Mat 21:28-22:14 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 21:28-22:14: 21:28–22:14 Three parables expose the guilt of those who had rejected the Messiah and forfeited their privilege as God’s chosen people. The new people of God are only those who embrace the Messiah. Summary for Matt 21:28-32: 21:28-32 This parable continues the point about John’s significance.

Summary for Matt 21:28-22:14: 21:28–22:14 ^a Three parables expose the guilt of those who had rejected the Messiah and forfeited their privilege as God’s chosen people. The new people of God are only those who embrace the Messiah.
Summary for Matt 21:28-32: 21:28-32 ^b This parable continues the point about John’s significance.
21:29 ^c I won’t go: This response must have offended Jews who were taught to show outward respect for the authority of a father (see 8:21-22 ^d).
21:32 ^e The right way to live is in conformity to God’s will (3:15 ^f; 5:20 ^g; see also Prov 8:20 ^h; 12:28 ⁱ).
Summary for Matt 21:33-46: 21:33-46 ^j In this story Jesus draws on Isa 5:1-7 ^k. The people of Israel who rejected God’s Messiah forfeited the privilege of being God’s people. The Christian community, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, has now been called to be the people of God (cp. Rom 9:4-8 ^l; 11:1-12 ^m).
Summary for Matt 21:34-35: 21:34-35 ⁿ sent his servants: The prophets had spoken God’s word to Israel. The tenant farmers represented the leaders of Israel, whom Jesus held responsible for the deaths of God’s prophets (23:29-37 ^o).
21:37 ^p Finally: God’s revelation climaxed in Jesus (see 13:16-17 ^q; Heb 1:1-2 ^r).
21:40 ^s When the owner of the vineyard returns refers to the Lord’s coming in judgment (see 16:27 ^t; 24:1-36 ^u).
21:41 ^v The Jewish religious leaders pronounced their own condemnation.
21:42 ^w The cornerstone was either the first stone of the foundation or the capstone (as of an arch), the last to be laid. The very stone that the builders rejected as unworthy of use was, in fact, the most important. Jesus was referring to his own role in the Kingdom of God (21:43 ^x) and to the religious leaders’ rejection of him.
21:43 ^y taken away from you: Either the privilege of being God’s chosen nation no longer belonged to the Jews, or the religious leaders had lost the privilege of being leaders of God’s people (see Rom 9–11 ^z).

• The Christian community is a nation that will produce the proper fruit—that is, a life of trust and obedience that demonstrates the inauguration of the Kingdom (see Matt 3:8 ^aa; 7:15-20 ^ab; 12:33 ^ac; 13:8 ^ad, 26 ^ae).
21:44 ^af Though in a short while the Messiah’s opponents would gain a brief victory, they would ultimately be broken and the stone would crush them because the cross became the gateway to Jesus’ vindication and triumph (see also Dan 2:34-35 ^ag, 44-45 ^ah).
21:45 ^ai This explanation fits with Matthew’s theme of God’s judgment on the Jewish leaders who misled the people of Israel (see 23:13-15 ^aj).

‏ Matthew 22:1-14

Summary for Matt 22:1-14: 22:1-14 ^ak In this parable, Israel, having repeatedly rejected God’s word in the past, rejects the Messiah and is judged as a result. In Israel’s place, God raised up the church (16:17-19 ^al; 21:43 ^am), of which righteousness is also expected (Rom 11:11-24 ^an).
22:2 ^ao The king represents God, whose son is Jesus (Gal 4:4 ^ap; Heb 1:1-2 ^aq).

• The feast represents the Kingdom of the Messiah.
Summary for Matt 22:3-5: 22:3-5 ^ar Those who were invited refers to the nation of Israel, who ignored God’s servants, the prophets (see study note on Matt 21:33-46).
22:7 ^as Jesus was alluding to the coming destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (see 23:37-39 ^at; 24:2 ^au).
22:8 ^av Those who reject God’s invitation aren’t worthy to enter his Kingdom (cp. 3:8 ^aw; 10:13 ^ax, 37-38 ^ay).
22:9 ^az everyone you see: God’s invitation is no longer restricted to the nation of Israel (see 28:16-20 ^ba; cp. 10:5-6 ^bb; 15:21-28 ^bc).
22:10 ^bd good and bad alike: See 13:24-50 ^be.
22:11 ^bf The proper clothes correspond to spiritual fruit that demonstrates real faith (see 7:13-27 ^bg).
22:13 ^bh Weeping and gnashing of teeth express the intense pain and sorrow that result from condemnation for sin and unbelief (see 8:12 ^bi; 13:42 ^bj, 50 ^bk; 24:51 ^bl; 25:30 ^bm).

• Outer darkness is a metaphor for eternal punishment.
22:14 ^bn While many people are called—they hear the invitation to the Kingdom—few are actually chosen by God and respond in faithful obedience to Jesus.