ODJ: God’s patience
May 20, 2010
Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on (v.18).
READ: Luke 20:1-19
Nearly one-third of the recorded teachings of Jesus in the Gospels are parables. It’s said that a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Jesus was the Master teacher who taught with simplicity, clarity (Matthew 13:54), and great authority (7:28-29). So much so, that the leading priests, teachers of the law, and elders asked Him, “By what authority are you doing all these things?” (Luke 20:2). Jesus responded by telling a parable of the evil tenant farmers (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12). Jesus spoke of:
• The sinfulness of humanity (Luke 20:9-15). Jesus drew from Isaiah 5:1-7, where the vineyard refers to the nation of Israel (v.7). The Jews, despite their favored nation status, had rejected God’s authority. The tenant farmers are a vivid representation of man’s rebellion and rejection of God.
• The long-suffering patience of God (Luke 20:10-13). Despite the cruel treatment of all His messengers, the landowner relentlessly reached out to the tenants. He even sent His cherished son. For He is “the God of compassion and mercy . . . slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). The landowner is a clear picture of God’s patient endurance with people (2 Peter 2:9, 3:15).
• The severity of God’s judgment on those who reject the Son (Luke 20:13-16). There’s a mistaken idea that a loving God can’t get angry. But God said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever” (Genesis 6:3 NKJV). There is such a thing as “the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16). This is a warning of judgment on everyone who rejects the Son.
The teachers and leading priests knew that Jesus was telling the story against
them—they were the wicked farmers (Luke 20:19). What was Jesus saying to you and me in this tale? —K.T. Sim
Jesus will come back again as Judge. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you presumed on God’s grace and patience, or are you living a pure and blameless life? (1 Peter 3:16).
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
determined devotion
In 605 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem. He returned to Babylon with the spoils of his victory. The king also brought back Jews of royal and noble descent as hostages to ensure Judah’s continued submission to Babylon (Daniel 1:2-3). Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the select Jewish youths given a Babylonian education (vv.4-6). [...]
ODJ: company you keep
O ne of the highlights of living in East Africa is meeting men and women from around the world who come through the region to participate in short or long-term missions. Today, for example, while sitting in a Kampala, Uganda, coffee shop, I met a young married couple from Charleston, South Carolina. Amanda and Michael [...]
ODJ: hey, that’s mine
My son was playing with some toys at a local library when a little girl came over and grabbed a truck out of his toddler grip. He looked at her loot as if to say, “Hey, that’s mine!” I scanned the room for the person in charge of this little marauder, but found no one [...]
ODJ: well-aged wisdom
Yam Fot Pau and his wife overcame poverty by pouring their lives into building a successful business, only to see it go bankrupt in 1992. He said at the time, “My philosophy on money is simple: It is important, but it depends on how you get it. . . . I’ve never been afraid of [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米