Rejecting God's Invitation: A Call to Readiness

In Matthew 21, Jesus enters Jerusalem, causing a stir among the people and religious leaders. He heads to the temple, where the leaders, feeling threatened by His presence, confront Him with malicious questions. Jesus responds with parables, exposing their hypocrisy and evil intentions. One such parable involves a householder who plants a vineyard and leases it to farmers. When the time comes to collect the fruits, the farmers mistreat and kill the servants sent by the householder. Finally, the householder sends his son, whom the farmers also kill. This parable symbolizes God's relationship with Israel, highlighting their rejection of His prophets and ultimately His Son, Jesus.

Jesus further explains that the kingdom of God will be taken from those who reject Him and given to those who produce its fruits. The religious leaders, realizing Jesus is speaking about them, are infuriated but fear the crowd, who see Jesus as a prophet. Jesus continues with another parable about a king who prepares a wedding feast for his son. Those invited refuse to come, mistreating and killing the king's servants. The king then invites others, both good and bad, to the feast. This parable illustrates the rejection of Jesus by the Jews and the subsequent invitation to the Gentiles.

The sermon emphasizes the importance of being prepared for God's kingdom. Jesus warns that many will be called, but few chosen, highlighting the need for genuine faith and readiness. The religious leaders' rejection of Jesus serves as a cautionary tale for all believers to examine their hearts and ensure they are truly following God's way.

Key Takeaways

• 1. examination and readiness, ensuring that our faith is genuine and that we are living in accordance with God's will. [29:28]
  5. The Urgency of the Gospel Message: The sermon underscores the urgency of responding to the gospel message. With the signs of the times pointing to the imminent return of Christ, believers are urged to live soberly, righteously, and godly, looking for the blessed hope of His return.
  
  ** [29:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:18] - Jesus Enters Jerusalem
• [00:48] - Confrontation in the Temple
• [02:20] - Parable of the Vineyard
• [04:16] - The Son Sent to the Vineyard
• [06:10] - The Rejected Cornerstone
• [08:27] - God's Expectation of Fruit
• [10:55] - Prophecy of the Messiah's Rejection
• [13:00] - Jesus' Rejection by His Own
• [15:00] - The Kingdom Taken from the Builders
• [17:30] - Parable of the Wedding Feast
• [20:09] - The Wedding Garment
• [24:25] - Invitation to the Gentiles
• [29:28] - The Unprepared Guest
• [33:14] - The Judgment to Come

1. Matthew 21:33-46
2. Matthew 22:1-14
3. Isaiah 53:3-8

1. In the parable of the vineyard, what actions did the farmers take against the servants and the son sent by the householder? How does this reflect the behavior of the religious leaders towards Jesus? [04:16]
2. What was the reaction of the religious leaders when they realized Jesus was speaking about them in His parables? How did the crowd's perception of Jesus influence their actions? [06:57]
3. In the parable of the wedding feast, what was the response of those initially invited, and what actions did the king take as a result? [19:09]
4. How does Jesus describe the consequences for those who are unprepared for the wedding feast? What does the wedding garment symbolize in this context? [20:42]

1. What does the parable of the vineyard reveal about God's expectations for His people and their response to His messengers? How does this apply to the church today? [09:44]
2. How does the parable of the wedding feast illustrate the inclusivity of God's invitation to His kingdom? What does this suggest about the nature of God's grace? [24:25]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the urgency of responding to the gospel message? How does this urgency relate to the signs of the times mentioned in the sermon? [55:26]
4. How does the concept of being "prepared" for God's kingdom challenge contemporary believers in their daily walk of faith? [29:28]

1. Reflect on a time when you may have rejected or ignored a message from God. How can you be more receptive to His voice in the future? [10:06]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of producing spiritual fruits. Identify one area in your life where you can cultivate more of the fruits of the Spirit. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in that area? [06:30]
3. Consider the parable of the wedding feast and the necessity of the wedding garment. What does it mean for you to be "clothed in righteousness," and how can you ensure you are prepared for God's kingdom? [20:09]
4. The sermon warns of the consequences of unpreparedness. What specific actions can you take to ensure your faith is genuine and that you are living in accordance with God's will? [29:28]
5. How can you actively respond to the urgency of the gospel message in your community? Identify one person you can share the gospel with this week and plan how you will approach the conversation. [55:26]
6. Reflect on the religious leaders' rejection of Jesus. How can you guard against hypocrisy in your own life and ensure that your actions align with your professed beliefs? [16:33]
7. The sermon discusses the imminent return of Christ. How does this belief influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes might you need to make to live with a greater sense of readiness and expectation? [44:21]