Bible Study Lessons: Matthew 21:33-46
Jesus told many parables for our benefit and this one about the wicked tenants is yet one more.
But the story from Matthew is compelling because it answers the important question of “Why accept Christ now?” and not later. As you will see, there will come a time when it is too late to ask Jesus into your heart.
What’s the Hurry? People all over the world decide at different times in their lives to accept Christ and follow him.
Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants to urge nonbelievers to act before it’s too late.
Our days here on earth are numbered so we never know which day will be our last.
Why Accept Christ Now? Parable of the Wicked Tenants
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.
When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce.
The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.
Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them.
But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’
They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?”
They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”
Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,
‘The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.
And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.
When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet. – Matthew 21:33-46 NASB
The Wicked Tenants
The parable above has many different elements. So many that you might consider getting out your [easyazon_link identifier=”1414359810″ locale=”US” tag=”bobpardphot-20″]study Bible[/easyazon_link] which lists them all.
Why Is Now the Time to Accept Jesus?
I am going to focus on why we should choose to follow Christ now instead of procrastinating.
God has done everything possible to show His love for us, including sending His only Son to die on the cross so we can be forgiven of our sins.
He gives this love and mercy freely. We don’t earn it, we can’t be “good enough” to get into heaven on our own. It’s only through Jesus Christ that we can enter.
There is no greater gift we can receive than the mercy of God through Christ.
Is It Ever Too Late to Follow Christ?
[easyazon_image align=”left” height=”160″ identifier=”1414359810″ locale=”US” src=”https://makingchristknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/41r4WCbUeL.SL160.jpg” tag=”bobpardphot-20″ width=”105″]There will come a time of judgment so we have to be prepared when that day comes. At that time, Christ will become the “crushing stone” as foretold in chapter 44.
God freely offers mercy and forgiveness now and guarantees our salvation.
He also promises judgment later. Then it will be too late. With that said, now is the time to choose Jesus.
Love in Christ
– Bob
If you would like to discover more about the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to go here and take the first steps.