Stewardship and Judgment | Matthew 21:33–46

Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and each week I share sermons that balance the grace and love of Jesus Christ with the truth of the Word of God.

Together, we'll explore Scripture using observation, interpretation, and application.

This helps us discover practical ways to live out our faith every single day.

Let's dive in together into God's Word.

Alright, well good morning everyone.

It's great to be here with all of you as we are going back into our sermon series through the parables of Christ.

Parables are so interesting. They're very unique. They're very simple, but yet they're full of depth.

Today, as we are in this Easter season, let us remember first and foremost

the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Let us recognize that it is Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus being born in a manger, Him teaching these parables that we are going over, the miracles that He performed,

walking on water, calming the storm, healing the sick, raising people from the dead.

It goes to show you the power of who our God is.

That God is consistent in His Word.

And God continues to speak to us through His Word and through others as well.

And we're grateful for our Lord and our God.

You've just heard Mark Iseri read the parable of the wicked tenants from the Gospel of Matthew.

And we're going to go into this.

Because it's a very interesting parable that shows us something of great significance.

You see, this parable is found in the Gospel of Matthew.

It's found in the Gospel of Mark and in Luke as well.

So when you see something that shows up three times, it's something that you should pay attention to.

Amen?

So we see this three times where Jesus entered in Jerusalem and He's confronting the religious leaders.

And the religious leaders, they realize that this parable is targeted.

It's aimed directly at them.

The Scripture says that they acknowledged or they realized that this parable was towards them.

So stewardship and judgment.

Let's go to that next slide.

And I want to take a moment.

Let's go one more.

I want you to look at this image here.

You see here, what is this church?

What is this?

Like a vineyard, right?

You see there, you know, you have grapes, you have the hills and all that.

I kind of think of Napa, California specifically, or Sonoma.

Those kind of things where you can see that kind of imagery.

And what we have in here are certain symbols from the text that they have certain representations.

So we have the vineyard then, which represents the people of God.

It's representing Israel.

We then have the fence, which is symbolic for God's protection.

You want to have a fence or a wall around your vineyard, right?

Because in a lot of times in Scriptures, it's saying you don't want people stealing your crops kind of thing.

That makes a lot of sense, right, why we have fences and walls especially.

And then you have the winepress here, which you see that there's the fruit that's growing on the vine or in the vineyard.

And there's this expectation from the Lord to an expectation of harvest.

So not only are we to bear fruit, there's this expectation, at least in this scene, where there must be producing fruit.

And in this case, we could just say making wine for this sake.

You have the tower in the background then, which is representing God's care and provision for his people, right?

Like when you have a tower for a vineyard especially, you want to be able to look out, yes, at the beautiful sunrise and sunset.

But you also want to be able to also protect if anyone is going into the vineyard.

Does that make sense, church?

Okay.

Now, we don't have the picture of the tenants or the servants or the son or the owners and the new tenants.

But you still get at least the scene of what is going on.

So we have the tenants, which is a representation of the people of God, their leaders, representing also the people of God.

We have also the servants, which represents the prophets that were sent by God.

Then the son, which represents Jesus Christ as the, well, as the heir, as the messenger.

And then the owner, which is God the Father.

And then new tenants.

Well, as we know in scripture, that there is the mystery of Christ that is revealed,

going from what used to be exclusive to the people of God, being available for everyone who believes in the Lord.

So, it is showing that from once the Jewish people, now going to all who believe in Christ.

Does that make sense, church?

Okay.

So, the new tenants is those who respond to Christ.

I want us to go back here.

Let's turn to the Gospel of Matthew.

And I want you to see, knowing this, what we just went over,

how beautiful this parable aligns with our understanding of God, His Word, and His plan for us.

Right?

There was a master of a house, God, who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it.

Okay?

And He dug a wine press, right?

The expectation of producing fruit.

And leased it to tenants, right?

There's this idea of stewardship that's in there.

The people of God were to steward God's promises.

And where did He go?

So, the master went to another country, or the owner went to another country.

When the season for fruit drew near, so there was a certain amount of time for fruit to be produced,

He sent His servants to the tenants to get fruit,

sending the messengers, the prophets, to go to the people of God to collect the fruit.

