Lesson Two (Chapter 21)
The King has Come, the King is Coming
“Also the sons of the foreigner (Ex 12:43; Eph 2:11-12) who join themselves to HaShem, to serve Him, and to love the Name of HaShem, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant— Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” HaShem G-d, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.”
Isaiah 56:6-8
Introduction
- Last week we looked at a “called” and “chosen”. We saw that the challenge for us is not our “theology” – it is our response to being chosen and called.
- We looked the first of the “Vineyard” parables. This week we continue with two more of the “Vineyard” parables.
The King Has Come
- Matt 21:1-12: The “Triumphal Entry”.
- Zech 9:9-17: Is this speaking of a “spiritual Kingdom” – or a physical one? Resist the urge to “spiritualize” what does not add up. Hebraic thinking is practical and reality based.
- When Yeshua rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, what did the people think would occur now if He was indeed the Messiah?
- The King had come – but was the prophecy fulfilled?
- Ps 118:19-25: “Pitchu li sh’areik-tzedek..” Part of the “Hallel” which was and is traditional for Passover. The people cry out “hoshiah na!” from this Psalm. Yeshua also quotes from this passage in Matt 21:42. The “stone” mentioned was always understood to be David – the least likely of the sons of Jesse. Yeshua is showing that He is the “Stone” – the key stone which fits perfectly and crowns the arch (rosh pina – the “cornerstone”).
- Matt 21:11-16: He is openly declaring that He is the promised “Son of David”. Considering what the people must of thought was about to occur, what did the “chief priests” likely think was about to occur?
- The King did come that day… We would do well to remember...
The King is Coming
- Matt 21:12-13: When Yeshua cleanses the Temple, we are drawn to the violence of turning over tables etc. We often miss the full import of what Yeshua said. He quotes from Isaiah 56:7.
- Is 56:1-8: “Cleansing” the Temple did not bring a fulfillment to this passage. Verse 8 makes clear this is for a time yet to come.
- What do they receive (vs. 5)?
- The focus in vs 6 is “those who join themselves to HaShem.” What do these “foreigners do?” [nakar]
- Verses 7-8 show a “joined” people – foreigners and the outcasts of Israel – all coming to the “House of Prayer” in the “Holy Mountain.”
- Is 2:1-5: Is this yet-future picture consistent with the Gospel proclamation: “Repent, the Kingdom of G-d is at hand!”?
Vineyard Parables
- Is 5:1-7 provides the glossary for “Vineyard” typology.
- Replacement Theology has always read these types of parables incorrectly. The Vineyard is Israel.
Parable of the Vineyard and the Two Sons
- Man with 2 sons = G-d, the King
- Work in the vineyard = Kingdom work
- Son who worked = repentant sinners (tax collectors, harlots etc.)
- Son who didn’t work = religious establishment
- Singular point: = real repentance is more than talk
Parable of the Landowner and the Wicked Vinedressers
- Landowner = G-d, the King
- Vineyard = Israel
- Fruit = righteous living
- Wicked vinedressers = religious authorities present at the time
- Landowner's servants = the prophets
- Landowner’s Son = Yeshua
- New vinedressers = new authorities (talmidim)
Summary
- Are you like the first son, who resists the command of the Father, and yet obeys in the end?
- Are you like the second son, who agrees to obey, and yet never does?
- Let us decide to be like a third son – who hears and then obeys.
Baruch haba b’shem HaShem
Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of HaShem