Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Introduction
Good morning and welcome back!
If you would start turning in your Bibles to .
This, like last week’s passage is a two part passage because it covers through .
And this entire passage actually is the end of what we started last week.
Remember that last week was centered on Jesus’ actions in the Temple driving out the money-changes, convicting people of their sin through a fig tree, and a confrontation with the Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law.
Well, the passage for this morning and tonight deal with the second half of that confrontation with these Chief Priests and Teachers of the Law.
Because last Sunday night we saw how they had confronted him, trying to trap Jesus and he in reality turned the tables on them and left them in a pretty awkward situation.
Not only an awkward situation but also left them very angry.
And, since Jesus had their attention and they are mad anyway, he might as well teach them a few lessons about about faith and dedication to God.
Because remember they thought they had everything worked out already and that they had all the answers.
They knew everything they were ever going to need to know and Jesus couldn’t tell them anything new.
Who does He think He is, anyway!
So, Jesus is going to address them in the form of three different parables.
The first two we will talk about this morning are the Parable of the Two Sons found in and the Parable of the Tenants found in .
Then tonight we will be looking at the Parable of the Wedding Banquet found in .
So, if you have found in your Bibles, I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able as we read.
Matthew writes . . . .
Scripture Focus
Matthew 21:
Matthew 21:
Stubborn Sons (vs 28-32)
Stubborn Sons (vs 28-32)
Stubborn Sons (vs 28-32)
Now, at first glance it may seem a little strange that Jesus is addressing these Jews with a parable about two sons who their dad asked to go do some work, but in reality it is very relevant.
And in fact it is also very relevant to the Church today as well.
Because the two sons actually can represent the people in the church and some of the prevailing attitudes in the Church.
So, lets break it down a bit.
First, Jesus starts out with a question for them to ponder . . .
Matthew 21:28
So, just like Jesus was asking the Jews, what do you think about this son?
All his dad did was ask him to go do some work in the field, and at first he refused.
I can see him snubbing up, sighing, grumbling under his voice . . .
All the things kids do when you ask them to do a little work around the house.
“Why do I have to do everything.”
“Why can’t I just ‘rest.’”
“Why can’t I just do that later.”
All of the mumbling and grumbling that we hear about “having” to do a little work.
But here is the thing.
This first son, even though he grumbles and complains, eventually he goes and he does what he father is asking him to do.
And, why does he do that?
Well it has to do with the son’s overall attitude.
This son is like a lot of Christians.
People who are tired.
People who are worn out.
People who sometimes forget about the eternal nature of their work.
And people, who sometimes allow the flesh to sneak in and we see a glimpse of their human nature.
But here is the thing about these people.
Eventually the Holy Spirit speaks to them and they hear what the Spirit is saying.
And when they hear what the Spirit is saying they respond to the Spirit in a positive way.
See, we could see this son in the same way.
He complained at first about going, but eventually he did.
And the reason he did was because he loved his father.
He respected his father.
And he genuinely felt bad for his refusal.
So, he did what was right.
And Christians are the same way.
We love God.
We respect God.
We want to serve God.
And eventually, we fall under conviction for our attitudes and we respond in the affirmative.
We repent and go.
And that is really the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian.
They both have the same attitude at time.
However, with the Christian it is just that, an attitude that creeps up every so often.
But with the non-Christian, it is their nature.
It is just part of who they are.
The Spirit hasn’t taken over and changed that underlying attitude yet.
But sometimes, this unholy nature is very subtle.
And this is where the second son comes in.
Anybody know someone who talks a good game and seems like a nice person, but they are unreliable?
It is sort of like that.
The son was all smiles and nice and said everything that his father wanted to hear, but when the time came, he didn’t do what he promised.
He was what we would call “two-faced.”
And we have a lot of “two-faced” people out there who claim to be Christians but they are not.
They are the ones that give real Christians a bad name.
Jesus even said to let your yes be yes and your no be no.
In other words, be honest.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
Do what you promise or don’t promise at all.
And it is about attitude being the example Christ has called us to be.
And this was also the problem with these chief priests and teachers.
They would talk a big talk, but didn’t have the guts to really back up what they said they believed.
They said they believed in and worshipped God but in reality they worshipped the highest bidder.
The person who would benefit them the most at that moment.
That’s why they were afraid to say that John’s teaching was of men.
Not that they didn’t believe it but rather they were afraid of the people.
And the church is full of people who will say whatever sounds good for the audience they are in front of.
And Jesus asked the same question I want you to think about . . .
Matthew 21:31
Of course, he wanted the first because the first was dependable.
The first was loyal.
Even though he had a big mouth and still had a great deal to learn, the Father knew he could count on that son in doing the right thing.
And Jesus tells them that the tax collectors and the prostitutes who repent and follow Him are ahead of these people who just talk a big game.
And the message for us is that we had better be very careful about who we dismiss and who we stub our noses to.
Because . . .
Bottom line . . .
they listened and repented of their sin and were made new creatures in Christ.
The chief priests and the teachers of the law were too proud to admit their sin.
Too proud to repent.
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