And what did the tenants do?

They take His servants, and do they welcome Him in?

No, it says, they beat one, they killed another, and they stoned another.

Again, He sent other servants.

I mean, if one servant got killed, if I was the owner, I'd be pretty upset.

But continuing of sending servants here, giving more opportunity for the people of God.

Okay?

He sent other servants, more than the first.

And did they welcome Him in?

No.

They did the same to them.

And finally, He sent His Son, the heir.

He sent His Son to them, saying,

They will respect My Son.

Right?

That makes perfect sense.

They're being disrespectful.

They're doing all these terrible things to these messengers that I'm sending.

Surely they would respect My Son.

They're living in the vineyard.

They're being there.

They're dwelling there.

Well, this is not the case.

When the tenants saw the Son, they said to themselves,

This is the heir.

Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.

Thinking that the death of the Son,

they would, by killing him,

they would gain.

But here's the thing.

And just as we talk about in this Easter season,

evil thinks it can win.

But in the end, evil does not win.

When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes,

what will he do to those tenants?

He said to them,

He will put wretches to a miserable death

and let out the vineyard to other tenants

who give him the fruits in their season.

That is a very important thing, church,

when we read that.

Because it's representing the old covenant,

the old system in which the Jewish people had

prior to the new covenant.

But it's all based in this kind of vineyard language,

as it were.

Those who will give him the fruits in their seasons,

which goes to show the importance.

Church, it's important for us to recognize

to believe in Jesus Christ,

the death, burial, and resurrection.

It's also important that upon believing in him,

we are to bear fruit.

We are to be molded by our Lord and our God,

being transformed, right?

The transformation of mind,

the transformation of heart,

the very essence of who we are

should be on a trajectory of being more like him.

That doesn't mean we're going to be perfect, though, does it?

Are any of us perfect in here?

Don't raise your hand.

We'll talk later, right?

But the reality is,

nobody is perfect.

But God continues to mold us.

He continues to make us like him.

And so that's a very pivotal point there.

Jesus said to them,

have you not read in the scriptures?

It's in the Gospel of Luke,

where the Pharisees actually interject and said,

this isn't the case.

But Jesus is still saying in here,

have you not read the scriptures?

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

This was the Lord's doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Therefore, the kingdom of God

will be taken away from you

and given to a people producing fruit,

which goes to show,

paving the way for salvation

to be available for all who believe.

And in that belief,

we are called to be transformed,

to grow in Christ,

and to live and love like Jesus Christ.

Amen?

Does this make sense, church?

Okay.

And the one who falls on this stone

will be broken to pieces,

and when it falls on anyone,

it will crush him.

And when the chief priests

and the Pharisees heard this parable,

they perceived that he was speaking about them.

And although they were seeking to arrest him,

they feared the crowds

because they held him to be a prophet.

I want you to think for a moment.

That language about tripping over a stone

and breaking,

how many of you know Daniel 2, verse 35?

Daniel 2:35

It's in your notes.

Where it talks about a stone

that gets thrown into a great statue.

Some of you know what I'm talking about.

The statue is made of bronze and iron and copper,

and it shatters to pieces.

It's actually a direct connection to Daniel,

which is representing all of the kingdoms of the world

will be shattered against God.

Nations, people, groups, people

without the stone will not prevail.

So it's this wonderful tie-in

with the Old Testament

and just with lots of scripture in this.

And so it's very interesting that in Daniel,

where you have this stone,

that's a very small stone,

it takes down this giant statue

and then grows into a mountain.

What in the world's happening there?

It's representing the kingdom of God,

just like we've talked about the mustard seed, right?

The seed that gets planted into the ground

and it grows into something that is more powerful,

something that is great,

because that's how God works.

It gets planted and it expands.

And so the stone being our foundation,

it expands.

Do you build your life on Jesus Christ?

Is he your firm foundation?

Is he the anchor for your life?

And it's interesting in this language

when it's saying that someone who falls,

trips and falls on the stone

is very similar to the idea of the stone

being cast upon this statue

and shattering to pieces.

Does that make sense, church?

Do you understand?

I sure hope that you do.

And so in all of this,

the vineyard is planted with care.

God entrusts his people.

The servants are beaten and they're killed.

