Windows and Mirrors Stories Jesus Told: windows to God and mirrors of your soul

Why Did God Send His Son? Matthew 21:33-42

Matthew 21:33 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.

Matthew 21:34 Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.

Matthew 21:35-36 The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way

Matthew 21:37-38 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 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.’

Matthew 21:39-40 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

Matthew 21:39-40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

Matthew 21:41 … “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied.

Matthew 21:41 … “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’ ”

Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Matthew 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

Why Did God Send His Son? Matthew 21:33-44

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Why would God send someone so precious to Him?

Why did God send His Son?

three reasons why God sent His son:

I. God sent Jesus to demonstrate His grace Verses 33-39

1.The extravagance of His grace “vineyard … wall … winepress … watchtower”

Matthew 21:33 … There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.

Matthew 21:34 Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.

“a vineyard” -- the vineyard is word picture for the nation of Israel (verse 1) “planted it with choicest vines." --- God made Israel His chosen people. (verse 2) “built a watchtower” --- God made Israel a light to the nations (verse 3) “cut out a winepress in it” --- God made Israel productive and blessed. (verse 3). In Isaiah 5, this story is about Israel:

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7:

General Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega in 1989

"Before, Jesus to me was only an image of that which was learned from Catholicism, an historic being who worked miracles. All was transformed on Tuesday, January the 16 th … "

“Today, this is what He means to me: He is the Son of God, who died on the cross for our sins, who arose from the grave, is at the right hand of God the Father and who above all things He is my Savior, and has mercy on me, a sinner."

2. The patience of His grace “beat one…killed another, stoned another...sent his son”

Matthew 21:33-34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

Matthew 21:35-36 The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way

Matthew 21:37-38 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 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.’

The wicked tenants killed the owner’s son

This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10

II. God sent Jesus to proclaim His righteousness Verses 40-41

1.God will punish those who refuse “bring … to a wretched end”

Matthew 21:40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

Matthew 21:41 …‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,’ they replied’

2. God will replace those who rebel “rent … to other tenants”

Matthew 21:41 … ‘and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.’

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. Psalm 81:11-16

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways…. Psalm 81:11-16

How quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes…you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.. Psalm 81:11-16

III. God sent Jesus to present His choice Verses 42-39

1. Christ can make you “stone … has become the capstone”

Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?’ ”

2. Christ can break you “stone … on whom it falls … crushed”

Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Matthew 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

Clive Staples Lewis

C. S. Lewis

In 1929, C. S. Lewis knelt down in his room and attested "that God was God"

“I have passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ"

C. S. Lewis "Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it.”

The Lord’s Supper

Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:51

Jesus is our spiritual sustenance, nourishment, and provision

How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD Psalm 116:12-13

Jesus is the sacrifice that was poured out to cover our sins