Now, it’s Round Two. Jesus doesn’t even give the religious leaders an opportunity to mount an attack. Instead, He goes on the offense by sharing a series of three stories.
The Story of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)
In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus shared a story about a man who had two sons. He asked them both to work in his vineyard. At first, the older son responded, “No way. I won’t go.” But then he later changed his mind + went to work.
The younger son initially responded, “You got it, Pop. You bet. I’ll go.” But then, he never got up + went.
Jesus closed the story by asking, “Which of the two obeyed?” The leaders immediately responded, “Well, duh! The first, of course.”
That’s when Jesus landed an uppercut to the chin by saying, “You need to know . . . Corrupt tax collectors, crooks + prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you . . . ”
The implication was clear. The group of people Jesus just referred to—corrupt tax collectors, crooks + prostitutes—had initially said, “No!” when it came to the invitation to be a part of His kingdom. But during Jesus’ ministry, they ended up coming into the kingdom in droves. While the religious leaders who indicated they were all about God’s kingdom, were currently completely ignoring the reality of the kingdom that was right before their eyes.
That story stung . . . But Jesus wasn’t done!
The Story of the Wicked Tenant Farmers (Matthew 21:33-46)
The religious leaders were already angry when Jesus launched into another story (Matthew 21:33-46). This story was about a wealthy + apparently honorable, landowner + a group of really evil, greedy, wicked tenant farmers.
While the landowner was away on a trip, he sent representatives to collect his share of the grape harvest, even though the tenant farmers had made an agreement with the landowner. They were farming on his land, using seed he had purchased, resources he had provided, but when the landowner sent reps to collect his share, the group of tenant farmers beat the first rep, murdered the second rep, stoned the third rep + then beat the fourth group of reps.
The landowner was surprised + shocked. So, in a gesture of patience + kindness, he decided to send his own son, believing that this group of wicked, evil, greedy tenant farmers would at least respect the authority + position of the landowner’s son + see this as an act of grace.
But the moment the son showed up at the vineyard, this group thought to themselves, “That’s the heir. If we kill him, it all belongs to us . . . ” So, they grabbed him, drug him out of his own vineyard + murdered him in cold blood.
Jesus then asked, “What do you think the landowner is going to do when he gets back home from his trip? How will he respond?”
The leaders didn’t hesitate. “He’ll obviously execute the wicked farmers + then lease his vineyard to responsible farmers who’ll give him his share of the crops.”
To make certain the religious leaders didn’t miss the point, Jesus made it plain.
Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing + it is wonderful to see.’” —Matthew 21:42 NLT
This was a spiritual hook that landed square on the jaw + put the religious leaders on the mat. They completely lost it. They were furious about the story. They wanted to arrest Jesus that moment, but were afraid of the crowds that had gathered to hear Him teach, so they somehow regained their composure.
But Jesus wasn’t done. Not yet.
He had one more story.
The Story of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14)
This story was about a king who prepared a huge wedding feast for his son. When it got time for the wedding, the king sent his servants to notify everyone who had been invited, that the banquet was ready. Dinner was served.
Incredibly, everyone on the guestlist refused to come. To refuse an invitation from the king was an incredible insult + complete dismissal of the king’s authority. This was unbelievable.
Amazingly, the king, in his patience + grace, sent a second group of servant messengers with the same invite, “Hey! Maybe you missed the invite? Maybe you forgot? The wedding feast is prepared + ready! We’re serving filet mignon! We’ve got great wine! The time has arrived.”
This time, not only did some of the people on the guestlist completely ignore the invite of the king + just keep going about their business, for some reason, others on the guestlist actually insulted the messengers + murdered them. Contempt for the king’s messengers was the equivalent of contempt for the king himself. This was an act of rebellion.
The king was furious, so he sent out an army to deal with the rebellion. They not only executed the murderers, but the army set the entire city on fire.
This was a prophetic story that would be fulfilled in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. when the Roman General, Titus leveled Jerusalem + slaughtered more than 1,100,000 Jewish people.
The king then invited a new guest list to the wedding feast.
Go therefore to the main roads + invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 + those servants went out into the roads + gathered all whom they found, both bad + good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. —Matthew 22:9-10 ESV
The implication of the third story was clear. The current religious leaders in Israel had been on God’s original guest list. But they not only ignored the King’s invitation, they also rejected the King + even murdered the King’s messengers which were the prophets.
But God’s heart has always been people, so the King didn’t cancel the feast, He just expanded the guest list so that the wedding hall would be filled!
The crowds that had gathered were filled with hope. All of their lives they had been taught that they weren’t on the list! Now, they discovered that they are!
The religious got even angrier because Jesus had called them out on their hypocrisy + exposed their rebellion against God.
They wanted to arrest Jesus, but in the aftermath of the healing crusade that went on the day before, the temple was filled with crowds that had come to hear Him teach. The leaders feared that arresting Him would cause a riot + even endanger their lives.
So, they decided to make a proverbial half-time adjustment + began asking Jesus a series of questions, all meant to trick Him into incriminating Himself so they could accuse + arrest Him.
Jesus answered every question in a way that silenced + infuriated the religious leaders, while amazing the gathered crowd.
One of the most important questions Jesus was asked was when an expert in Scripture stepped forwarded + asked Jesus to “bottom line” the most important or greatest commands in Scripture.
Jesus didn’t hesitate. He responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 + Leviticus 19:18:
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 + you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul + all your strength. —Deuteronomy 6:4-5 NLT
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. —Leviticus 19:18 NLT
In other words, Jesus said, “It all boils down to this . . . love God + love people.”
“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul + all your mind.’ 38 This is the first + greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law + all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” —Matthew 22:37-40 NLT
Today’s Verse: “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul + all your mind.’ 38 This is the first + greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” —Matthew 22:37-39 NLT
Today’s Prompt: What do you think it means to love God with all your heart, all your soul + all your mind?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful for a Savior that doesn’t rush through wisdom + understanding, but is patient with me as I glean knowledge from His Word.
Today’s Prayer: Father, help me to not reject Jesus in my words, actions, thoughts or deeds. I want to obey Him, work side-by-side with Him + represent Him well by loving my neighbor as I love myself. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
