1. Journey Into Holiness – p.11 “How Can the Church be Holy?” Matthew 21:33-46

2. Jesus spent a little time evaluating the religious people of His dayJesus spent a little time evaluating the religious people of His day

3. Matthew 21:33-41 "Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.

4. Matthew 21:33-41 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

5. Matthew 21:33-41 "The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

6. Matthew 21:33-41 "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

7. Matthew 21:33-41 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"

8. Matthew 21:33-41 "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

9. The Parable… The landowner is wealthy. (v.33)The landowner is wealthy. (v.33) “There was a landowner who planted a vineyard” (v.33)

10. The Parable… The landowner is serious about protecting what is his.The landowner is serious about protecting what is his. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. (v. 33)

12. The Parable… The landowner sends his servants to collect what belongs to him.The landowner sends his servants to collect what belongs to him. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. (v.34)

13. The Parable… The tenants are bad tenants.The tenants are bad tenants. "The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. (vv.35-36)

14. The Parable… “The landowner (God) is incomprehensibly kind to his enemies” (Keener, 320)“The landowner (God) is incomprehensibly kind to his enemies” (Keener, 320) “Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.

15. The Parable… “The landowner (God) is incomprehensibly kind to his enemies”“The landowner (God) is incomprehensibly kind to his enemies” "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him (vv.37-39). "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him (vv.37-39).

16. The Parable… The son in this story represents Jesus.The son in this story represents Jesus. they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him – v.39 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" (v.40)

17. The Parable… The tenant farmers in the story are the religious leadersThe tenant farmers in the story are the religious leaders "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." (v.41)

18. Bottom Line: Working in God’s kingdom does not make you a servant of the KingWorking in God’s kingdom does not make you a servant of the King

19. For those checking out the Christian faith: Keep an open mind to truth.Keep an open mind to truth. Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;

20. For those checking out the Christian faith: Keep an open mind to truth.Keep an open mind to truth. the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."- Matthew 21:42, 44

21. For those following hard after Christ Live today as if you will give an account today!Live today as if you will give an account today! "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

22. For those following hard after Christ Self-deception will destroy youSelf-deception will destroy you When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking about them.

23. For those following hard after Christ Self-deception will destroy youSelf-deception will destroy you They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

24. For those following hard after Christ Remember we are stewards of His kingdom.Remember we are stewards of His kingdom.