Because of listeners like you, Preborn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies
Bert Harper Because of listeners like you, PreBorn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies. Your $28 to sponsor one ultrasound doubled a baby's chance at life. Your tax deductible gift saves lives. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate go to preborn.com afr the Bible.
It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed, life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Having authority and being all involved is still important in Christianity
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper Being the father of three sons, they always wanted to know who was in charge, who was the boss. And for a Baptist pastor that was hard to answer. I just tell you. But guess what, having authority and being all involved is, is still important. Matter of fact, in Matthew chapter 21 we're going to find out after Jesus had done some things. We'll talk about that in a minute. They wanted to know by whose authority was Jesus doing what he was doing. Well, we're going to come to that today and we're going to see what all that's about. Because authority, you have authority, the power and the authority to do it. Jesus had both. He had authority and power. So we want to talk about that today.
John Bowler talks about authority in two Matthew parables
Well, our co host today is a return, Dr. Jon Bowler. Jon, thank you for being with us.
John Boler Brother Bert, thank you for the opportunity. It's always good, always good to sit in and always good to come back.
Bert Harper Well, it's good to have somebody live next to us. When Alex comes in and he's here, he said there's just something a little bit better, about that. I said well it is but you know, he's out in Colorado, he's doing some work out there and he's on the road again. Can you believe it?
John Boler All over the country. All over the country.
Bert Harper That's right. And so we appreciate you being with us today and we're going to look at again, we're going through the some of the parables, not all of them. We'd be here for a long, long time. But we're going to go through two parables today and it's the question of authority. And matter of fact we find out in Matthew 21 what we call the trium, Jesus comes in and they're just praising the Lord for who he is. And of course the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, they're there. What's going on? This is taking away Their authority, Isn't
John Boler that the big deal? Authority, power, Absolutely. And what's interesting about when we get to that passage on authority is the religious folks were never against what Jesus did was doing. Whether it's the miracles or, the healings, the good things that Jesus. They were concerned about. What authority were you doing that? And these two parables, Jesus, I, mean, I'm glad they're together because it certainly paints a beautiful picture.
Bert Harper It really does. So he comes in and they quote from Psalm 118. And that's going to be important. We'll bring it up later. But it says, hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. And so they asked the question, who is this? It's Jesus. But then, verse 12 and chapter 21, he goes and cleanses the temple. Now, when you see cleansing the temple, you have to. If, if you had a diagram of the temple, it would be helpful because where they set up these money changers, this table were in the court of the Gentiles.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper This is supposed to be the place of mission work. You know, have you notice this missions is one of the first things that goes when this kind of thing happens, Jon.
John Boler And it took a lot for Jesus to come in and turn over the tables, because that's, you know, he's compassionate, he's full of grace, full of truth, full of mercy. And then you come to this passage and I'm like, what did they do for him to be able to cleanse the table? We know the scripture says that, but, absolutely, that's a place of missions. And I think Jesus was painting a picture. He was trying to get a point across, about who he was and his mission on earth and really the fault of the religious folks during that time.
Bert Harper It's so true. again, this is where the Gentiles could come in and observe and they could say, what does this mean? And they could tell that's what was supposed to happen. Isn't it amazing how we mess up things, the way God set it up and we mess it up, Jon?
John Boler Well, it's not that Jesus, he didn't make it difficult. He just simply laid it out and he, Oftentimes. And as we see in these two parables, it was the religious folks who thought they had it all together. And Jesus said, no, no, that's not the way it is. But going back to the authority, he answers that. And right before these two parables in verse number 23, where it says, by what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you authority? And Jesus, the master teacher, he didn't answer it. He asked another question. And it was kind of one of those, well, if I say this, then this is going to happen. If I say this, this is going to happen.
Bert Harper You think that's the reason Jesus asked him?
John Boler I think so, absolutely. Because that's what the scripture says. If you say from heaven, then you have the authority. If you say it's from Jon, then he is a prophet sent by God. And then, so they say in verse 27, well, we don't know. And then Jesus said, all right. And then he tells these two parables,
Bert Harper and he says, I'm not going to answer your question, but I'm going to give you two parables. they didn't get it. And we're about to start on the first one. They didn't get it that he was really digging at them until the second parable was over. I mean, you know, and they were in it. That's what the power stories, it's
John Boler a heavenly story, earthly meaning, or earthly story. And a heavenly meaning, these parables.
Jesus uses fathers and sons in his parables
And Jesus was a master at teaching. And it was oftentimes, as you hear this story, oh, they're talking about somebody else. And it comes all the way around. And Jesus is like looking them right in the eye. I'm talking about you.
Bert Harper That sounds like Nathan with David, doesn't it?
John Boler Absolutely.
Bert Harper Well, I tell you what, would you read 2832 and let's get that.
John Boler Matthew 21. 28. But what do you think? And this is where he tells the parable. A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not. But afterward he regretted it and he went and he went and came to the second Son and likewise said. And he answered and said, I go, sir. But he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his Father? And they said to him, the first one. And Jesus said to them, assuredly I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For Jon came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But tax collectors and harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Bert Harper Here you have Bringing back Jon the Baptist, connecting this to. In his ministry. Now his. Let's go preaching. He was preaching repentance.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper And then he would say, you know about Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. So his baptism was baptism of repentance. His for other people, not Jesus. His was confirmation of his earthly ministry. But here he gives this beautiful story and he uses fathers and sons in his parables. More than one or two. Yeah, he really does. Because that's the relationship our heavenly Father desires with all. He desires that, but we have to come into relationship with him. And so the first son and I said it, I want you to just comment on it first. This, I noticed this in the second parable. There is a parallel as well. Both of them have vineyards in it. Yes, that was important. So here a man has two sons. The first one, I'm not going to do it, don't know exactly. Jesus didn't elaborate. But later, I guess you could say he repented and went, The first said, yeah, I'll go. But he was just, I would say, you know, man pleaser, but did not go. He did not complete the task. And then he goes to the publican and sinners, not Republicans, publicans, tax collectors and sinners. Yeah, I'm not sure they got it quite yet, but he would. Man, what a statement.
John Boler You can't, you can't separate the two sons anymore than at this moment, just as you can't get much further on a human level, from somebody who may be religious and somebody who may be in biblical ah, times, a tax collector or a harlot. the vineyard here, of course is Israel. We see that in Isaiah chapter 5. And it opens it up a little bit more in the second parable, but the first one, and you ask, well, which one was right? Because the first one said no, but then he went. The second one said yes, but he did not go. And another word that he pointed out here in verse 30, where the one who said yes was I go sir, or I go Lord. It's a respectful religious term. But he did not go. You can't get more separated than someone who doesn't know. Jesus even rejected Jesus and repents and comes to Jesus. And then you have somebody who thinks they know Jesus and never repents.
Bert Harper Okay, go back to the Sermon on the Mount. Have we not done all these things in your name, Lord?
John Boler Lord, did we not do all these things?
Bert Harper And Jesus said, I never knew you. And the way the text is in the Greek, I never knew you at any time.
That's right.
