Matthew 21 here this morning, Matthew chapter 21. Matthew chapter 21. What we're going to see here today is that there's more about what the Lord's final dealings with the Jews in Jerusalem. Remember, we saw last week, John 12, 36, these things spake Jesus and departed and hid himself from them. It reminds you that in these last days before the cross, Jesus is actually going to turn his focus away from the multitudes and he's going to focus his attention upon his disciples. But what I believe we see in Matthew 21 through 23 is that the Lord is dealing more, or this is more of what the Lord does in dealing with the multitudes. But as we think about it in context, notice chapter 21, Matthew 21 verse 17, it says, he left them. Ponder that statement. The Lord Jesus left them, and I want you to consider very soon here, he's going to turn, again, as I said, turn his focus away from the multitudes, the unbelieving multitudes, and focus on those who have believed on him. It says he left them and went out of the city into Bethany, and he lodged there. Now, in the context of this statement, it says he left them. Again, John 12, 36, it says, these things spake Jesus and departed and did hide himself from them. Because of those who are rejecting him as Messiah, he's actually going to withdraw himself from ministering to them and focus on those who have believed on him as Messiah. In the context of this, we see, first of all, the cleansing of the temple. As Jesus single-handedly, once again, goes into the temple and he starts driving out all the money changers and those who are selling animals at a profit and taking advantage of people in relation to their worship. Also, we see in the context of this, the cursing of the fig tree. I remember we saw last week that the fig tree, everyone, even dispensationalists recognize that the fig tree represents Israel, but Jesus said, let no fruit grow on thee forever. We're gonna see how he develops that here in these next three chapters, Matthew 21 through 23. But I want you to consider also though, in the context of this, of Jesus withdrawing himself because of the religious leaders in particular, He's going to withdraw because of the questioning of the Lord's authority. Notice it says in verses 23 through 26 then of Matthew 21, when he was coming to the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said, by what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority? Jesus answering and said unto them, Answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, notice they don't answer him, they reason with themselves, saying, if we shall say from heaven, he will say unto us, why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say of men, we fear the people, for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus and said, we cannot tell. And he said unto them, neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. I want you to notice in this context here, it says in verse 23, there's a confrontation between Jesus and the religious leaders. Notice the chief priests, and I'll remind you that the chief priests are primarily appointed by Rome now at this point. They're officially recognized priests by Rome. They're not the Lord's priests. They're the chief priests of Israel. Notice the elders of the people. And notice it says, they came unto him as he was teaching. It's very interesting. Mark 11, 27 gives us another light on this. It says, as he was walking in the temple. So wait a minute, was he teaching or was he walking? That's not hard to believe. Your preacher does quite a bit of walking as he teaches. I walk around quite a bit. Why? Because I'm prone to water, Lord, I feel it. Here's the reality. These aren't contradictions. He's walking about the temple, and everywhere Jesus went, there was a gathering coming. Jesus, what do you have for us today? What do you have for us? Teach us today. So as he was walking in the temple, it says that he was teaching them, and this is when the confrontation takes place. Now, it's very important to catch here that He's teaching in front of the people. So I want you to understand what happens here is that the religious leaders trying to confront Jesus are actually the ones who are shamed in the process of this. By what authority doest thou these things? Who gave thee this authority? Hold your place or notice with me Acts chapter four. This did not stop with the crucifixion of Jesus. and the Ascension back to Heaven. Notice Acts 4, because we're going to see here that the Apostles also had to deal with this. In Acts 4, it says in verses 1 and following, And as they spake unto the people, the priests unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them." Just like they did with Jesus in the temple. It says, "...being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them." That means they arrested them. put them in hold until the next day. It says for it was now eventide. How be it many of them which heard the word believed, and the number of the men was about 5,000. Now when the Bible says the number of the men, that means plus women and children. So you think about how many thousands of people believed in the Lord Jesus as the men, the heads of households, believed in the Lord Jesus. He obviously was going to present the gospel and try to ensure that his family also was a believer in the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, notice they're on trial here now, they asked, by what power or by what name have ye done this? They should have known the answer. They did not need to ask the question. They knew that they were followers of Jesus. They knew that they were apostles and sent out by the Lord Jesus. And they're asking the same questions that they asked Jesus. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man by what means he is made whole. So here's this lame man. He's now walking. He's doing jumping jacks, praising God in the temple. I mean, he's all excited. He's finally able to walk. You couldn't hide this. Everyone in Jerusalem hears about this. Notice, the impotent man, the lame man, by what means he's made whole, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, notice the boldness here in the filling of the Holy Spirit, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set in out of you builders. Pay attention to that because Jesus is going to make a mention of the same thing. So Peter is basically repeating what Jesus taught as far as Him being the chief cornerstone here. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders. Notice again this statement, bold statement here. He's putting the blame where it belongs as far as the Lord's crucifixion, which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there's none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, And notice perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. They did not have the doctorate degree from rabbinical school. They did not have training in their schools. Notice says they marveled. And they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed, standing with them, they could say nothing against it." They could not deny the miracle that took place here. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves saying, what shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem. And we cannot deny it. They're not denying the miracles. They recognize that there is a healing power here. but that it spread no further among the people, that it straightly threatened them. You're going to be in jail again if you do this. Notice that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. That'll take care of it. We'll threaten them and they'll shut up. Oh yeah, really? And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. We don't want to catch you in the temple doing this again. It's against the law. You don't have a permit to do this. Thank you again for praying, Friday. You don't have a permit for this. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. You be the judge of this. Should we listen to you or should we listen to God? For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go finding nothing, how they might punish them because of the people. For all men glorify God for that which was done. For the man was about 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing was showed. As you go back to Matthew 21, again, they asked the question, by what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority? One of the things I mentioned on Friday was the example of John Bunyan. As I emphasized with the city in relation to our ordinance conflict of interest here, but here's the reality. When I went to the Nebraska statute on which they are basing their ordinance, it lists LLCs, corporations, all those things. And so I pointed out, none of those things relate to us. But first on the list was the authorization of cities in Nebraska to basically license, that's the word that's used in the ordinance, the statute, I should say, the state statute, to license persons, and then LLCs, corporations, all those things. So I brought up the point, okay, so if none of these things apply to our church, since we're an unincorporated church, we don't have daycares, we don't have anything that would say that we are a business. I said, does it not come down to the point where that the city will be licensing a preacher? I've told you before what Lyle that used to have his RV trailer parked on the property in exchange for mowing, after this ordinance went down and we first came out and we first moved down here, he said, what's your business? Preaching. Even a neighbor recognized there's a difference between a mobile home park and a church. So here's the reality. I brought up the story of John Bunyan. Pilgrim's Progress. The city administrator was not familiar with Pilgrim's Progress, so I just kind of gave him a brief summary. The city attorney, Anna Burge, actually is familiar with it. She's a member of a Baptist church in Lincoln. So basically, I brought up the story of John Bunyan. And I said, I don't think the city wants to get to the point where they're licensing a preacher to preach on pulpits. But the story of John Bunyan, of course, he was in jail for 12 years for preaching without a license. a license from the government. He was arrested in November of 1660, I checked out the history of this this last week, for leading an illegal religious meeting. Think about where our country is going. When cities are determining whether or not they can license a church. We received a license, remember, when they changed everything and we thought that everything was good to go? When we sent that registration in, we received a license that was to be prominently displayed in the building. So you think about when, in America, we've gotten to a point where they can say, according to law, they can say, you need a license to preach. Hmm, that sounds like 1600s in England, for an illegal, in colonial America, an illegal religious meeting. Well, he refused to stop preaching. He was finally released in 1672. Originally, he was sentenced to three months in jail. Here's the reality of this. We live in a day when they are also asking the question, who gave you that authority? God did. The Bible says preach the word, be it in season, out of season. The Bible tells me I am to preach the word of God. God's the one who tells me. God, the Holy Spirit, is the one who has told me to preach the word, not the government. The government does not determine that. I want you to notice his answer. He says, Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing. which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these." Now, Jesus has already told everyone publicly what his authority is. His authority is God the Father. It says the baptism of John. Here's the question. The baptism of John, whence was it? What's the source of John's baptism? From heaven or of men? Let me just point out here that there's a lot of so-called theologians who still debate this. I believe Jesus very clearly was emphasizing the authority of John the Baptist as God the Father, God his Father. And yet there are many who will suggest even yet today that John copied Jewish proselyte baptism. I'm sorry, the Jews, if they have immersion baptism, they copied John's baptism, not the other way around. You have to understand this biblically and historically. But he says, by what authority I do these things, if you answer that question, I'll tell you. The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men? So they reasoned, notice this statement, with themselves. It does not say they reasoned from the scriptures. I want you to consider their highest authority was themselves. Can I remind you that that's exactly, when somebody rejects the word of God as the inspired, preserved word of God, they are only reasoning from their own authority. That's their highest authority. They reason with themselves. Not scripture, not from God. They're reasoning from their own intellect. Saying, if we shall say from heaven, then Jesus is gonna say unto us, why did we not then believe him? Good point. Why didn't you believe him? If it's from heaven. Well, I'm gonna point out here that they didn't, on purpose, believe on him. But if we shall say, verse 26, of men, we fear the people, for all hold John as a prophet. It's very interesting. I think it's Mark that says, or no, Luke 20, verse six, it says they had a fear of being stoned. The religious leaders were fearful of a riot if they opposed Jesus or bad-mouthed John the Baptist, because they thought John the Baptist was a God-sent prophet. And of course he was. Verse 27, they answered Jesus, we cannot tell. Can I point out by their own admission, they have to admit that there's a good possibility that John was sent by God? Think about this, we cannot tell. So in other words, they were willingly ignorant because of their reason. Can I remind you that a lot of people end up in hell because of their reasoning? They reason with themselves. Well, you know, there's no way that, you know, that's too simple. You just have to believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, and then you can go to heaven. That's too simple. I have to do something. Yeah, you're gonna reason your way all the way to hell. Again, the response of Jesus, neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Notice me at John chapter one. I wanna show you what the Bible said about John's authority. And I want you to consider that there were the Pharisees actually heard John the Baptist preach. They knew what his authority was. John chapter 1, verses 6-8, first of all. Very clearly in verse 6, and of course this is John writing, I believe, before A.D. 70, emphasizing the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ in a time when Gnostic teaching was coming out in the first century. There was a man, notice this statement very clear, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness to bear witness of the light that all men through him might believe. That was God's desire, all men, all nations. He was not that light, the Lord Jesus was that light, but he was sent to bear witness of that light. Then drop down to verse 19. This is the record of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him who art thou? Now, what I'm pointing out with this passage is their own messengers would have told them what John said. Now, I want to point out here that they had no excuse for not recognizing the Lord's authority as being sent from God. They heard it. They heard it from their own witnesses. And he confessed and denied that, but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, what then? Art thou Elias? Elijah returned. Malachi chapter four talks about this. And he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, no. It says, Then said they unto him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. and they which were sent were notice of the Pharisees. The religious leaders had testimony from John. And they asked him and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, nor neither that prophet? John answered them, saying, I baptize you with water, but there standeth one among you whom ye know not. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoes latching I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara, beyond Jordan, where John was baptized. The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man which is preferred before me, for he was before me. I knew him not. Notice what he's going to say here. I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. John Bear Records saying, I saw the spirit. This is what he's telling the multitudes here. This is what he's telling the religious leaders. I saw the spirit descending from heaven like a dove and it abode upon him. I knew him not. but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me." Who is that? God? God that sent me to baptize with water, the same sent unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same as he which I baptized with the Holy Ghost. And I saw in the record that this is the Son of God." They had no excuse, absolutely no excuse for denying and recognizing that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Notice Luke chapter seven. Luke chapter 7. In relation to John's baptism then, we see a statement here that Luke records