I. The Parable of the Disloyal Tenants
- Matthew 21:23-46, In this story, Jesus used parables to answer the pharisees' inquiry of who gave Jesus authority to preach. The first parable was about two sons who answered and acted differently when asked by their father to work in the vineyard. Jesus compared the Pharisees to a son who told his father that he'll do work but did not. Jesus then told them that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom before them because they were unrighteous first but when they heard the calling of the savior, they listened, believed, accepted the savior, repented, and followed His ways. In the second parable, Jesus used different characters: 1) the landowner (God), 2) the vineyard (Israel), 3) the farmer (pharisees and other religious leaders, 4) the landowner's men (prophets), 5) the son (Jesus), 6) other vinedressers (Gentiles). God had blessed the religious leaders and were given the land (wisdom and authority) but they did not use them in the way that God wanted them. When God sent his prophets to them, the religious leaders did not believe and persecuted them. When God sent his only begotten son, they also rejected Him and crucified him. Because of this, God gave these blessings to the Gentiles for they have accepted His message, His son, and His gift of salvation.
- We are like the religious leaders. God had provided us with commandments and a guide to live our lives but instead of following Him, we followed other people. He had showered us with numerous blessings but instead of glorifying Him, we glorified ourselves. He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins and instead of accepting Him, we rejected and crucified Him. Let us not wait for God to go back to the vineyard and take away His land from us. Now is the time to accept our free gift of salvation, abandon our old ways, follow Jesus and take up our cross. Let us examine our hearts and ask for forgiveness from God. God is a just and loving God and He will openly take us back to His family.
II. The Spirit Gives Wisdom
1 Corinthians 2:11-16, We, as humans, do not have the capacity to understand God, His promises, and His plans. But through the Holy Spirit, all of these are revealed to us. We need to ask God to send us the Spirit so it can open our eyes, ears, and hearts. We all need the Spirit to guide us, lead us, and give us the discernment so we can understand God's Word and plans for all of us. We need to rely on God for Wisdom and He will guide us to eternal life. He will shower us with blessings and His unconditional love and offer us the free gift of salvation. All we have to do is open our arms and let Him in our lives. What is impossible for men, it is possible with God. Nothing is impossible with God and we need to trust in Him with all our heart, follow Him, worship Him, give Him glory and praise, and He will lead us to the right path to His Kingdom.
III. Proverbs for Today / 10:15-16
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;The destruction of the poor is their poverty.16 The labor of the righteous leads to life,The wages of the wicked to sin.
IV. Old Testament Reading
Leviticus 16:29-34, Leviticus 17-18, and Psalms 41:1-13