Bert Harper There was no time when you came into this. It wasn't. So here it is the second Son. And so he quick as he does that. Which of the two did the will of his Father? our heavenly Father doing his will. and again they said the first. They made sure they got that right. And then he says, tax collectors and harlots enter into the kingdom of God.
John Boler it's a beautiful picture that no sin will keep you out of heaven. This side of heaven can be forgiven and can be anybody. In biblical terms, a tax collector and a harlot was not a positive profession. And to be compared to them. M with the religious folks. Jesus was painting a beautiful picture that anybody who has been born into sin, which is every person on the planet, can come to Jesus, but they must come by the way of the cross and they must come through repentance.
Bert Harper We've had several people even to call in. We've had others to write us, some, to email us and they've told us where they were. People who listened to afr. Listen to exploring the Word specifically where they were, many of them incarcerated for some horrible crimes, some living a double life, and said, but Jesus Christ came in and the forgiveness of God. Yeah, that hits really strong, as you said. How low do you get on this social realm? tax collectors and harlots? Not very many.
AFA is celebrating America's 250th birthday with patriotic apparel
Much lower than that.
John Boler Jon, let me go back to Jeremiah, chapter 2, verse 13. And this paints, you know, what happens here in this first parable is nothing new to society. It's not new to our. It's been around going back to Jeremiah's day. He said, my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and they've hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water. In the Old Testament, the Lord gave them the way to produce the fruit that we'll see in the second parable in the NewSong Testament. Jesus said, I am the way. And any other way, any other form of religion, any other form that does not go through Jesus, where one repents of their sin, that is the key to grace, that's the key to salvation. And the one who said no, but then went is the one who's in the kingdom of heaven today. And the one who said yes, but did not go, they're on the other side.
Bert Harper Verse 32. Jon came to you now. he's. He's bringing it home right now. Jon came to you talking to those who. He's talking to those that's asking about his authority in the way of righteousness. And you did not believe him, but tax collectors and harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not afterwards relent and believe him. Even when you saw what he did, what God was doing, you rejected it.
John Boler You rejected it. You rejected it.
Bert Harper We're asking those of you, if you do not know Jesus Christ as savior, today come to him. You say I'm too horrible. Well, listen, the scripture we're using today lets you know. All can come, come by faith, asking his forgiveness, asking him to be Lord of your life. He'll change your life. And you can be set free to be who God intended you to be.
America's 250th birthday. It's a great excuse to have some extra cake and ice cream, but we can help your celebration go well beyond that. Show your patriotism with America 250 apparel that will become a memento of this special year. We also have special episodes on AFA Stream to help underscore that America is a Christian nation and help you find God in the Constitution. Find all of this and more in one place. Afa.net topics 250.
Burt Byrd: We are covering two parables in Matthew's gospel
John Boler And we welcome you back here to exploring the Word on this Wednesday afternoon. And we are covering two parables, Brother Bert, here in Matthew's gospel, Matthew, chapter 21. at our earlier segment, we covered 2832. So right now we are in verse 33 all the way through the end of the chapter. It's the parable of the wicked vinedressers. It may be labeled a few different things in your Bible, a few different terminologies, but let me go ahead and read the first couple of verses, Brother Byrd, and kind of set this up because we want to, this is a longer parable. And, as they say, you could preach many a sermon through this passage. But the scripture says in verse 33 here, 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 the vinedressers and went into a far country. Now, when the vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, stoned another, and he sent other servants more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Brother Bert, let me stop right there, because those few verses gets us to the point of where we're at in the NewSong Testament. you look at, the landowner here, the Lord. You look at the vineyard, Israel how the Lord called him out of Egypt, put him in a promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The purpose of this was to bear fruit. And it gets us up to this point. But then Jesus says, I mean, as he's telling the story, he says, then the landowner sends his servants. And how does the rest of it go?
Bert Harper Well, first of all, I want to make this, this is funny to me. You've been around me long enough. There's something funny. I'm going to try to find it. I think when it says here another parable, I think he's saying, you thought that parable was stout. Wait till you hear this.
That's right.
Caroline That's right.
Bert Harper You can't, you know. And so here it is, the vineyard being Israel and going to a far country away. Time drew near. And all these servants that he sent, let me see, in the Old Testament, he sent Jeremiah and he wound up in a pit. You know, Isaiah was probably sown in two according to what most folks think. Hebrews.
John Boler Hebrews. Yes, sir.
Bert Harper So here it is, one servant, two servants, three servants. They, you know, they discarded everything they were saying. And now I'll put it this way, and I want you to go back with what you were saying. If good thing we're not God, we'd probably sent an army and destroyed them. You catch what I'm saying? But the love. Yes, Everybody say God. No, it's the love of God.
John Boler Yes.
Bert Harper here it is.
John Boler And even later on, the Lord asked them, well, what do I need to do? And they said, send them out. We'll get to verse 41 here in just a minute. But before we do that, he comes to verse 37. And you can't read this without just the emotion because we, as NewSong Testament Christians, we understand what Jesus is saying. Then last of all, it wasn't that he was the last resort. All these prophets were prophesying and teaching about the soon coming Messiah, the last of all. He sent his son to them, saying, they will respect my son. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. Talking about the triumphal entry and Jesus talking about this parable with the vinedressers and the prophet. And then he sent his son. Did they know that Jesus was talking about himself?
Bert Harper Well, again, when you read verse 45, and we'll come back to that doesn't mean we're skipping all that. They perceived that he was talking to them. If he was, he perceives he was talking to them. I believe it was coming. Now here's the thing. They did not have Jon. They did not have the Holy Spirit in them to guide them to all truth. So they were on their own. That's right. And everybody. How do you read scriptures? And you see that man? I have the greatest teacher in the world, the Holy Spirit of God. So these were on their own in trying to perceive that. That doesn't mean God wasn't convicting them. It doesn't mean that God wasn't trying to draw them to himself. But it means they did not have the knowledge that they needed. So it's come. If they don't have it at that point in time, it's not long before they do.
John Boler Jon. That's right. The scripture goes on to say in verse 39, they took him, speaking of the sun, they cast him out of the vineyard and they killed him. Well, the Bible says that Jesus was crucified outside the city. Hebrews says that, just a little nugget, verse 40. Then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will we do to those vinedressers? And they said, it was almost as if Jesus didn't finish the question, like, we got the answer, we've got it. They said to him, he will destroy those wicked men, miserably lease his vineyard, to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits of their season. And Jesus could have right then, he could have really got them. But instead he goes back to what the Old Testament, that the Jews and the religious folks of that day knew. He said, let me finish quoting Psalm 118.
Bert Harper It started on, Sunday, triumphant entry. And now he's going that same. Okay, this, this person that you saw come in and the people praising him. This person that you saw cleanse the temple. This person who, you ask authority. Okay, that, that person on Sunday was me. And the person that we're looking at is me. It is I.
Jesus tells them that the Messiah is coming. They did not know, but he's coming
It is me. I can't help but look at, verse 40. Therefore, when the owner of the vine dresser comes.
Bert Harper Okay. They did not know, but he's coming. Okay, you know, in this, and you said it earlier, how many, how much information? Look at Malachi, look at Micah, all Isaiah, all the prophecies in the past concerning this one. And, and the people who are talking to him are supposedly the people who knew that.