regarding the rejection of John's baptism. which is actually going to leave the Pharisees headed to hell because they rejected the message of John the Baptist. Luke chapter seven, notice verse 28 through 30. And I say to you, among those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. And all the people that heard him and the publicans justified God being baptized with the baptism of John. Notice this statement, verse 30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers to be the scribes in particular, rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. You know why they didn't recognize the Lord Jesus and his authority? Because they didn't recognize John's authority coming from God. That's the whole point. They questioned the authority. Can I challenge you to beware of questioning God's authority to do something in your life? When we take on a spirit of the chief priests and the elders, the Pharisees and all that, questioning God's authority, even as we saw in the Sunday school hour, God has absolute sovereign dominion over this earth, over this world, heavens and earth. For us to say in demand of God, I want my rights. Do you really want what you deserve? We must be aware of that, questioning God's authority to do things in our lives. Why don't you consider something? How Jesus answered these who supposedly thought they had authority. I'm gonna use Proverbs 26, verses four and five to show us what he does here in his answer. First of all, Proverbs 26, four says, answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou be like unto him. Jesus Christ was not a fool. He was not a fool like these chief priests and elders of the people. But what's interesting, so he's not answering them in their spirit, their spirit of questioning authority and so on. Jesus did not answer the foolish chief priests and elders in the same spirit that they had toward Jesus. But Proverbs 26 five says, answer fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Do you realize that if Jesus did not answer them, especially in front of the multitude, he would actually have been condoning their wicked spirit, their unbelieving spirit. He had to answer them in relation to the confrontation, the questioning of his authority from God. He answered them to reveal their folly. In reality, they actually, because of their own reasoning, in their own reasoning, they actually proved that they were fools. Because, well, if I say this, well, if we say this, there's consequences for both. So instead of saying, well, you know, I recognize there's a possibility that you have authority from God. They said, we cannot tell. They actually proved that they were fools. Colossians 4, 6 says, let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. There's a certain way. We're not to just have right answers. There's a certain way in which we are to give answers. I believe Jesus very clearly shows us an example of how we can do that. And sometimes we have to ask questions to hopefully get them to think. Now, with that said, we're gonna see two parables. There's actually a third one that comes up in chapter 22. We'll see that next time, Lord willing. But notice that first parable, the parable of the two sons. Matthew 21, verses 28 to 32. I want to read through this parable so we get an overview of it, and then we'll see some things there and we'll point out. Verse 28 says, well, what think ye? Notice what he's doing here. What think ye? He says, I want you to think about something, guys. All right, you've questioned my authority, my authority from God. Now he's asking a question, what think ye? To be honest with you, I think there's a lot of Christianity today that doesn't think anymore. Good question for us to ponder, what think you? Think about this. A certain man had two sons. Now this is not the first time, of course, he's taught a parable related to two sons. The parable of the prodigal son. And actually, that was not about the prodigal, that was actually about the self-righteous older brother. A certain man had two sons. He came to the first and said, son, go work today in my vineyard. So the first son that he approaches, he wants this son to go into the vineyard to work. So there's going to be a series of parables here to warn these unbelieving Jews. So notice what he's saying here about this first son. He answered and said, I will not. But afterward, he repented and went. I want you to notice here, he says, I will not. He absolutely refuses. But the whole key is what Jesus is emphasizing is that afterward he repented and he's, you know what, I need to go. Now this first son represents the publicans and sinners we're gonna see in this parable. What Jesus is doing here in front of the multitudes, so in answering, further answering his question, these questions that he was asked, what he's doing is he's teaching the multitude, there's a difference here between this son who repents, And that actually does what God says, what the Father says. And there's here who are respectful in their disobedience, but they refuse. Verse 30. He came to the second and said likewise. He said the same thing. Son, go work today in my vineyard. And notice he's very respectful. I go, sir, but went not. I want you to consider here this respectful rebellion. Young people, pay attention very carefully to this statement I'm making here. You can be rebellious and still respectful towards your parents. Can I remind you of that? Remind of the story of a child who was told to sit down in the back seat, the day before they have car seats and all that, refusing to sit down. Finally, the child sits down and says, I'm sitting down on the outside, but I'm not on the inside. That's rebellion. If your parents are asking and telling you to do something that's not contrary