It's prophetic rejection.

The son is killed outside of the vineyard,

which foretells of Christ's crucifixion

and judgment comes

and the wicked tenants are destroyed.

And then there is the cornerstone prophecy,

which Christ is the new foundation

and the kingdom is transferred

for all who bear fruit.

So not we must believe in the Lord,

but we also must grow in him

and be moved to do good in his name.

So what does all of this mean then

as we go into this?

Here at Ontario Community Church,

we use what is known as the OIA method.

O as an observation.

What in the world is going on in the text?

I is for interpretation.

What are the lessons we can learn?

And thirdly is the application.

What do we do about this?

So let's go to that next slide.

It is the I interpretation.

What can we learn and interpret from this?

The first thing is that God sends people

even when we reject them.

God's patience is showing

that God is not quick to anger

because he is continually sending these prophets

to speak to the people

to get them to change,

to get them to see their evil ways

and to turn to the Lord.

That's a pattern that we see

and we also can recognize

that mercy is shown before judgment

that God does extend mercy.

It's much like when we think about salvation here

for the Christian.

God gives a certain amount of time

but not forever.

That's an important thing.

And so in 2 Chronicles,

it's in your notes,

chapter 36, verses 15 through 16,

it mentions that time and time again

he sent messengers.

Again, showing the mercy of God.

In Hebrews, chapter 1, verses 1 through 2,

Hebrews 1:1–2

in time past,

God spoke now through his son,

which is talking about Christ,

from prophets to Christ.

And so in all of this,

it just means that God

doesn't give up easily on you.

God is merciful and he gives,

he gave the people of God

lots and lots of time.

In the same way,

he gives us the opportunity

to turn to him in faith.

The second thing then

is rejecting the son

leads to what, church?

To judgment.

The murder of the son

goes to show the depravity, right?

It goes to show the depth

of the rebellion of these people.

And the stone imagery then

is showing that Christ,

well, he is showing a new system,

a new way of doing things.

Instead of following the law,

it is now about grace.

Going from the old system

to the new system.

In Psalm 118, 22,

the very reference

that Christ is using,

the stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

And then as I mentioned

in Daniel chapter 2,

Daniel 2 · chapter mention

the stone became a mountain

that filled the whole earth.

Do you see the pattern

when it comes to the stone here?

And then in Acts 4.11,

Jesus is the stone.

If you need it more clear,

in Acts 4.11,

Jesus is the stone

that the builders rejected.

How powerful.

How powerful is that?

And so Jesus dying on the cross,

right, his death, burial,

and resurrection

is the cornerstone

for our salvation.

We think of that

as the firm foundation

in which we build our lives.

Let us not be like the fool

who builds their house on the sand.

Who does that anyways, right?

You want to build your house

on the firm foundation then.

And then thirdly,

the kingdom is given to those

who will bear fruit.

The tenants then,

they failed to steward

all that they were given.

Right?

Fruitfulness is a sign.

It's kind of this

outward expression

of faith to the Lord.

You're going to have

to produce fruit.

Right?

I will tell you,

believe in Jesus Christ.

That's the call for us.

Be saved,

but also be transformed.

Grow in Christ

and do good

in his holy name.

Bear fruit.

And what does bearing fruit

look like?

It's being transformed

from the inside out,

knowing that you're becoming

more like Jesus

in what you say

and in what you do.

And in the gospel accounts,

it mentions in Matthew and John,

every tree or every branch

that does not bear fruit,

he cuts off.

And certainly,

that's a heavier one,

isn't it?

But we are called to bear fruit.

Let that be an encouragement

for you.

How is your fruit?

Are you producing fruit?

If you're not,

let this be a call for you

to produce fruit.

We then go into

the application then.

How can I apply

and live this out

in my life?

Well, the first thing is to,

well, it's pretty obvious.

What does it say, church?

Receive the Son.

Don't reject Him.

Jesus,

we have to acknowledge

who He is.

That He is what we need

in our lives.

That Jesus Christ,

again,

is the way,

the truth,

and the life.

God extends

an invitation

for each and every one of us

to come

to the feast.

Will you respond

to that?

Receive the Lord

and integrate Him

into every part

of your life.