John Boler Who knew.
Bert Harper Was it purposeful? it's a battle, isn't it?
John Boler It is. Because it's almost as if they knew the answer. But they did not want to accept the answer because in their minds the Messiah was somebody totally different. And Jesus is saying, we told you where he was going to be born. We told you where I was going to be born. We told you, the prophecies in Isaiah, and Micah, and all these, Ezekiel, all these, the foreshadowing of who the Messiah is. And Jesus says, when he comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? He's standing right in front of them telling this. And then he goes back to verse 42. He says, have you not read the Scripture? And these are scholars. Have you not read. It's not another book that you may have not read. You are experts of the law. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. And marvelous in our eyes. That's a quotation from Psalm 118, 22, which is just a couple of verses. The triumphal, entry passage is verse 25, where he says, save now, I pray, O Lord, Hosanna, send now with prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. So he goes back to that passage and he tells them, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. It's marvelous in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. He goes back to that word fruit. We saw it in the old testament, verse 34. We see it again here in verse 43.
Bert Harper And he's bringing it home. You.
Bert Harper He doesn't say of people. He said, you.
Now I want to go back to the stone which the builders rejected
Now I want to go back to the stone which the builders rejected. years ago at church where I pastored here in Tupelo, had a man named Joseph son, one of the greatest teachers. Teachers, and men I've ever met. He was from Romania. He was sent from Romania before the Soviet Union fell. And they didn't want to martyr him in Romania, so they sent him away. but we got to have him in our church. And he preached on this. And that's the first time I heard it. And then I started research the builders. We're talking about the temple. Now what was different about the temple? All the, the stones in the temple were cut at the quarry. And then they were, they had a specific place to go. It wasn't just, I'm, giving you a bunch of bricks or a bunch of stone. You put them, line them up. No, each one of them had Their specific place, each one of them was cut out specifically for the first layer, the second layer. But this one, the cornerstone, it was different. it wasn't a cube. It wasn't rectangular. It was different.
John Boler It was a foundation.
Bert Harper It was a foundation.
John Boler It was a foundation.
Bert Harper And they rejected that foundation. And, so here we find out. Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you. Okay, it doesn't.
John's mission was to be missionaries to the whole world
Now, when we say that, we're talking about the mission. What were. Their mission was to be evangelists. Their mission was to be missionaries to the whole world. And I've used this several times, and I want to do it quickly. Where God placed them right there. Where three continents basically meet by the Mediterranean Sea. Where Asia would need to come that way to go to Africa. Europe would need to probably dip down that way, go to Asia, and vice versa. He sent them there, gave them the kind of lifestyle they were, to lead, the worship they were to have. Making sure when you do trade, do it fairly. They were missional. They had blown that. Now they're blowing the temple there where they have the sanctuary for the Gentiles. you know, and he said, you've blown your mission. I'm going to give it to another.
John Boler And he did. And as we learn in the NewSong Testament later on when the church is established in Acts, chapter, the day of Pentecost, the Spirit comes down into Acts, chapter two, Acts, chapter four, Peter and Jon are brought together to the religious folks once again. What name, what authority? He says in verse, 11. This is the stone which was rejected by the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Jesus is the foundation to salvation. Paul later on says in First Corinthians, chapter 3, verse number 11, that there's no other foundation laid except that of Jesus. He is that foundation. It was rejected by the religious folks. It was rejected by the Jews. And now the scripture says the, nation bearing the fruits of it. The purpose of the church, the called out ones, is to bear the message of Jesus Christ. He is the foundation for life. He's the foundation for eternity. He is the only way to heaven. And that's the mission of Jesus. And that's the mission of this parable. You didn't accept it. We're going to the church.
Bert Harper Guess who we're part of that mission.
John Boler Aren't still there today.
Bert Harper Notice the severity of it. Verse 44. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken. Listen, you can't break this stone. This stone is solid. Can't help but think of the Hymn on Jesus, the solid rock I stand.
John Boler But when you come to Jesus, you can't come without a broken heart.
Bert Harper That's the only way. And whomever it falls, it will grind him. Listen, you're fighting a losing battle. It's going to be ground to powder. Listen, God's that big. Jesus is that important. God is doing. And so, and, and so he sets this up. Now, again, we've got about four, three, three or four minutes, and I know we're through. But 45 and 46, it really sets up the rest because he's going to. He's going to give another parable. We're not going in that today. But here he says now. Now when? Two important words. Yeah, Jon, now and when. Okay? Now, when the chief priest and fair fe Pharisees heard his parables, okay? Jesus, Allah said they'd seen his miracles. They observed. And at this time, you know, Lazarus had already been risen. And you remember what they wanted to do to him. They wanted to kill him as well. Because they wanted to do what? Kill the evidence. they was wanting to reject him. And so when the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables and, and I couldn't help but believe these two parables. That's the reason you said earlier, need to put these two together. Because the vineyard puts them together. The results put some together. And he says they perceived that he was speaking to them. Oh, did it cause repentance and sorrow or anger?
John Boler I think there was a world of emotions. I really do. I think they were angry because the Bible says they sought to lay hands on him, but they feared the multitudes because they took him as a prophet.
Bert Harper that's the reason they didn't answer the question about Jon the Baptist. That's right, because the multitude says Jon was from God. And, so again, man, let me go back.
John Boler I can't leave without this. If you're listening and, this can be a word of encouragement.
In Psalm 118, we've covered several passages that Jesus quotes
In Psalm 118, we've covered a couple of different passages that Jesus quotes in his triumphal entry and also in this last parable. The first one is triumphal entry is Psalm 118, verse number 25. Save now, I pray, O Lord, that is Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes to the name of the Lord. And then two verses prior to that. In this parable, the stone which the builders rejected has become a chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. There is one verse in Psalm 118 that's sandwiched brother Bert in between those two. And I think for you and I today as we read this passage, and there's a lot of history here, a lot of information about Israel and a vineyard. But for you and I today, that 1 verse, Psalm 118, verse 24, I think you have to include it in here. You say, what's that verse? I don't have my Bible here. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice. Is that connected?
Bert Harper It is connected. This is the day. What day? It's a specific day that the Lord has made will rejoice the day that it was rejected notice. This is the Lord's doing. Jesus knew what was happening. He was not responding. He was the one that was causing it. He's the one that chose to come riding on that donkey. He's the one that decided to cleanse the temple.
He's.
Bert Harper Jesus is in control, Jon, and it's the Lord's doing. And he wants people to know him this day.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Hey, we're going to take questions. That number 888-589-8840. We'd love your question today. Please give us a call today on exploring the Word. Right now, more mothers need that moment of Hope. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps rescue five babies. Your generous tax deductible gift also helps provide mothers who choose life with love and support and care for up to two years. Please don't wait. Help surround mothers and babies with compassion, truth and hope today. To donate, dial hashtag 250 and say the key word baby. That's hashtag250baby or visit preborn.com Bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
John Boler Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus Just to take him at his word. Just to rest upon his promise. Just to know. Thus saith the Lord.