to the word of God, a violation of the word of God, guess what? If you don't do that, that's rebellion. I remember as a teenager, there were certain aspects that I rebelled against. I first of all thought that the world had something off of me, so I started developing friendships in public school. That I carried with me for years. But here's what I want you to understand about that. There were various aspects that came out that was expressions of my rebellion. Remember one of the things, in fact, I just out of curiosity went back and did a Brave search, I don't do Google anymore, but Brave search on hairstyles of the 1970s. Just glancing down through there, The basic hairstyle of the 1970s was longer than shorter. And I remember I had some friends in the 1970s in middle school going into high school. They had longer hair. They're unsaved. They had no faith in Jesus Christ. But I remember rebelling against my dad who cut our hair. I had a brother, myself. I did not like short hair. Because it was not cool. It was a thing of rebellion. Something else I rebelled against was, well, actually an expression of my rebellion was music. Oh, I didn't. I didn't. Other than at school. We don't need no education. Hey, teachers, leave us kids alone. I still say it. I cannot figure out why they allowed that to play in a school. It doesn't make sense. But in lunch. We'd sit there in the bleachers after we ate our lunch. And that music would be blaring across the gymnasium. My mind was fed with that. OK, so I realized that I recognized that was wrong. So what I did was I listened to WDLM of Des Moines. Oh, they even had the Radio Rosary on Saturday night. But here's the reality of this. Their primary music was CCM. Contemporary Christian music. No, what it is is world's music with Christian so-called words to it. That was an expression of my rebellion. Oh, at that church, I don't think anybody really would have recognized that I was rebelling against my parents. I was a respectful rebel. Young people, watch out, beware, the devil will trick you into being a respectful rebel against your parents. But more than that, he will trick you into being a respectful rebel against God and his word. The Bible very clearly says long hair is a shame for a man to have it. Oh, but I was pushing the limits. So how long is long hair? Well, if you're trying to see how long your hair can be and still be a respectful Christian, guess what? You're a rebel. Very clearly. If God tells us to do something, well, I've never been convicted about that. You better be because if God tells us to do that in the New Testament, then that is a requirement of us before him and we can be respectful. God, I love you. Do we? Jesus says you show your love to God by obeying him. Respectful rebel. That's what this second son was. He came to the second and said, likewise, go work in the vineyard. And he answered and said, I go, sir, and went not. This is a description of the Pharisees and the scribes and the religious leaders, the chief priests. Notice they were respectful. Oh, they worshiped God. They worshiped God, just like the Protestants and the Catholics and all that do. They worshiped God of their own making, their own thinking. Jesus asked the question, one of them, Twain, which of the two did the will of his father? They say unto him, the first. Now Jesus is gonna give them the application that was very clear for them to understand. Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Notice that because they repented at the preaching of John, because they repented the preaching of Jesus and the disciples, It says very clearly, he says very clearly to them, they're going into the kingdom, they're going to heaven before you. Now, I want you to notice this does not say instead of you. Jesus still is making it possible for them to repent and believe. He does not say they're going in instead of you. He says they're going in before you. So these sinners, as you call them, are actually going into heaven, the kingdom of God before you do. And unless you repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, your Messiah, guess what? You're not going into the kingdom of God. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not. But the publicans and the harlots believed him. And ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward that ye might believe him. So much for our preachers of today saying repentance is a work added to faith. Jesus very clearly said, man, unless you repent, and he's not just talking about the religious beliefs. Unless you repent, you're not going into the kingdom of God, and these publicans and harlots who have repented and believed in Lord Jesus actually will. I want you to consider that repentance prepares the heart to truly believe. So if you don't have repentance involved in preaching the gospel, guess what? The heart is not prepared. Oh, they might be able to repeat a prayer. That's why I say, that's not a sinner's prayer, that is a soul winner's prayer. Repentance actually prepares the heart to believe in the Lord Jesus. That's why I'm convinced if somebody's repenting of their sin, you don't have to give them words. They will pray and pour out their hearts to God in faith. Parable number two, the householder. Here's another parable. So Jesus has their attention here. So he says, here's another parable. There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and led it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. By the way, Luke and Mark both also give this parable. Again, he sent other servants more than the first, and they did unto them likewise. But last of all, he sent unto them his son, saying, they will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir, come, let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance. They