March 16, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 20:9-18;

 

Last week we spoke briefly on authority.  I mentioned that there is so much to be said on this subject.  Maybe Solomon said it best when he said, Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

We mentioned that the people of Israel, coming out of bondage in Egypt, needed laws, and someone to instruct the laws, and someone to enforce the laws.  God gave this chore to Moses, and Aaron, of the tribe of Levi.  This became the law of the Israelites.  Moses, and the laws that God gave him to instruct, were the laws, and authority at the time of Jesus.

Moses said this;  Deu 18:15  The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;     Even though the children of Israel hadn’t heard from a Prophet of God for 400 years, John Baptist came on the scene pointing people to the Lamb of God, that would speak in all authority, and take away the sins of the world.  Jesus of Nazareth.

            Now to confirm what Moses had prophesied, listen to Peter;  Act 3:22  For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.    Authority!                                  And also Stephen;  Act 7:37  This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.

            So to make it plain, and simple, Jesus is who we look to for authority.  We have  His words that He spoke, and His instructions.  We see very clearly that He appointed men to carry on His work when He left this old world.   NOW THIS MORNING WE WANT TO LOOK AT A PARABLE THAT JESUS GAVE CONCERNING LEAVING SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY WHILE HE IS GONE.  LUKE 20:9-18.

 

Luk 20:9-18  Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.  (10)  And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 

·         First of all the certain man ( represents authority) is God Himself.

·         The vineyard is the household of Israel.

·         The husbandmen were the religious leaders that were to guide, and help the children of Israel.

·         It basically represents God’s dealing with His children, whether Israel, or the church.

·         The One that has gone away, so to speak, is Jesus, for the church, Jehovah, for Israel.

·         At the season, which means, God is ready to do something wonderful for His children.

·         The servants represent prophets.  Messengers from God.

·         But the religious leaders beat the Prophets, and sent them away, killing some of them.

 

So again Jesus says:

(11)  And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 

·         Another messenger Prophet.

(12)  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 

·         Now we know, and understand that these messengers from God were just trying to help the people.  They were trying to give the people God’s message.

(13)  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 

·         This verse brings it all to light.  Jesus is the beloved Son.  The Scripture says that He was sent unto His own, and His own received Him not.

·         When Jesus was entering Jerusalem for the last time, He looked out over the city, and said, “Luk 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

·         AND THIS IS WHAT THIS PARABLE IS ALL ABOUT.  The rejection of the authority of Jesus.

(14)  But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.  (15)  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

·         This is so accurate, because Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen to Himself.  This is what they do to Him, the very ones He is telling this parable too.

·         They reject Him, and refuse His authority over them. 

·         We know this is going to happen, but then we know it has to happen, so that all mankind can be saved.  Isn’t it marvelous that God has given us this understanding of His plan of salvation?

 

THEN A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION.

What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 

·         He goes right on and tells them what is going to happen.

(16)  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.

·         It happened just this way.  Listen to the Apostle Paul;  Act 13:46-47  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  (47)  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.  WHOSOEVER WILLS.

·         He shall take away the authority from the religious leaders, because they wouldn’t accept the authority of the prophets, or His Son, and give the authority of the people, to someone else.

·         You can see their reply, and realize they are beginning to get it.

And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.  (17)  And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders ( the leaders of Israel ) rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?      Jesus quoted Solomon from Psalms.

·         Psa 118:22-23  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  (23)  This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

·         And certainly it is most marvelous in our eyes.  This making of God’s only begotten Son the propitiation for man’s sins, is most marvelous in our eyes.

·         WHO WOULD NOT WANT A SECOND CHANCE IN LIFE.  TO HAVE OUR SINS FORGIVEN, AND A CLEAN START ALL OVER AGAIN, IN THE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD???????

·         JESUS IS THE AUTHORITY OF GOD, AND HE OFFERS PARDON FROM SINS TO WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM COME, AND DRINK OF THE WATERS OF LIFE FREELY.

(18)  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

·         You can’t fight against the Lord.  The Apostle Paul tried it, and God brought him to his knees, blinded.  When God saw Paul would be an obedient servant, He gave him his eyesight back, and was made a tool in the hands of God.  NO MORE RUNNING OR FIGHTING AGAINST GOD, JUST A YIELDED LIFE, TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

When Paul yielded to God’s will, and stopped persecuting God’s people, his life became a life of inner peace, even when he was ready to die for his faith in Christ.

            2Ti 4:6-8  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  (7)  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  (8)  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Almighty God, we would ask this morning for  the ability to yield our lives to Your service.