Sandy from North Carolina asks about keeping mercy for thousands
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert and Jon Bowler here. Alex is in Colorado. He's doing some filming out there and other things, teaching. And Jon, again, thank you. Jon, by the way, is a local pastor here in Tupelo at Calvary Baptist Church. How long you been there now, Jon?
John Boler Five years in October.
Bert Harper Five years. Wow. Time flies. It seems like it was yesterday.
John Boler It was yesterday. It seems like it.
Bert Harper I remember you calling, hey, tell me what you know. And so. And by the way, Jon and. And mine and Jan's oldest son, Nathan, they were in school together at Blue Mountain. And along with Jon's wife Elizabeth, he met there. And so friends for A long time.
John Boler They have been a long time.
Bert Harper And, we're glad to have him. By the way, we've got lines that are open. If you can call 888-589-8840 with your question. Jon and I would love to hear from you. And, you might have praises. We, we accept those in prayer requests as well, but we want to go to the phone lines first. And it from North Carolina, Sandy. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline Did you say Sandy?
Bert Harper Yes, I did. Did I get that right?
Caroline Okay. Yes, sir, you did. It's, I'm Sandy from Connelly Springs, North Carolina. I've got, two passages in Exodus 34 that. That have jumped out at me, and I wanted to see if you guys think I'm interpreting this correctly or if I'm reading it correctly.
Bert Harper Okay. Exodus 34.
Caroline Yes, sir. Verses 6 and 7.
Bert Harper Okay.
Caroline so it says, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands. And then it goes on to say, visiting the iniquity of the Father upon, the children and their children's children, the third and fourth generation is. Is. Is the word. Keeping mercy for thousands. Does that mean that he will hold that mercy for thousands of generations and not let it go? And yet he will visit, just temporarily, the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations?
Bert Harper Okay, thank you for this. Good question. And, here we have it. Ah, Jon. Keeping mercy for thousands seems like that's not a time period. Seems like it's a number of people.
John Boler I certainly agree with that. And you know, when you start putting numbers to the Lord a days, like a thousand years. A thousand years like a day. You have to be careful with that. But keeping mercy for thousands, I would say would certainly be not a specific number, but talking about a large group of number. And everybody would be included in that is the way I understand, verse number seven.
Bert Harper And what you do when he transitions. Look what he. What he says between what you said. Keeping for thousands and then the fathers, the children, and so forth. Forgiven iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty. Then he goes visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generations. Now, again, God is not going to say, okay, your, Your granddad was, was. He was such and such a sorry person. I'm going to put it on you. Have you been, to. You're a lot younger than me, but I've. Since I'm older, I've been to the doctor and guess when I go to a new doctor, they have me sit down and fill out papers. You know what? One of the things I have to do. Is there any history, family history, of cancer, heart trouble, high blood pressure in your father, in your grandparents? Why? It does pass down. Certain things does pass down. And the person, the father or the mother that's living godly lives, it sets that person up to know God early. All three of our sons came to know Christ early. You're raised in a Christian home. At what age did you come to the Lord, Jon?
John Boler The Lord. Right before I was five years old. Like a month before I was five.
Bert Harper That's amazing. but those that are raised in a family where they've ignored God again, go over that list. you know, just living ungodly lives away from God, that child. It doesn't mean God can't intervene, but that. That means that child has a lot to overcome.
John Boler That's right. And the godly choices will make a difference in your children and your grandchildren. According to this passage, the ungodly choices will make a difference in your children and your grandchildren. You've often heard people say, well, do as I say, don't do as I do.
Sandy: Our decisions affect our children and our grandchildren even more
No, our decisions affect our children. In fact, I would even say that our decisions may not affect us too much personally from our perspective, but it will affect our children even more and our grandchildren even more. This is a wonderful text, and I appreciate Sandy. I appreciate him calling in and sharing. And, it's a great reminder.
Bert Harper It's a reminder we need to be with God right now.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper We don't need to wait. Need to get with God. One more thing I would say concerning this. And, I did the devotion this morning at AFA and did it about Joshua. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones in their generation that got there. And after they had divided the land at the end of Joshua, it talks about what all they had done. And Joshua was 110 years old. And it said, and all the days of Joshua, they followed the Lord and kept his command. And then it says, and the elders, that was the next generation, followed him and did that. Guess what happened in the third generation. You have to go to the book of Judges. And all of a sudden, in that third generation, they forgot God. Now it's not. And I want to spend time here. It doesn't mean automatically. And Alex said this yesterday, matter of fact, God has no grandchildren. Just because One generation serves God doesn't mean the next one M does. Just because one generation does not serve God doesn't mean the next generation can't.
John Boler That's right. And I firmly believe. You look at. I, still consider myself a young adult no matter how old I get. But you look at teenagers today and people say, well, that's the next generation. I think if we look at it that way, it's too late. They are. We've got to pour into them today. And I, encourage churches. And if you've got, in your church, pour into your students, pour into your children so that they can continue to carry that baton. They are the generation.
Bert Harper Alex travels a lot. He's doing a lot of the youth camps. He has eight, if I remember how many he said. And he said, man, I'm really impressed with the youth. There seems to be a desire and a, conviction growing in them. And we see what's happened with, on college campuses right now at Auburn University. that's next state over from Mississippi there. It's amazing. They're chaplain in what's going on, in their athletic program. And, the athletes are choosing to do that. But that bunch in Wisconsin, that's separation of church. They're coming at it, and they have nothing to fight against because the athletes are doing it. The students are doing it because they're wanting something real. So, man, we're praying for that. God would raise up this generation.
John Boler People are looking for truth. They really are looking for truth.
Bert Harper And. Okay, thank you, Sandy brother, thank you for calling. Let's go to Ohio and talk to Carolyn. By the way, that number is 888-589-8840. Give us a call. We've got room for another question after Carolyn's.
Zachariah talks about four horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem
Carolyn, go right ahead.
Caroline yes, in Zachariah, 1:18, it talks about four horns. And then in 19 it talks. The horns are scattered, Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. It only gives three countries. Why only three compared to four horns?
Bert Harper Okay. what are you doing? Reading Zechariah, Carolyn?
No,
Caroline I'm going through 30,000ft Bible. that's where I got.
Bert Harper Well, you know, I'm asking that facetiously because, you know, we get into this area and. Oh, man. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi. But Zachariah. Okay, okay, Jon, let's see what we can do with this again. And these verses is 18 and 19. It says, Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who taught with me, what are these? So he answered me. These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. 3.
Bert Harper We talked about numbers and here we have it.
John Boler Well, I don't think he's talking, I don't think when it says that there were four horns and these are the horns, these are the four horns that did that scattered the Judah. So I don't think it's, I don't think it's talking about Judah being one horn, Israel being one horn, Jerusalem being one. What's the fourth horn? I don't know if time will allow us to explain all the four and the four horsemen. You have to go to the Revelation. I would encourage Ms. M. Carolyn. Zechariah is a wonderful, wonderful book. I preached through it several years ago. it's a book that has a lot of prophecy, but there's a lot of, general application, that we can see as we're walking through the book of Zechariah. So I appreciate you reading it. Don't leave out any book of the Bible. You keep reading it. But at the same time, what helps us to understand Zechariah, a prophetic passage like this is to go and to read, Revelation and it talks about the four horns that are there and the four kingdoms and all of that coming towards the end times. But for this particular passage in verse 18 and 19, not talking about specific countries or specific cities, but these four horns have scattered these areas and
Bert Harper I agree with you fully.
