Matthew 21:18-22:14

 Homiletics                                                      Study – Matthew 2021-2022

Lesson     22                                                     Passage: Matthew 21:18-22:14

Content (List of Topics or Events)

Faith and Judgment - Fig Tree  (Matthew 21:18-32) a. No fruit – fig tree judgment (18-20) b. Jesus describes power of faith to move mountains (21-22) c. Priest and elders ask Jesus about His authority (23) d. Jesus responds to authority question John the Baptist – did he come from heaven or man (24-27) e. Jesus illustrates “saying and doing”  with parable of two sons requested to work in vineyard (28-31a) e. Jesus answers His question about John with judgment of priests and elders (31b) f. Jesus calls out priests and elders because they see but did not repent and believe (32)   Note: Audience is unbelieving Priests and Elders

Hostility and Judgment - Vineyard and Tenants  (Matthew 21:33-46) a. Jesus sets the scene using parable of landowner vineyard and harvest  (33-34) b. Landowner sends to collect fruit and they are mistreated and killed (35-36) c. Landowner finally sends son thinking the tenants would respect son but they killed him (37-39) d. Judgment of tenants described “unfaithful thrown out and new faithful tenants replace them” (40-41) e. Rejected stone is Lord’s cornerstone (42) f. Judgment – Kingdom will be taken and given to fruitful; those that fall will be crushed (43-44) g. Priests and Pharisees knew Jesus described them; plotting to arrest (45)

Invitation and Acceptance Contrasted - Wedding Banquet and Guests (Matthew 22:1-14) a. Jesus tells parable of son’s wedding feast but  invited guest refuse to come (1-3) b. King sends more servants telling of all the preparations but invited guest go off and do other things; seizing servants mistreating and killed them (4-6) c. King enraged sends his army and destroys them and burns their city  (7) d. King say to servant those invited did not deserve to come; go out gather all the people you can find for wedding feast.  (8-9) e. The wedding hall was filled with guests  (10) f. One man did not wear wedding clothes was questioned and thrown outside (11-13) g. Many are invited,  but few are chosen (14)

Divisions (Main Blocks of Thought)

Faith and Judgment - Fig Tree	Matthew 21:18-32
Hostility and Judgment - Vineyard and Tenants	Matthew 21:33-46
Invitation and Acceptance Contrasted - Wedding Banquet and Guests	Matthew 22:1-14

Subject Sentence (Summarizes the contents of the Divisions – No more than 10 words)

Fig tree, vineyard and wedding feast illustrate opportunity and rejection.

Aim (Main Teaching Point of the Passage)

CTATLT  accepting God’s invitation is the key to entrance into His Heavenly Kingdom

Specific Application Questions

How to you demonstrate your faith in difficult situations? Where is there doubt?

In what ways are you producing fruit for the kingdom?  Where are you rejecting the call to be fruitful?

What kingdom opportunities have you ignored?  How is God leading you to engage more fully?

Principles to Remember

Faith can move mountains

Jesus is cornerstone of faith

Invitation accepted demonstrates faith

Characteristic of God

Cornerstone of faith

Theme

God has provided the way to His kingdom; we must accept His invitation for entry.

God’s Word  - What’s happening?

God’s Heart – What does God care about?

Today’s World – How does this connect to what is happening in my world today?