many when they hear the words devil, Satan, or hell. In fact, many of the cartoons that depict Satan with such images also show him sitting as a king in hell, determining where each person will go and the punishments meted out to those who are lost eternally. This picture could not be further from the truth. And it is because of this errant view that many—maybe even a majority—of those who read Matthew 10:28 misunderstand what Jesus meant.

In the context of Matthew 10, Jesus warned His followers that wicked men would persecute them unjustly. As He sent them out to preach, He admonished them to boldly speak the truth without fearing the repercussions. In the course of His forewarning, He said: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28; cf. Luke 12:4-5). Many Bible students who have read this verse have incorrectly assumed that Jesus was saying that Satan has the power to destroy the soul and body in hell. They have mistakenly attributed to Satan power that he never has had.

Satan is not the ruler of hell, and he does not have the power or ability to cast or drag anyone into hell. In fact, when we read about Satan’s ultimate end, we see that God is the Being who will cast Satan, also called the devil, into the “lake of fire and brimstone” (Revelation 20:2,10). Furthermore, the apostle Paul explained to the Christians in Rome that no “angels nor principalities nor powers” could separate them from the “love of God which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38-39). Those in Rome could choose to reject God of their own free will, but no power in existence, including Satan, could pluck them from God’s hand and cast them into hell.

In truth, God will cast Satan into hell at the end of time in the same way that He will cast all those who have lived unrighteously and rejected Him (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:15). There is no indication in the Bible that suggests that Satan will be “in charge” of hell anymore than any other unfaithful creature of God. He will find no delight in his eternal second death, and he will not enjoy any type of authority or special privileges there. Jesus’ admonition to fear the one who can cast both the soul and the body into hell was designed to encourage His followers to rely on God, be strong in the face of persecution, and trust that as long as they are right with God, no force in the spiritual world has the power to harm them.

Salvation Principles and Relevant Commands by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2176


Salvation Principles and Relevant Commands

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

We can learn much in Scripture about how to please the Creator. God has not left man to wonder aimlessly through life, never knowing what he must do to be saved. Instead, Scripture repeatedly records how different people at different times in history were saved from their sins. From these accounts one can glean important principles of salvation. What’s more, the Bible includes specific commands so that sinners can know precisely what to do to be saved. It is the Bible student’s responsibility, however, to distinguish between the application of salvation principles and the necessary obedience to specific, relevant commands, which must be followed in order to receive salvation.

Essential to the salvation of all men is God’s grace. Without it, we would have “no hope” of being saved (Ephesians 2:12). Jesus taught this principle in parables (cf. Matthew 18:27; Luke 15:20-23), while Paul specifically reminded Christians, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His [God’s] mercy” (Titus 3:5).

Another scriptural salvation principle is that God saves only those who understand they are lost. The Lord did not “put away” King David’s sin until he confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), the tax collector, rather than the self-righteous Pharisee, ultimately “went down to his house justified” (vs. 14), because he “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (vs. 13). The tax collector recognized his lost state and humbly appealed to the only One Who could save Him—God. The penitent thief on the cross provides another noble example of one who owned up to his sinful ways and turned to God for help (Luke 23:40-43). The thief admitted that the brutal crucifixion was his just and “due reward,” while professing that “this Man [Jesus] has done nothing wrong” (vs. 41). He then appealed to Christ for salvation, saying, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” (vs. 42).

Can Bible students learn principles of salvation from King David’s repentance, the tax collector’s humility, and the thief’s sincere appeal to Christ? Most certainly. However, one must be careful not to confuse learning principles of salvation with learning the specific things non-Christians must do today in order to receive the gift of salvation.

An immigrant who aspires to become a law-abiding, American citizen can learn a great deal by studying the lives of 19th century immigrants. Understanding the obstacles they went through to get to America and eventually become legal U.S. citizens can inspire 21st century immigrants to do the same. One can learn about the need for patience, persistence, and perseverance. Yet, for a 21st century immigrant to become a U.S. citizen, he must familiarize himself with the current laws of naturalization, and then obey those laws. Knowledge of 19th century citizenship laws may help in the naturalization process, but ultimately, a person living today must abide by 21st century rules and regulations.

