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Feb. 15, 1953 GAINING OR LOSING THE KINGDOM Matt. 21: 33-43 Pointers on the Lesson
privilege and duty to labor in the vine yard of the Lord. Rewards for this labor will be in accordance with the faithful ness manifested in the service, not in accordance with the length of time spent at it. It is also shown in the Scriptures that this reward will be in harmony with a man’s ability, not in accordance with the amount of work done or the spec tacular character of it. (See Matthew 25:14-30.) Other passages which ought to be studied in the matter of rewards are Luke 19:11-26 and First Corinthians 3:10-15. The latter passage in particular shows the relationship between salvation and rewards. Men are saved because they are upon the Rock, Christ Jesus (v. 11). Having become established upon the Rock, it is then the privilege of every believer to labor humbly for rewards which will be given at the Bema Seat at the Lord’s coming. Memory Selection: (Jesus said) “Who soever will be great among you, let him be your minister” (Matt. 20:26b). The mother of two of Jesus’ disciples came to the Saviour one day to ask Him to promise that her sons should sit on either side of Him when He came into His kingdom. She thought that Jesus would rule soon as an earthly King, and that it would be a great honor to be chosen by Him as His special helpers. When the other disciples became angry at her request, the Lord Jesus said a strange thing to them. He reminded them that most people love to be “ IT ;” they would like to be the leader or the captain or the president of their group. Some people are so selfish that if they cannot be “ IT” they refuse to play. Some people think so highly of themselves that if they cannot lead their group they refuse to come to it any more. This was not to be true among Jesus’ disciples. God’s Son said, “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister [your servant].” He reminded them that even He had not come to be waited upon but to serve others and to give His life for them. The Saviour taught His disciples that those who love Him and faithfully serve Him and others are great in spite of their lowly position or their lack of wealth in the world. As you think of the friends that you love most, is it not true that you think of those who are always thinking of others rather than of themselves? Boys and girls who pout because they cannot be first or who refuse to work with the group or play the game if they cannot be leader are not popular. True greatness in the sight of God and in the sight of others comes from loving and serving even as the Lord Jesus Himself loved and served others. Helps for the Children Jesus Teaches Who Is Great Matt. 20:20-28
The parable selected for this week’s study reflects the attitude of the Jews, their leaders in particular, toward the King dom of heaven and its King. Verse 45, which is just outside the confines of the printed portion of our lesson, suggests this fact: “ And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” However, many others besides Israel have been guilty of treating lightly the things of God, primarily the Son of God. Such will sooner or later come under the wrath of God. Neglect of God’s reve lation is one of the most serious sins of our own times. God’s Favors to Israel v. 33 Imagery most familiar to the Jewish mind was employed in this parable. The scene gathers about a vineyard. The description here makes us think of Isaiah 5. The householder represents God, who owns everything. The husbandmen repre sent the people who are supposed to care ^or God’s work. These people were the Jews in this instance. It should be noted that the vineyard was turned over to the husbandmen in good shape. It was a good work committed to their care. A high honor was being bestowed upon them. Everything that goes to make for a good vineyard was supplied by the householder: a hedge, a winepress, and a tower. Moreover, in the first place, he had planted it himself assuring it of a good start. God was good to Israel. They should have brought forth a bountiful harvest for the glory of God. God’s Expectance of Fruit vv. 34-39 The servants in this section refer to God’s special messengers down through Old Testament times who have given forth God’s Word and warned men to live for God. These servants had come in increasing numbers explaining fully God’s will and purposes. The house holder’s son (v. 37) without question pictures the Lord Jesus Christ who came to earth from heaven and whom the householder had a right to expect “they will reverence.” After all that God had expended upon Israel in the way of calling, redeeming, and exalting surely He had a right to expect some fruitage from them. But how little there was in reality! And what about us who are of the Gentiles? Has He done any less for us? And yet, in most instances, God does not realize from His investment anything like the returns that He is entitled to. The record of the church as a whole is a shameful one in this regard. What kind of fruit are you as an individual bearing for God? The Day of Reckoning vv. 40-43 The evading of responsibility on the part of Israel meant that there must come a reckoning. Forty years after our
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