Brent McFarlane: Why did the second prophet deceive the first
Brent, you say you got a question for us real quickly on Facebook?
Caroline I do.
Bert Harper This one is in reference to 1 Kings 13. Kathi writes, can you help me understand why a prophet would lie to another prophet? Both seem like honorable people. So why did the second prophet deceive the first? Okay, good question. I remember reading that and I was thinking the same thing. some prophets, they let their own desires and I would say wants get in the way of truth, don't they?
John Boler Old Testament interpretation, when you're. Just because somebody did something doesn't make it right.
Bert Harper Okay, I'm trying to do analysis, McFarlane. The Bible does not, affirm what they do. It reports what they do. And so one of the prophets, they would have said, Judas Iscariot was a great apostle if we didn't read the rest of the story.
John Boler Yes, that's right.
Bert Harper So when you read the rest of the story, you find out one of those prophets had an agenda. Is that what you would say?
John Boler I would say so. And these two prophets that are listed in first, Kings chapter, 13. But even going, let's look at some, very recognizable, figures of the Old Testament. Moses did some things we don't need to be doing.
Bert Harper David did some things, Sam did one or two.
John Boler Right, Absolutely. So when you see these people, even though they may be prophets of God, they were still human, they still were in sin. And some of the things they did we certainly would not want to do, and it doesn't make it right.
Bert Harper So I would say this. It's just, you know, they were wrong on that part. Do not let jealousy or greed. How many times jealousy and greed has got involved in those decisions. Servants, like Elisha's servant, you know, and so it can happen. Well, we got, Dianne. Yeah, Dianne from Ohio. Dianne, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline Yes, thank you.
John: Some passages in the Bible are difficult to understand and explain
I. I want to help. Some help in understanding, especially, you know, when. When somebody is a new believer and, you know, when they throw, things out there about, you know, the Bible that are very. Are difficult to understand and, and to explain. But where in Sodom, the father said, whatever comes out the door, I will sacrifice, and his daughters come out? Yes, and yes. So I can't remember where that is.
Bert Harper Okay. We're talking about Jephthah, aren't we?
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper Well, the scripture she gives. Is that a different one?
John Boler Well, the scripture, I think is in, Is it the one in, Genesis, 19, where it talks about,
Bert Harper See, that's the one. Yeah.
John Boler It's the depravity of Sodom and Lot. And the next one that comes out, Dianne, It is a very, difficult passage to read. I admit that as a pastor. Ah. As you look at it and you talk about, the setup of Sodom's departure, depravity. The passage that you listed is just verses, few verses before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So there was sin and immorality, in all of chapter 19. In fact, it happened long before chapter 19. It set up this passage. But, this is one of those where a, few times in Scripture, the Lord didn't just judge an individual, he sent it into an entire city where we have no idea even where it's at today because of the judgment of God.
Bert Harper I'm sorry, I was thinking of Jephthah, who, If you'll give me this victory. You know, sometimes you make rash decisions, but here we're talking about immorality to the nth degree, visiting someone visiting, and them wanting to come out to them. That happens in judges as well. Another so it shows the depravity. And I think that's where you would have to go, Dianne, is to show how far man has fallen and can fall. And we think it's new today somewhere. The Bible says, there's nothing new under the sun, Jon.
John Boler That's right. And it shows the depth of sexual sin. It shows the depth, of immorality. There is no end. There's no, hey, I'll just do this, or I'll just. Immorality knows no end. And I'll even take a step back from a bird's eye view. Sin knows no end. Looking at, Genesis 19, maybe they'll say, I didn't think I'd ever do that. I think it's a lesson for each one of us, as those who desire to follow the Lord, that there is no end in sin. Praise God. This is the day the Lord has made.
Bert Harper And when you try to find an answer for it, rather than repentance and coming to God by sending two daughters out, you. You only compound it, don't you? Trying to negate sin, trying to educate sin, doesn't take you out of that sin. M. Jon, thank you for being with us, man.
John Boler Thank you for the invitation. I appreciate it.
Bert Harper We appreciate it so much being. Praying for Alex. He'll be traveling tomorrow, and tomorrow, again, we'll be in one of the parables. So you want to tune in and listen. And we'll pray that you will tell someone about exploring the word and AFR and all the programming that we have here. We want you to be informed. We want you to be, encouraged. And, that's what we try to do. So tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.
John Boler M. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Because of listeners like you, Preborn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies
Bert Harper Because of listeners like you, PreBorn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies. Your $28 to sponsor one ultrasound doubled a baby's chance at life. Your tax deductible gift saves lives. Please join us in this life saving mission. To donate go to preborn.com afr the Bible.
It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed, life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.
Having authority and being all involved is still important in Christianity
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper Being the father of three sons, they always wanted to know who was in charge, who was the boss. And for a Baptist pastor that was hard to answer. I just tell you. But guess what, having authority and being all involved is, is still important. Matter of fact, in Matthew chapter 21 we're going to find out after Jesus had done some things. We'll talk about that in a minute. They wanted to know by whose authority was Jesus doing what he was doing. Well, we're going to come to that today and we're going to see what all that's about. Because authority, you have authority, the power and the authority to do it. Jesus had both. He had authority and power. So we want to talk about that today.
John Bowler talks about authority in two Matthew parables
Well, our co host today is a return, Dr. Jon Bowler. Jon, thank you for being with us.
John Boler Brother Bert, thank you for the opportunity. It's always good, always good to sit in and always good to come back.
Bert Harper Well, it's good to have somebody live next to us. When Alex comes in and he's here, he said there's just something a little bit better, about that. I said well it is but you know, he's out in Colorado, he's doing some work out there and he's on the road again. Can you believe it?
John Boler All over the country. All over the country.
Bert Harper That's right. And so we appreciate you being with us today and we're going to look at again, we're going through the some of the parables, not all of them. We'd be here for a long, long time. But we're going to go through two parables today and it's the question of authority. And matter of fact we find out in Matthew 21 what we call the trium, Jesus comes in and they're just praising the Lord for who he is. And of course the Pharisees, the Sanhedrin, they're there. What's going on? This is taking away Their authority, Isn't
John Boler that the big deal? Authority, power, Absolutely. And what's interesting about when we get to that passage on authority is the religious folks were never against what Jesus did was doing. Whether it's the miracles or, the healings, the good things that Jesus. They were concerned about. What authority were you doing that? And these two parables, Jesus, I, mean, I'm glad they're together because it certainly paints a beautiful picture.
Bert Harper It really does. So he comes in and they quote from Psalm 118. And that's going to be important. We'll bring it up later. But it says, hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. And so they asked the question, who is this? It's Jesus. But then, verse 12 and chapter 21, he goes and cleanses the temple. Now, when you see cleansing the temple, you have to. If, if you had a diagram of the temple, it would be helpful because where they set up these money changers, this table were in the court of the Gentiles.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper This is supposed to be the place of mission work. You know, have you notice this missions is one of the first things that goes when this kind of thing happens, Jon.