Similarly, Bible students can learn a great deal from the humble, contrite, determined individuals who lived prior to Jesus’ death on the cross. Christians do themselves a disservice if they fail to consider David’s contrite heart (read Psalm 51), the rich young ruler’s proper question (“What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”—Mark 10:17), and the thief’s sincere plea to Christ for salvation (Luke 23:42; cf. Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Throughout Scripture we can glean godly principles relating to man’s salvation. Bible students, however, must not confuse the application of biblical principles with the obedience to relevant commands. All people living this side of the cross of Christ are saved under a different law than that under which David, the thief on the cross, the rich young ruler, and even Jesus lived. God’s New Testament came into effect after Christ’s death, and this testament reveals the explicit instructions that non-Christians must obey in order to become Christians. “For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Hebrews 9:16-17, emp. added).

After Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection, He and His apostles taught that non-Christians come into a right relationship with God only after they confess faith in Christ (Mark 16:16; Romans 10:9-10), repent of their sins (Acts 2:38; 3:18), and are immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16). These are specific prerequisites for receiving salvation. They must be followed by all of those who live on this side of the cross of Christ (cf. Colossians 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

Appealing to the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), the paralytic of Galilee (Matthew 9:1-7), or the sinful woman whom Jesus forgave (Luke 7:36-50) in order to learn specifically what God wants non-Christians today to do to be saved, is to wrongly divide the word of truth. A person is “rightly dividing” (NKJV) or “handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB) when he understands that the relevant commands for salvation are found after Jesus’ death. Making the distinction between learning from the righteous ways of those before the cross (cf. Romans 15:4) and obeying the specific commands given after the cross, is vital to a proper understanding of God’s will and a right relationship with Him.

ARE MAN'S OPINIONS IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S VIEW? by steve finnell

 
 http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/02/are-mans-opinions-in-harmony-with-gods.html
 

ARE MAN'S OPINIONS IN HARMONY WITH GOD'S VIEW?  by steve finnell


Man's Opinion: God approves of drinking red wine.

God's View: Proverbs 23:31-33 Do not look on the wine when it red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's Opinion: Mothers have the right to kill their unborn children.

God's View: Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, "You shall not murder.........(NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's opinion: Men have the choice to marry other men and women have the right to marry other women.

God's View: Romans 1:18-32.....26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful,  and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which is due............ 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death....... (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

Man's Opinion: Water baptism is not essential in order to be saved.

God's View: Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)
Acts 22:16 'And now why are waiting? Arise  and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'(NKJV) John 3:5 Jesus answered and said  to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (NKJV)

Is man's opinion compatible with God's view?

God's view is correct 100% of the time! 

Restoration: A Treasure in Earthen Vessels by J.C. Bailey

  http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Bailey/John/Carlos/1903/Articles/treasure.html

 Restoration: A Treasure in Earthen Vessels

God intended that man should obey Him. Man's history has been one of disobedience, with only a few exceptions. The work of Noah was an effort to bring man back to God's way but it was largely a failure and man was destroyed.

God gave Israel a law at Sinai. Moses had not come down from the mountain with the two tables of stone until there was rebellion against the law of God. Time after time God sent prophets to warn Israel of the fruit of their disobedience, but finally the children of Israel went into captivity because they did not hearken to the law or the voice of the prophets. They returned from that captivity a chastened people, but they were not fully converted to the will of God. We have but to read the books of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi to see that the rebellion against God's law was still there.

John the Baptist came to turn the heart of the children to the fathers and the heart of the fathers to the children, lest the Lord should come and smite the earth with a curse. It is said that John only had one sermon. It was that men should repent. His preaching was not academic. He told the king that he had no right to be living with his brother Philip's wife. He was killed for his trouble.

Jesus began to preach where John left off: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” With few exceptions the teaching of Christ to the people of His day was that though they obeyed outward forms, their heart was not right before God. Jesus died according to the purpose of God that He might provide salvation for all mankind. God had required the obedience of man always. While the law of the New Testament has greater grace than anything that went before, it does not alter the fact that man must obey. Let us notice a few Scriptures that show this: “He that believeth in the son hath eternal life, but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36), “And having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9). “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).

