Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 6 OCTOBER 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 21

Topic: The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.
37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’
39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Matthew 21:33-41

1. Another Parable was told

2. The symbols in the Parable

a) The landowner

God

b) The agreement made

The vinedressers would return to the land owner a portion of their earnings

c) The vineyard

A reference to Israel (Isaiah 5)

d) The vinedressers

i) The leaders

ii) They were entrusted with the vineyard

e) The servants of the land owner

i) Prophets

ii) Special messengers of God

f) The son of the land owner

The Lord Jesus Christ

3. The wicked plots and deeds of the wicked vinedressers

a) They refused to pay anything to the land owner

b) They abused and killed the servants of the land owner

c) The last wicked deed of the vinedressers

i) The killing of the son of the landowner

ii) This was reprehensible

iii) The vinedressers were resorting to murder

iv) They were wicked through and through

4. The action planned by the landowner

a) He will destroy the vinedressers

b) He will lease the vineyard to others

c) Those who will honour the agreement established

LESSONS FOR US TO LEARN

1. Never be like the vinedressers

a) Unwise

b) Unruly

2. Always have a deep reverence for God

a) He has blessed

b) He has given

c) He expects us to do our part

i) Responsible

ii) Accountable

iii) Honourable