John Boler And it took a lot for Jesus to come in and turn over the tables, because that's, you know, he's compassionate, he's full of grace, full of truth, full of mercy. And then you come to this passage and I'm like, what did they do for him to be able to cleanse the table? We know the scripture says that, but, absolutely, that's a place of missions. And I think Jesus was painting a picture. He was trying to get a point across, about who he was and his mission on earth and really the fault of the religious folks during that time.
Bert Harper It's so true. again, this is where the Gentiles could come in and observe and they could say, what does this mean? And they could tell that's what was supposed to happen. Isn't it amazing how we mess up things, the way God set it up and we mess it up, Jon?
John Boler Well, it's not that Jesus, he didn't make it difficult. He just simply laid it out and he, Oftentimes. And as we see in these two parables, it was the religious folks who thought they had it all together. And Jesus said, no, no, that's not the way it is. But going back to the authority, he answers that. And right before these two parables in verse number 23, where it says, by what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you authority? And Jesus, the master teacher, he didn't answer it. He asked another question. And it was kind of one of those, well, if I say this, then this is going to happen. If I say this, this is going to happen.
Bert Harper You think that's the reason Jesus asked him?
John Boler I think so, absolutely. Because that's what the scripture says. If you say from heaven, then you have the authority. If you say it's from Jon, then he is a prophet sent by God. And then, so they say in verse 27, well, we don't know. And then Jesus said, all right. And then he tells these two parables,
Bert Harper and he says, I'm not going to answer your question, but I'm going to give you two parables. they didn't get it. And we're about to start on the first one. They didn't get it that he was really digging at them until the second parable was over. I mean, you know, and they were in it. That's what the power stories, it's
John Boler a heavenly story, earthly meaning, or earthly story. And a heavenly meaning, these parables.
Jesus uses fathers and sons in his parables
And Jesus was a master at teaching. And it was oftentimes, as you hear this story, oh, they're talking about somebody else. And it comes all the way around. And Jesus is like looking them right in the eye. I'm talking about you.
Bert Harper That sounds like Nathan with David, doesn't it?
John Boler Absolutely.
Bert Harper Well, I tell you what, would you read 2832 and let's get that.
John Boler Matthew 21. 28. But what do you think? And this is where he tells the parable. A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not. But afterward he regretted it and he went and he went and came to the second Son and likewise said. And he answered and said, I go, sir. But he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his Father? And they said to him, the first one. And Jesus said to them, assuredly I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For Jon came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But tax collectors and harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Bert Harper Here you have Bringing back Jon the Baptist, connecting this to. In his ministry. Now his. Let's go preaching. He was preaching repentance.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper And then he would say, you know about Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. So his baptism was baptism of repentance. His for other people, not Jesus. His was confirmation of his earthly ministry. But here he gives this beautiful story and he uses fathers and sons in his parables. More than one or two. Yeah, he really does. Because that's the relationship our heavenly Father desires with all. He desires that, but we have to come into relationship with him. And so the first son and I said it, I want you to just comment on it first. This, I noticed this in the second parable. There is a parallel as well. Both of them have vineyards in it. Yes, that was important. So here a man has two sons. The first one, I'm not going to do it, don't know exactly. Jesus didn't elaborate. But later, I guess you could say he repented and went, The first said, yeah, I'll go. But he was just, I would say, you know, man pleaser, but did not go. He did not complete the task. And then he goes to the publican and sinners, not Republicans, publicans, tax collectors and sinners. Yeah, I'm not sure they got it quite yet, but he would. Man, what a statement.
John Boler You can't, you can't separate the two sons anymore than at this moment, just as you can't get much further on a human level, from somebody who may be religious and somebody who may be in biblical ah, times, a tax collector or a harlot. the vineyard here, of course is Israel. We see that in Isaiah chapter 5. And it opens it up a little bit more in the second parable, but the first one, and you ask, well, which one was right? Because the first one said no, but then he went. The second one said yes, but he did not go. And another word that he pointed out here in verse 30, where the one who said yes was I go sir, or I go Lord. It's a respectful religious term. But he did not go. You can't get more separated than someone who doesn't know. Jesus even rejected Jesus and repents and comes to Jesus. And then you have somebody who thinks they know Jesus and never repents.
Bert Harper Okay, go back to the Sermon on the Mount. Have we not done all these things in your name, Lord?
John Boler Lord, did we not do all these things?
Bert Harper And Jesus said, I never knew you. And the way the text is in the Greek, I never knew you at any time.
That's right.
Bert Harper There was no time when you came into this. It wasn't. So here it is the second Son. And so he quick as he does that. Which of the two did the will of his Father? our heavenly Father doing his will. and again they said the first. They made sure they got that right. And then he says, tax collectors and harlots enter into the kingdom of God.
John Boler it's a beautiful picture that no sin will keep you out of heaven. This side of heaven can be forgiven and can be anybody. In biblical terms, a tax collector and a harlot was not a positive profession. And to be compared to them. M with the religious folks. Jesus was painting a beautiful picture that anybody who has been born into sin, which is every person on the planet, can come to Jesus, but they must come by the way of the cross and they must come through repentance.
Bert Harper We've had several people even to call in. We've had others to write us, some, to email us and they've told us where they were. People who listened to afr. Listen to exploring the Word specifically where they were, many of them incarcerated for some horrible crimes, some living a double life, and said, but Jesus Christ came in and the forgiveness of God. Yeah, that hits really strong, as you said. How low do you get on this social realm? tax collectors and harlots? Not very many.
AFA is celebrating America's 250th birthday with patriotic apparel
Much lower than that.
John Boler Jon, let me go back to Jeremiah, chapter 2, verse 13. And this paints, you know, what happens here in this first parable is nothing new to society. It's not new to our. It's been around going back to Jeremiah's day. He said, my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and they've hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water. In the Old Testament, the Lord gave them the way to produce the fruit that we'll see in the second parable in the NewSong Testament. Jesus said, I am the way. And any other way, any other form of religion, any other form that does not go through Jesus, where one repents of their sin, that is the key to grace, that's the key to salvation. And the one who said no, but then went is the one who's in the kingdom of heaven today. And the one who said yes, but did not go, they're on the other side.
Bert Harper Verse 32. Jon came to you now. he's. He's bringing it home right now. Jon came to you talking to those who. He's talking to those that's asking about his authority in the way of righteousness. And you did not believe him, but tax collectors and harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not afterwards relent and believe him. Even when you saw what he did, what God was doing, you rejected it.
John Boler You rejected it. You rejected it.
Bert Harper We're asking those of you, if you do not know Jesus Christ as savior, today come to him. You say I'm too horrible. Well, listen, the scripture we're using today lets you know. All can come, come by faith, asking his forgiveness, asking him to be Lord of your life. He'll change your life. And you can be set free to be who God intended you to be.
America's 250th birthday. It's a great excuse to have some extra cake and ice cream, but we can help your celebration go well beyond that. Show your patriotism with America 250 apparel that will become a memento of this special year. We also have special episodes on AFA Stream to help underscore that America is a Christian nation and help you find God in the Constitution. Find all of this and more in one place. Afa.net topics 250.
