March 21, 2016

FRUIT PRODUCED REVEALS YOUR OBEDIENCE

Matthew 21:28–46

Paige Wikle
Monday's Devo

March 21, 2016

Monday's Devo

March 21, 2016

Central Truth

Our trust is founded in the Lord by faith alone. The fruit of your life ultimately proves whether you are obedient to God's message. He who does the will of the Father will be entrusted to harvest His vineyard. 

Key Verse | Matthew 21:43

"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits." (Matthew 21:43)

Matthew 21:28–46

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

The Parable of the Tenants

33 Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants 1 21:34 Or bondservants; also verses 35, 36 to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone; 2 21:42 Greek the head of the corner
this was the Lord's doing,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 3 21:44 Some manuscripts omit verse 44

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

Footnotes

[1] 21:34 Or bondservants; also verses 35, 36
[2] 21:42 Greek the head of the corner
[3] 21:44 Some manuscripts omit verse 44

Dive Deeper | Matthew 21:28–46

These two parables in today's passage show God's judgment on the leaders of Israel for not encouraging the people to accept the invitation into the kingdom of heaven through Christ. The leaders of Israel claimed to believe, but did not follow or obey Christ’s teachings.

As I take a step back and examine my life, there is a constant battle between the Holy Spirit within me and my flesh (Romans 8). Do I preach the Word to appear godly, or because I desire to follow the Lord? I know I am a broken person; but, at times, I act as if nothing is wrong with me, and I have all the right answers. I can be just like a Pharisee and completely miss the point of Jesus. This passage hit me as I resonated with the second son who said he would follow through and did not. It makes me think of when I am quick to tell people I will pray for them and then I don’t (or I forget). I also think of the times when I reject seeking the Lord and go my own way because I want to be in control. 

Proclaiming Christianity and truly knowing God are two different things. In Matthew 21:43, Jesus tells the Pharisees, “[T]he kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.” And that's exactly what happened. God took away His vineyard from Israel’s religious leaders (the chief priests and Pharisees) and gave it to other tenants (servants) who desired to see fruit delivered in God's timing. Those who do His will are the new tenants to whom God entrusts the harvest of His vineyard. The fruit of your life ultimately proves whether you are obedient to God's message.

God is in control. The Father calls us to follow the Son TODAY with a sense of urgency, and the world will benefit if you abide in Christ so that His Word is proclaimed. If you KNOW the Father and your identity is found in the Son, you want to be obedient to the leading of the Spirit.

Discussion Questions

1. Are you working for the approval man or God? (Galatians 1:10)

2. Fruit is outward action that results from the condition of your heart. Do you produce fruit for the kingdom of God? (Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:4-5)

3. Which field have you been tending and harvesting? Where is your focus? Yourself? Business? God's kingdom? (Isaiah 5:1-7)

4. Are you proclaiming God but doing nothing about it, or are you working to leave a legacy for His kingdom here on earth? Examine your heart today. 

5. When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? Pray throughout today that the Lord would give you an opportunity. When you see it, take it without hesitation.