God knew the heart of man and He knew that, despite the warnings, man would still rebel against God's law. We quote two Scriptures of a number that might be quoted to show how true this is. “I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29,30). God did not intend that man should go this way for Paul adds: “Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one of you night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). Then we read: “But there arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them and bringing upon themselves swift destruction” (II Peter 2:1). This apostasy would not be a minor thing, for Peter adds: “And many shall follow their lascivious doing, by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of” (II Peter 2:2). This rebellion is still so prevalent in our day that there are those who say there is no such thing as truth.

The events of 6000 years serve to tell us that disobedience to the law of God is folly. Listen as God warns us: “And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose sentence now from of old lingereth not and their destruction slumbereth not” (II Peter 2:3).

Paul warned that “... the mystery of lawlessness doth already work” (II Thess. 2:7). A perusal of history shows how true these predictions were. However, we can be glad that despite sword and flame the voice of restoration was never entirely dead. The story of these attempts has been told many times and we can thank God that in the last part of the 18th Century and the beginning of the 19th Century many different people urged a return to the way of God as revealed in the New Testament. Such a movement could only please God and confound the forces of Satan. Such slogans as “We speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent where the Bible is silent,” were echoed across the land. We would call “Bible things by Bible names.” We would be “Christians only and only Christians.” Tens of thousands responded with enthusiasm to this effort.

However, it would seem that many were not and are not willing to have a complete return to New Testament Christianity and because of infirmities of the flesh the effort must always go on. Paul says “I have not yet attained.” Let us realize that we must go on toward the goal unto the measure of the stature of Christ. How could our goal be better stated than in the language of the Holy Spirit? “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17,18). Surely we must all say that we have not attained but let us press on.

J. C. Bailey, 1982, Dauphin, Manitoba

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

 

 

Change? by Gary Rose

This picture tells it like it is. People in church, listening to the preacher,but is their heart open or closed? Well, from the picture I think they may want change, but when it comes to something that involves them – FORGET IT!


It is easy to discuss concepts, but when concepts become a matter of personal involvement, well, that is entirely another matter. To put it into other words: it is easier to talk church than it is to be the church. Jesus had a way of making concepts lead up to a choice for personal involvement and that made people react in ways that ranged from acceptance to outright combativeness. Here is an example…


Matthew 21 ( World English Bible )

23 When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus answered them, "“I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. "

25 "The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” "

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’


26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

27 They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.”

He also said to them, "“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. "


28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ "

29 "He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went. "

30 "He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he didn’t go. "

31 "Which of the two did the will of his father?”"

They said to him, “The first.”


Jesus said to them, "“Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you. "


32 "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him. "

33 "“Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a wine press in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. "

34 "When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit. "

35 "The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. "

36 "Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way. "

37 "But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ "

38 "But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and seize his inheritance.’ "

39 "So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. "

40 "When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”"

41 They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable me n, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season.”

42 Jesus said to them, "“Did you never read in the Scriptures, "

"‘The stone which the builders rejected,"

"the same was made the head of the corner."

"This was from the Lord."

"It is marvelous in our eyes?’"Psalm 118:22-23


43 "“Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation producing its fruit. "

44 "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.”"

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.

46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet.

 

The chief priests and the elders were THE leaders of the nation of Israel and they KNEW IT. They did not like Jesus trying to teach THEM, for they thought he didn’t have the authority to do so. Why? Because they were the ones in charge; they had position and power. So, they challenged Jesus’ authority, but Jesus, seeing their hypocrisy turned their question concerning authority right back on them.


Next, he told them two parables, aimed right at their pride, arrogance and lack of obeying the will of God and they hated him for it. They would have seized Jesus if it had not been for the multitude holding Jesus to be a prophet.


So, the next time you are listening to a sermon and the topic makes you a bit uncomfortable…. It is quite possible that the sermon is not aimed at your head, but rather at your heart. Listen to what God’s word tells you to do and change for the better, even if its hard for you to do. God will bless you for it!