Burt Byrd: We are covering two parables in Matthew's gospel
John Boler And we welcome you back here to exploring the Word on this Wednesday afternoon. And we are covering two parables, Brother Bert, here in Matthew's gospel, Matthew, chapter 21. at our earlier segment, we covered 2832. So right now we are in verse 33 all the way through the end of the chapter. It's the parable of the wicked vinedressers. It may be labeled a few different things in your Bible, a few different terminologies, but let me go ahead and read the first couple of verses, Brother Byrd, and kind of set this up because we want to, this is a longer parable. And, as they say, you could preach many a sermon through this passage. But the scripture says in verse 33 here, 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 the vinedressers and went into a far country. Now, when the vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, stoned another, and he sent other servants more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Brother Bert, let me stop right there, because those few verses gets us to the point of where we're at in the NewSong Testament. you look at, the landowner here, the Lord. You look at the vineyard, Israel how the Lord called him out of Egypt, put him in a promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. The purpose of this was to bear fruit. And it gets us up to this point. But then Jesus says, I mean, as he's telling the story, he says, then the landowner sends his servants. And how does the rest of it go?
Bert Harper Well, first of all, I want to make this, this is funny to me. You've been around me long enough. There's something funny. I'm going to try to find it. I think when it says here another parable, I think he's saying, you thought that parable was stout. Wait till you hear this.
That's right.
Caroline That's right.
Bert Harper You can't, you know. And so here it is, the vineyard being Israel and going to a far country away. Time drew near. And all these servants that he sent, let me see, in the Old Testament, he sent Jeremiah and he wound up in a pit. You know, Isaiah was probably sown in two according to what most folks think. Hebrews.
John Boler Hebrews. Yes, sir.
Bert Harper So here it is, one servant, two servants, three servants. They, you know, they discarded everything they were saying. And now I'll put it this way, and I want you to go back with what you were saying. If good thing we're not God, we'd probably sent an army and destroyed them. You catch what I'm saying? But the love. Yes, Everybody say God. No, it's the love of God.
John Boler Yes.
Bert Harper here it is.
John Boler And even later on, the Lord asked them, well, what do I need to do? And they said, send them out. We'll get to verse 41 here in just a minute. But before we do that, he comes to verse 37. And you can't read this without just the emotion because we, as NewSong Testament Christians, we understand what Jesus is saying. Then last of all, it wasn't that he was the last resort. All these prophets were prophesying and teaching about the soon coming Messiah, the last of all. He sent his son to them, saying, they will respect my son. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, this is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. Talking about the triumphal entry and Jesus talking about this parable with the vinedressers and the prophet. And then he sent his son. Did they know that Jesus was talking about himself?
Bert Harper Well, again, when you read verse 45, and we'll come back to that doesn't mean we're skipping all that. They perceived that he was talking to them. If he was, he perceives he was talking to them. I believe it was coming. Now here's the thing. They did not have Jon. They did not have the Holy Spirit in them to guide them to all truth. So they were on their own. That's right. And everybody. How do you read scriptures? And you see that man? I have the greatest teacher in the world, the Holy Spirit of God. So these were on their own in trying to perceive that. That doesn't mean God wasn't convicting them. It doesn't mean that God wasn't trying to draw them to himself. But it means they did not have the knowledge that they needed. So it's come. If they don't have it at that point in time, it's not long before they do.
John Boler Jon. That's right. The scripture goes on to say in verse 39, they took him, speaking of the sun, they cast him out of the vineyard and they killed him. Well, the Bible says that Jesus was crucified outside the city. Hebrews says that, just a little nugget, verse 40. Then the owner of the vineyard comes, what will we do to those vinedressers? And they said, it was almost as if Jesus didn't finish the question, like, we got the answer, we've got it. They said to him, he will destroy those wicked men, miserably lease his vineyard, to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits of their season. And Jesus could have right then, he could have really got them. But instead he goes back to what the Old Testament, that the Jews and the religious folks of that day knew. He said, let me finish quoting Psalm 118.
Bert Harper It started on, Sunday, triumphant entry. And now he's going that same. Okay, this, this person that you saw come in and the people praising him. This person that you saw cleanse the temple. This person who, you ask authority. Okay, that, that person on Sunday was me. And the person that we're looking at is me. It is I.
Jesus tells them that the Messiah is coming. They did not know, but he's coming
It is me. I can't help but look at, verse 40. Therefore, when the owner of the vine dresser comes.
Bert Harper Okay. They did not know, but he's coming. Okay, you know, in this, and you said it earlier, how many, how much information? Look at Malachi, look at Micah, all Isaiah, all the prophecies in the past concerning this one. And, and the people who are talking to him are supposedly the people who knew that.
John Boler Who knew.
Bert Harper Was it purposeful? it's a battle, isn't it?
John Boler It is. Because it's almost as if they knew the answer. But they did not want to accept the answer because in their minds the Messiah was somebody totally different. And Jesus is saying, we told you where he was going to be born. We told you where I was going to be born. We told you, the prophecies in Isaiah, and Micah, and all these, Ezekiel, all these, the foreshadowing of who the Messiah is. And Jesus says, when he comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? He's standing right in front of them telling this. And then he goes back to verse 42. He says, have you not read the Scripture? And these are scholars. Have you not read. It's not another book that you may have not read. You are experts of the law. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. And marvelous in our eyes. That's a quotation from Psalm 118, 22, which is just a couple of verses. The triumphal, entry passage is verse 25, where he says, save now, I pray, O Lord, Hosanna, send now with prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. So he goes back to that passage and he tells them, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. It's marvelous in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. He goes back to that word fruit. We saw it in the old testament, verse 34. We see it again here in verse 43.
Bert Harper And he's bringing it home. You.
Bert Harper He doesn't say of people. He said, you.
Now I want to go back to the stone which the builders rejected
Now I want to go back to the stone which the builders rejected. years ago at church where I pastored here in Tupelo, had a man named Joseph son, one of the greatest teachers. Teachers, and men I've ever met. He was from Romania. He was sent from Romania before the Soviet Union fell. And they didn't want to martyr him in Romania, so they sent him away. but we got to have him in our church. And he preached on this. And that's the first time I heard it. And then I started research the builders. We're talking about the temple. Now what was different about the temple? All the, the stones in the temple were cut at the quarry. And then they were, they had a specific place to go. It wasn't just, I'm, giving you a bunch of bricks or a bunch of stone. You put them, line them up. No, each one of them had Their specific place, each one of them was cut out specifically for the first layer, the second layer. But this one, the cornerstone, it was different. it wasn't a cube. It wasn't rectangular. It was different.
John Boler It was a foundation.
Bert Harper It was a foundation.
John Boler It was a foundation.
Bert Harper And they rejected that foundation. And, so here we find out. Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you. Okay, it doesn't.
John's mission was to be missionaries to the whole world
Now, when we say that, we're talking about the mission. What were. Their mission was to be evangelists. Their mission was to be missionaries to the whole world. And I've used this several times, and I want to do it quickly. Where God placed them right there. Where three continents basically meet by the Mediterranean Sea. Where Asia would need to come that way to go to Africa. Europe would need to probably dip down that way, go to Asia, and vice versa. He sent them there, gave them the kind of lifestyle they were, to lead, the worship they were to have. Making sure when you do trade, do it fairly. They were missional. They had blown that. Now they're blowing the temple there where they have the sanctuary for the Gentiles. you know, and he said, you've blown your mission. I'm going to give it to another.