Having Christ

as the center

of your life.

maybe you're resisting

God's call

for your life.

Don't do that.

Listen to God's call

because I'm here

to tell you

that Jesus provides

a better way.

A better way

than what the world

has to offer.

A better way

than what,

when we think of

this constant fighting,

brother against brother,

left versus right,

and denominations

fighting against one another.

There is an ugliness

in that

when really what matters

is us coming to the Lord,

coming before Him

and being molded.

Let's remember that.

Don't reject the Lord.

I know

it's so important

for us to recognize

that God

is constant

and He does not fail us.

I've said it before

and I'll say it again.

Man can

and man will fail you.

But God

will not fail you.

That's important.

The second thing then

is to let the stone

establish

and shape

your life.

He is the foundation

for our lives.

Consider Christ

as the most important stone

that you have

when we talk about

this foundation.

When we're considering

that prophecy of Daniel

and this tie-in

with the parable,

the stone

which the builders rejected

has become

the cornerstone.

And

in the same way

that this stone

can destroy a statue

or people can trip on it

and get destroyed,

those are the ones

that are going

against the stone.

Well, let us consider

when we have the stone

as our foundation.

Not only having it

as our foundation,

but continuing

to let the stone grow

just like the mustard seed,

right?

Being planted

and growing

or the stone

going

from a small stone

into a mountain,

growing

and transforming

your life.

When we think

of leadership,

when we think

of family

or finances,

every part

of our life

will be transformed

by Jesus.

That is the beautiful thing.

And when we think

about it,

I'm sure that many

of you may know

someone that is

close to the Lord.

Someone that you know

who you have seen

has been transformed

and it's remarkable.

There's one individual,

I won't give him

the name.

If he's watching,

he'll probably

make fun of me,

but there's a gentleman

that I know

who was really

like the gothic

dark type of person

who was listening.

And there's nothing

wrong with dressing

in black.

I do it all the time,

okay?

But he was living

a very worldly life

where there was

such division

in his marriage

and in his relationships.

people prayed for him.

His wife,

he started attending church

and it was kind of

this rebellion

that was happening.

And over a few years,

it was little by little

where God was

transforming the man

to where he became

a believer in Jesus Christ,

to where he became

baptized.

And he's a much

different man.

If you knew him,

I've known him

for about a decade.

From when I first

met him,

he was kind of scary,

I admit,

to where he is now,

a very loving man.

Now, he doesn't

understand everything

about scripture.

Who does?

But God is continuing

to work in him

in his life.

And in the same way,

you might identify

as someone

who is rebelling

against the Lord.

Maybe you have

rebelled before.

Or does no one

here rebel anymore,

right?

We've all had our moments

where we rebelled

against God

and we thought

we could do it

on our own.

We thought that the world

or that our own way,

our own understanding

was better than

what God offered.

What God offers

is not just salvation,

but transformation.

The ability to love,

right?

When I've talked about

the peace that surpasses

all understanding,

when I've talked about

the inexhaustible joy

that comes from him,

there is so much.

And so,

let your life

be dedicated

for the Lord.

And so,

in the same way

where you've heard

that story,

you either have

the rock

as your foundation

or the sand,

well,

you can either,

you're either built

by the stone

or you're shattered

by it.

That's another way

to look at it.

And the third thing,

then,

is to grow

and to bear fruit

as witness

to others.

It's a call

for us

to believe in Christ,

to grow in him,

but to go out

into the world

and to share

in the good news

of the gospel.

Talking about

character change,

your life-changing

love,

justice,

and mission.

All of these things

are part of the

transformation

that happens.

Now,

here's the thing.

As we come

to Christ

and as we grow

in Christ,

there comes a point

where you gotta

live it out.

If you receive,

right now,

a check for a million dollars

and it was legit,

you wouldn't tell

people about it?

I mean,

I know technically

you probably shouldn't

because people

would come after you

for it,

but just for the

sake here,

you would most

likely want to

tell people about it.

Right?

If you think of a debt

that's been cleared

or receiving

a wonderful gift,

we can think of

all these things

here on the earth.

When we think

about this,

well,

think about a far

greater gift

that comes from above.

Think of a far

greater gift

that comes from Christ.