caught him and cast him out of the vineyard and slew him. They crucified him. When the Lord, therefore, of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, he will miserably destroy those wicked men, and let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus said unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner? This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. And he's gonna give an application. I want a person to dig into this, at least as far as we can get here today. Notice it says there was a parable that he presents here. There was a certain householder which planted a vineyard. Notice we have Isaiah chapter five. I want you to see here that the householder here represents God the Father, who gave Israel, in particular Jerusalem, to the descendants of Abraham. Isaiah chapter five, it says here in verses one and following, I will sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. It says he fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein. And he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. Pause there just a moment. I'll remind you what Jesus said in the parable. He says he planted a vineyard. Oh, that sounds like Isaiah 5 here. Do you realize that he's pulling from Isaiah 5 to point out to them that the vineyard has turned sour? wild as far as what God had planned. So obviously we're talking about here Old Testament national Israel in this case. And it says that Jesus said that he hedged it about so there was a protection for the nation. It's very interesting. Psalm 80 refers to God breaking down the hedge of the nation of Israel, the vineyard of God. It says he dug a wine press in it to process the fruit of the vine. It says he built a tower. I believe that's a reference to the temple. And Jesus says he led it out to the husbandmen, the people of Israel, specifically of Jerusalem. And finally, he went into a far country, he returned to heaven. Now, when do you, when can you see possibly that this vineyard was offered to Israel? When did God come down to deal with Israel? Mount Sinai. Remember there was a covenant made with Israel. I believe that's when the vineyard was offered and it says God went back to a far country. In fact, Luke 20 verse 9 says that he went to a far country for a long time. thousands of years. Oh, we see exactly what, what, uh, this all is talking about. All right. So picking up now, verse three, Oh no. And now inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah judge, I pray you betwixt me and my vineyard. Notice it's the Lord's vineyard. Remember God is described as the Lord of the vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked, that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes. And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. Notice it says here, I will take away the hedge thereof. Ah, that's exactly what Jesus talked about, hedging it about, protecting the nation. I will take away the hedge thereof, it shall be eaten up, and break down the wall thereof, break down the protection, and it shall be trodden down. And I will lay it waste. It shall not be pruned nor digged, but there shall come up briars and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah, his pleasant plant." It says, he looked for judgment, but behold oppression, for righteousness, but behold a cry. As you go back to Matthew 21, I want you to consider here the servants. It says, In verse 34, it says, In the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants, I believe this references the prophets, to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits of it. Now it's very interesting in this context, in 2 Chronicles 36, before Judah was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar, it says that God sent out prophets, the Lord sent out prophets, his servants, servants of the prophets, rising early. So these prophets of God, I believe, were up early in the morning and they were announcing God's judgment to the city of Jerusalem as they were heading off to work, their daily employment and so on. So it says that the Lord kept sending them, sending them prophets till there was no remedy. That's a statement I want you to catch. till there was no remedy. The Lord kept sending for hundreds of years, kept sending prophets and prophets and prophets and prophets till there was no remedy. And God says, all right, that's it. King of Babylon is coming in to destroy this land. Can I remind you that Israel was leveled more than once? The temple was destroyed more than once. It's very interesting as Jesus is presenting this truth. Verse 35, and the husband took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. This is exactly what Jesus is gonna talk about in Matthew 23 to the religious leaders. Again, he sent other servants more than the first. For hundreds of years, the Lord did this. And they did unto them likewise, till there was no remedy. Again, 2 Chronicles 36. And last of all, he sent unto them his son. Hebrews 1, verses one through three talks about this. saying they will reverence my son. That was the expectation of God. They will reverence my son. Oh, they did not recognize the prophets of God, but they will reverence my son. Surely they will reverence my son. But when the husband and saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir. Come let us kill him and let us seize on his inheritance. Hebrews 1.2 says that God appointed his son heir of all things. Rolands 8 says that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the heir of all things. Only by God's grace and mercy are we brought into God's, God's, God the Son's place there as heir, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. But notice the statement that they make, come let us kill him. Jesus knows