Dr Tom Hover
March 15, 2026
Matthew 21:23 - 22:14 / Matthew 22:15-22
THE TRINITY PARABLES PART TWO / THE INTERROGATION (Taxes)
THE TRINITY PARABLES PART TWO
Matthew 21:23 - 22:14 Overview of The Three-part Sermon Series:
In Matthew 21:23 thru 22:14 Jesus gives Three Parables
1. The Two Sons Matthew 21:23-32 They Rejected the Father.
2. The Vineyard Matthew 21:33-46 They Rejected the Son.
3. The Wedding Matthew 22:1-14 They Rejected the Spirit.
Violence In the Vineyard by Vicious Violators Text: Matthew 21:33-46
Introduction: To drive home the needed lesson for the wicked religious leaders, Christ gives “another parable” (Matthew 21:33). The previous parable spoke of the sham professions of the religious leaders, this one speaks of their murderous ways (they were plotting to kill Christ). The parable speaks of the history of Israel and their rejection of Divine truth and God’s servants, and it also looks into the immediate future of that day when Christ would be crucified, and the spiritual privileges of the Jews would be given to the Gentiles. Like the previous parable, this one is also about a master commissioning work. In this case, tenants are put in charge of the man’s vineyard and are commanded to look after it while he goes to live elsewhere. At harvest time, he sends a servant to examine the situation. The tenants maltreat all the servants sent to them for this reason, resorting to murder in one case. Eventually, the master sends his son, thinking that he will at least be shown reverence and respect. The tenants, however, reason that the death of the son will secure the inheritance for themselves, so they kill him. The consequence is that the master will return and exact vengeance from those who killed his son. Matthew sheds light for us on the messianic implications of this parable by quoting from Psalm 118:22–23, in which builders reject the most important stone in a building. In the wider context of Matthew’s Gospel, this parable is reminding us of the imminent rejection of Jesus by trial and crucifixion, when the prediction of Psalm 118:22 will be fulfilled. According to Matthew, Jesus’ hearers realize that the parable has a direct relevance for themselves, and only the high regard in which people hold Jesus prevents them from taking immediate action to arrest him (vv. 45–46).
I. THE PARABLE IS ABOUT A VINEYARD Matthew 21:33
A. The Vineyard Is Laid Out Matthew 21:33
First, The Planting. Matthew 21:33 “Planted a vineyard.”
Second, The Protecting. Matthew 21:33 “Hedged it round about built a tower.” Third, The Procurer. “Digged a winepress.”
B. The Vineyard Is Leased Out Matthew 21:33 “Let it out.”
First, The Privilege in The Leasing.
Second, The Price in The Leasing.
C. The Vineyard Is Left Matthew 21:33 “Went into a far country.”
II. THIS PARABLE IS ABOUT VIOLENCE Matthew 21:34-39
A. The Prompting of The Violence. Matthew 21:34
First, The Collecting of The Rent.
Second, The Covetousness of The Renters. Mat.21:38 “seize on his inheritance”.
B. The People Suffering the Violence. Matthew 21:35 “His servants”
Acts 7:52
C. The Particulars of The Violence. Matthew 21:35
D. The Patience with The Violence. Matthew 21:36
E. The Persistency of The Violence. Matthew 21:36
F. The Pinnacle of The Violence.
First, The Contemplation of His Death. Matthew 21:38
Second, The Catching for His Death. Matthew 21:39
This portrays what was done to Jesus. John 18:12
Third, The Casting Out Before His Death. Matthew 21:39 “Cast him out of the vineyard” Hebrews 13:12
Fourth, The Cruelty of His Death. Matthew 21:39 “Slew him”
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a most cruel form of death.
III. THIS PARABLE IS ABOUT VENGEANCE Matthew 21:40-46
A. The Return for The Vengeance. Matthew 21:40
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? II Thessalonians 1:8-9
B. The Ruin in The Vengeance. Matthew 21:41
“They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men,”
Genesis 6:3 “My spirit shall not always strive with man”
C. The Replacement in The Vengeance. Matthew 21:41
D. The Repeating of The Vengeance. Matthew 21:42-44
E. The Recognition of The Vengeance. Matthew 21:45
F. The Rejection in Spite of The Vengeance. Matthew 21:46
First, The Desire to Lay Hands on Christ.
Second, The Dread to Lay Hands on Christ.
PM SERVICE
THE INTERROGATION (Taxes) Matthew 22:15-22