Wouldn't you

want to go out

to the world

and tell your friends

and your family

of the transforming

power of Jesus Christ?

Saying,

look,

I believe in Jesus.

I'm going to

declare his name.

And maybe

you might be

in a situation

where you just

can't

speak the words.

How many of you

have been in that

situation?

You go out

and you want to

share the good news

of the gospel

and it's not allowed

or it might ruin

the relationship.

Right?

Do we have any of those?

Don't raise your hand.

Please.

But I'm sure

for a lot of us

we've had those

situations where

it might be

your workplace.

It might be

Uncle Steve

if there's anyone

named Steve here.

Or Uncle John.

Whatever it is.

There might be

that family member

you just don't

talk about the Lord

when you go over

to his house.

It may not be

the words that you say.

It can certainly

be the actions

that you do.

Doing everything

in excellence

for the glory of God.

Let your schoolwork

or your job performance

let that reflect

the light

love and truth

of Christ.

And so

in everything

that we are

we're called

to share

in the gospel

message

by words

through actions

living and loving

like Jesus.

Because you want

to have people

who see Christ

in you

as you live

your life.

Do you realize

that people

can come to Christ

just by the way

that you live

your life?

Say,

you know what?

There's something

that's different

about you.

I don't know

what it is.

There's something

that's different

about you.

What is it

about you?

And you allow

for that conversation

to happen

because that's

some of the most

powerful ways

that we evangelize

is through

relationships.

Breaking bread

together.

As I mentioned

in the Easter message

where Jesus

was on the road

with Emmaus

with the two

disciples

and they broke

bread together.

They talked

about the scriptures

and they understood.

And then Christ

disappeared

just randomly.

But it was

to show

that their hearts

were on fire

for the Lord.

And as we

come to Christ,

as we get

baptized,

as we grow

in Christ

and we start

understanding

the deeper

things of God,

let us be

moved

to serve

the community,

to serve

the church,

and to live

like Jesus

Christ.

that is so

important

for us.

In Galatians

Galatians 5:22

chapter 5

verse 22

and 23

mentions the

fruit of the

Spirit.

In Matthew

28, 19

which talks

about fruit

through making

disciples.

And so

can we go

back to that

vineyard

picture real

quick?

As we

close here,

I want you

next time

you go

visit a

vineyard

or you

look at

an image,

it's just

a generic

image,

you can

see lots

of pictures

of vineyards,

consider

this concept

of stewardship

that with

our time,

our talent,

and our

treasure,

we are to

steward what

God has

given to

us.

Consider

the stone

and let

that be the

foundation for

your life.

And when

you hear

the word

of God,

the words

of someone's

testimony,

receive

Jesus Christ.

Receive

salvation from

the Lord

through belief.

Grow in

him and

be moved

to do good

in his name.

Ask yourself

this question

then.

Will you

be a

faithful

tenant

inheritance?

Or will

you let

that

opportunity

pass away?

Let's

pray together.

And

Father,

we thank

you for

this time

and this

opportunity

to go

through this

very unique

parable

that not

only shows

the old

and the new

covenant,

but also

shows your

mercy,

how you

send,

how you

sent your

messengers to

the people

of God,

but also

how you

send people

to us

to change

our minds

and metanoia,

to repent,

to come to

believe in

you.

Father,

I pray

let there

be comfort

where comfort

is needed.

Let there

be understanding

where understanding

is needed.

And may we

not be like

those wicked

tenants that

rejected the

messengers

and rejected

the son.

Instead,

may we be

in tune

to your

calling,

to your

invitation,

to believe

in you,

to be saved,

the invitation

for salvation,

but also

the invitation

to grow,

to live out

this faith

essentially

to produce

fruit.

We love

you,

we praise

you,

we glorify

you,

and we

honor you.

we thank

you for

this time

together.

It is in

the name

of Jesus

that we

pray and

we all

say together

amen.

Amen.

Thank you

for listening

for this

week's

message

from

Ontario

Community

Church.

I pray

that you

are encouraged

and strengthened

in your

walk with

Christ.

For more

sermons

and resources,

visit

Ontario

Community

Church

dot org.

May God

bless you

as you

live out

his grace

and truth

every single

day.