that within a matter of days, these same men that he's talking to and confronting publicly are going to stir up the crowd to cry out, crucify him, crucify him, crucify him. Let us kill him. And notice thirdly, notice, let us seize on his inheritance. Let us seize on his inheritance. In fact, Luke 20 verse 14 says that the inheritance may be ours. I want you to understand and consider that dispensational Zionism has totally blinded us to see what Jesus says there. I wanna make this emphasis, I've done this so many times because I am, after 30 years of being somewhat deceived by that, I am doing everything I can to expose dispensational Zionism as heresy, heresy from the pits of hell, distracting the Jews from believing in their Messiah. Here's what I want you to see this. Let us seize on his inheritance. Zionist Jews have seized on the Lord's land. When you read Deuteronomy 28, the conditions that God himself gave to Moses, What has changed as far as modern Israel today? What has changed that will allow them to go back into the land? I believe 1948 was a seizing of God's land. I believe that with all my heart. More, I've studied this out historically and biblically. 1948 was another fulfillment of this very statement right here. Let us seize on his inheritance. Here's the reality of this. They have not repented toward God. They have not repented of their idolatry. They have not repented of their false, pagan, wicked writings that they hold to. They don't hold to the Old Testament law. The Babylonian Talmud is what Israel is based on today, including pedophilia and all that. That's reality. They have not repented toward God. Benjamin Netanyahu has made public statements. stating that their nation is based on the Babylonian Talmud, which is pagan. In fact, it's worse. It's worse. It's worse than Islam's writings. They have seized on God's land. You read Deuteronomy 28 very carefully. It's very interesting. Dispensational Zionists will ignore those passages. When you believe, when you're dispersed amongst the nations, when you turn to the Lord, I will restore you to the land. What's changed? Orthodox Judaism has false messiahs that they're following. They're following this hexagram God, the star of their God, Ramphan. It is a blasphemous thing to say that that is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. That is nothing more than what Jesus himself said. So let me ask you, so am I supposed to believe? So after 30 years, as I've been restudying this without Schofield outlines and all that, so am I supposed to believe what dispensational Zionists say, or am I supposed to believe what Jesus said? Jesus said himself, they said, let us kill him that we can seize on his inheritance. They caught him and cast him out of the vineyard and slew him. They were actually going to do that in three days after this statement is made. When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will ye do unto those husbandmen? Notice their response. In fact, when you compare gospel accounts, there's both Jesus and their response that's at play here. It says, they say unto him, he will miserably destroy those wicked men and let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. What I believe, as you compare gospel accounts, they saw exactly, Jesus led them into understanding this with the parable. But they saw very clearly what the response should be. I want you to consider what happens here. They actually announced their own judgment. You notice they have announced their own judgment. He will miserably destroy those wicked men and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render unto him the fruits in their seasons. Can I point out that that happened in A.D. 70? Again, Psalm 80. It's a cross-reference. I encourage you to look at it. Notice verse 42, Jesus said unto them, did ye never read in the scriptures? Notice this is an application he's bringing to the ones who recognize they are worthy of judgment from God in heaven. The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord's doing, it is marvelous in our eyes. Have you never read this? Have you never read Psalm 118, guys? That's what he's asking. Have you never read this? I want to emphasize that that is a statement, that's a verse that is repeated often throughout the New Testament scriptures. As they recognize that Jesus Christ is the head of the corner, but the stone which the builders rejected. Who are the builders? The ones he's talking to, the leaders of Israel. They rejected the stone, the Lord Jesus. Therefore saying to you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and returned unto you in 1948. No, I'm sorry, that's how dispensational Zionists read it. Notice, he says, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. That's what they said. Verse 41, they recognized it would be taken from them and given to another that will bring forth the fruits. I want for us to see this in 1 Peter 2 as we close. Here's the whole basis of Dispensational Zionism. I'm saying this from experience. The whole basis of Dispensational Zionism is pull out this verse, and this verse, and this verse out of their context, string them all together so then you have your Dispensational theology. When you compare scripture to scripture, here's what you find. When you compare Matthew 21 with 1 Peter 2, we see exactly, exactly what Jesus was talking about and what the religious leaders recognized. Verse five, ye also as lively stones. He's writing to believers here, obviously. are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood." Oh, that sounds like similar language to, of course, Peter was an apostle, a Jewish believer. Notice, spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious." Ah, notice this. I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone. Isn't that exactly what Jesus talked about in Matthew 21? And he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. The Old Testament refers to being ashamed. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious. He's writing that to believers, but not to them, unbelievers, which be disobedient. Notice they're disobedient to the gospel. That's exactly what the Jewish leaders were in Matthew 21. The stone which the builders disallowed. The same is made the head of the corner. Very interesting, Peter is quoting exactly what Jesus said back in Matthew 21. a stone of stumbling and rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto they also were appointed. But ye, believers, are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, notice this, and holy nation. Didn't Jesus say back in Matthew 21, I'm taking it from you and giving it to a nation that's going to bring forth the fruits thereof? I remind you that in Matthew 21, coupled with Romans chapter 11, national unbelief in Israel is broken off. when they believe they'd be grafted back into the same tree. We as Gentiles, wild olive, olive branches are grafted into the same tree as believing Israel. A peculiar people, you do a comparison of Exodus 19, that's exactly what God called Israel, a peculiar people. You can't see the correlation with these, so many can't. a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God, which have not taken mercy, but have now obtained mercy." So there are people who will accuse me today of preaching replacement theology. No, there's no replacement. It's still the same olive tree. There is no replacement. If I teach replacement theology, then you need to take it up with Jesus because I'm preaching exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 21. You think about the severity of what Jesus says back in Matthew 21, verse 44. Whosoever shall fall on this stone. Who's he talking about? What's he talking about? He's talking about himself. He's the foundation stone. Whosoever shall fall on this stone on himself shall be broken. There's a lot of people that have been broken when they realize that they are no threat to the Lord Jesus in the rebellion. Unto whoever it, this stone, shall fall, it shall grind him to powder. What I think is very interesting is the Revised Standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version removes verse 44 of Matthew 21. On whomsoever it, this stone, shall fall, it will grind him to powder. I no longer want to be accused by God of being a liar, or accusing Jesus of being a liar. Jesus himself said, it's gonna be taken from you and given to another nation. Remember we saw last week, the fig tree's gonna be cursed, no fruit forever? Unless they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their Messiah, and are grafted back into that tree, they're heading to hell, just like Jesus would tell the Pharisees and the scribes in Matthew 23. Again, ground to powder. This was fulfilled in A.D. 70, the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman military. It's very interesting, the perception of the chief priests and Pharisees realize, he's talking about us. They feared the multitude more than God, as we see at the end of the chapter. It says, they feared the multitude instead of the Lord of the vineyard. Here's the bottom line. Jesus very clearly said, here's what's going to happen, guys. Your nation is going to be destroyed because you've rejected the Son. You've rejected the heir sent by the Lord of the vineyard, your vineyard. No repentance. No repentance. Can I point out here that if you think that you're gonna get away with rebellion against God, we need to learn something from the wicked religious rulers of Israel. Notice, again, the two things Jesus said. You fall on him, you're broken. And if Jesus falls on you, whomsoever he said, you're ground to powder. That sounds pretty serious to me. In fact, Hebrew says it's a fearful thing to fall in the hands of the living God. I wanna also emphasize this. I believe we need to be praying more than we do for Israel to believe in their Messiah. I used to pray, I think it's Psalm 122, pray for the peace of Jerusalem. No, no, the reality is they're not going to know peace until they believe in their Messiah. There are so many who believe that Israel has a past because they're God's chosen nation. No, that's the wrong nation. That's the nation that's been ground to powder. That's national Israel. The only Israel that's left in reality in God's eyes is spiritual Israel, remnant Israel, if they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, I pray that you'd help us. Consider the seriousness of what Jesus said to these religious leaders. Lord, I pray that if anybody here today has a heart of rebellion, I pray today, Holy Spirit of God, that you'd make it very clear to anyone in this place that may have a heart of respect for rebellion, as we saw earlier. I pray that today will be a day of repentance, as they realize the severity of God, Paul in Romans talks about that. The goodness and severity of God. I pray that everyone here today truly knows Jesus Christ as Savior. Maybe, just maybe, somebody has gone through the motions of praying a prayer but never truly placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Help them to realize, Lord, they'll have the same end that Jesus announced and declared to these religious leaders. The Lord today, I do pray for Israel. Israel after the flesh, as Paul calls it. I pray for Israel after the flesh that they would truly believe that their Messiah has already come. They're not looking for another Messiah. The Lord Jesus came and provided his life as a ransom for their sin. I pray today would be the day of salvation. Help us, Lord, in Jesus' name, amen.