Parable of the Tenants

Here are the notes from last Sunday! It was a very interesting study so I encourage you all to take a look at it on your own time if you couldn't be there. Also, this Sunday we will be studying Matthew 24-25 if you want to read that ahead of time!
Jordan also asked that I share this link: The Wicked Tenants

Rolling Stone

Parables of Jesus: Parable of the Tenants

February 10, 2013

The Tenants – Matthew 21:33-44, Mark 12:1-11, Luke 20:9-18

Context: 

• Vineyard imagery (Isaiah 5:1-7)

• Psalm 118:22-23 was already known as messianic psalm

• Jesus cleanses the temple after arriving in Jerusalem (vv. 12-17)

• Jesus’ authority is questioned (vv. 23-27)

• Parable of the Two Sons (vv. 28-32)

“And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.” (Matthew 21:32 ESV)

Who is the audience? Jewish leaders

Who is the master of the house? God

What does the story tell us about Him? He is incomprehensibly kind, but will exact judgment

What does the vineyard represent? God’s kingdom

Who are the tenants? the Jewish leaders

What does the fruit represent? the fruit (a metaphor will still use) of their faith

Who could the servants represent? (1 Kings 18:4, 19:10; 2 Chr. 24:20-21; Neh. 9:26; Jer. 20:1-2, 26:20-23, 37:15, 38:6) prophets who had been rejected

Who is the son? Unmistakably Jesus Christ, this is a public declaration of his divine Sonship

How can we reword verse 40 in these terms?

“When therefore [Jesus] comes, what will he do to [the Jewish Leadership]?”

What will be the two results? 

1) Death of the tenants

2) Giving of vineyard to others who will produce fruit

When and what does this refer to? The present arrival of Jesus; the taking away of leadership of fruit bearing from the Jewish leadership to the church; preliminarily, the destruction of the temple

The church will be a new “people” (Gk. ethnos, “nation, people”) consisting of disciples, both Jews and Gentiles, gathered out of many “nations” (Matt. 28:19; plural of Gk. ethnos) and brought together as one new “nation” (1 Pet. 2:9; singular of Gk. ethnos) in the unfolding of God’s kingdom in the present age. (ESV Study Bible)

Does this mean that Israel will never be responsible for God’s kingdom? (Romans 11:25-27) 

No, Israel has always been promised a nation, a people, and a Seed (Jesus). This will be fulfilled in the end times.

Who is the cornerstone? (Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:4-8, Dan 2:44) Christ

Who is the one who falls on the stone? (Matt. 24:29-31, 25:31-40) one who is broken with repentance as a result of falling on Christ

Who will it fall on? (Matt 25:41-46) those who refuse to repent

How did Jesus want his audience to respond?