John Boler And he did. And as we learn in the NewSong Testament later on when the church is established in Acts, chapter, the day of Pentecost, the Spirit comes down into Acts, chapter two, Acts, chapter four, Peter and Jon are brought together to the religious folks once again. What name, what authority? He says in verse, 11. This is the stone which was rejected by the builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Jesus is the foundation to salvation. Paul later on says in First Corinthians, chapter 3, verse number 11, that there's no other foundation laid except that of Jesus. He is that foundation. It was rejected by the religious folks. It was rejected by the Jews. And now the scripture says the, nation bearing the fruits of it. The purpose of the church, the called out ones, is to bear the message of Jesus Christ. He is the foundation for life. He's the foundation for eternity. He is the only way to heaven. And that's the mission of Jesus. And that's the mission of this parable. You didn't accept it. We're going to the church.
Bert Harper Guess who we're part of that mission.
John Boler Aren't still there today.
Bert Harper Notice the severity of it. Verse 44. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken. Listen, you can't break this stone. This stone is solid. Can't help but think of the Hymn on Jesus, the solid rock I stand.
John Boler But when you come to Jesus, you can't come without a broken heart.
Bert Harper That's the only way. And whomever it falls, it will grind him. Listen, you're fighting a losing battle. It's going to be ground to powder. Listen, God's that big. Jesus is that important. God is doing. And so, and, and so he sets this up. Now, again, we've got about four, three, three or four minutes, and I know we're through. But 45 and 46, it really sets up the rest because he's going to. He's going to give another parable. We're not going in that today. But here he says now. Now when? Two important words. Yeah, Jon, now and when. Okay? Now, when the chief priest and fair fe Pharisees heard his parables, okay? Jesus, Allah said they'd seen his miracles. They observed. And at this time, you know, Lazarus had already been risen. And you remember what they wanted to do to him. They wanted to kill him as well. Because they wanted to do what? Kill the evidence. they was wanting to reject him. And so when the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables and, and I couldn't help but believe these two parables. That's the reason you said earlier, need to put these two together. Because the vineyard puts them together. The results put some together. And he says they perceived that he was speaking to them. Oh, did it cause repentance and sorrow or anger?
John Boler I think there was a world of emotions. I really do. I think they were angry because the Bible says they sought to lay hands on him, but they feared the multitudes because they took him as a prophet.
Bert Harper that's the reason they didn't answer the question about Jon the Baptist. That's right, because the multitude says Jon was from God. And, so again, man, let me go back.
John Boler I can't leave without this. If you're listening and, this can be a word of encouragement.
In Psalm 118, we've covered several passages that Jesus quotes
In Psalm 118, we've covered a couple of different passages that Jesus quotes in his triumphal entry and also in this last parable. The first one is triumphal entry is Psalm 118, verse number 25. Save now, I pray, O Lord, that is Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes to the name of the Lord. And then two verses prior to that. In this parable, the stone which the builders rejected has become a chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. There is one verse in Psalm 118 that's sandwiched brother Bert in between those two. And I think for you and I today as we read this passage, and there's a lot of history here, a lot of information about Israel and a vineyard. But for you and I today, that 1 verse, Psalm 118, verse 24, I think you have to include it in here. You say, what's that verse? I don't have my Bible here. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice. Is that connected?
Bert Harper It is connected. This is the day. What day? It's a specific day that the Lord has made will rejoice the day that it was rejected notice. This is the Lord's doing. Jesus knew what was happening. He was not responding. He was the one that was causing it. He's the one that chose to come riding on that donkey. He's the one that decided to cleanse the temple.
He's.
Bert Harper Jesus is in control, Jon, and it's the Lord's doing. And he wants people to know him this day.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper Hey, we're going to take questions. That number 888-589-8840. We'd love your question today. Please give us a call today on exploring the Word. Right now, more mothers need that moment of Hope. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps rescue five babies. Your generous tax deductible gift also helps provide mothers who choose life with love and support and care for up to two years. Please don't wait. Help surround mothers and babies with compassion, truth and hope today. To donate, dial hashtag 250 and say the key word baby. That's hashtag250baby or visit preborn.com Bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
John Boler Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus Just to take him at his word. Just to rest upon his promise. Just to know. Thus saith the Lord.
Sandy from North Carolina asks about keeping mercy for thousands
Bert Harper Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert and Jon Bowler here. Alex is in Colorado. He's doing some filming out there and other things, teaching. And Jon, again, thank you. Jon, by the way, is a local pastor here in Tupelo at Calvary Baptist Church. How long you been there now, Jon?
John Boler Five years in October.
Bert Harper Five years. Wow. Time flies. It seems like it was yesterday.
John Boler It was yesterday. It seems like it.
Bert Harper I remember you calling, hey, tell me what you know. And so. And by the way, Jon and. And mine and Jan's oldest son, Nathan, they were in school together at Blue Mountain. And along with Jon's wife Elizabeth, he met there. And so friends for A long time.
John Boler They have been a long time.
Bert Harper And, we're glad to have him. By the way, we've got lines that are open. If you can call 888-589-8840 with your question. Jon and I would love to hear from you. And, you might have praises. We, we accept those in prayer requests as well, but we want to go to the phone lines first. And it from North Carolina, Sandy. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline Did you say Sandy?
Bert Harper Yes, I did. Did I get that right?
Caroline Okay. Yes, sir, you did. It's, I'm Sandy from Connelly Springs, North Carolina. I've got, two passages in Exodus 34 that. That have jumped out at me, and I wanted to see if you guys think I'm interpreting this correctly or if I'm reading it correctly.
Bert Harper Okay. Exodus 34.
Caroline Yes, sir. Verses 6 and 7.
Bert Harper Okay.
Caroline so it says, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands. And then it goes on to say, visiting the iniquity of the Father upon, the children and their children's children, the third and fourth generation is. Is. Is the word. Keeping mercy for thousands. Does that mean that he will hold that mercy for thousands of generations and not let it go? And yet he will visit, just temporarily, the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations?
Bert Harper Okay, thank you for this. Good question. And, here we have it. Ah, Jon. Keeping mercy for thousands seems like that's not a time period. Seems like it's a number of people.
John Boler I certainly agree with that. And you know, when you start putting numbers to the Lord a days, like a thousand years. A thousand years like a day. You have to be careful with that. But keeping mercy for thousands, I would say would certainly be not a specific number, but talking about a large group of number. And everybody would be included in that is the way I understand, verse number seven.
Bert Harper And what you do when he transitions. Look what he. What he says between what you said. Keeping for thousands and then the fathers, the children, and so forth. Forgiven iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty. Then he goes visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and fourth generations. Now, again, God is not going to say, okay, your, Your granddad was, was. He was such and such a sorry person. I'm going to put it on you. Have you been, to. You're a lot younger than me, but I've. Since I'm older, I've been to the doctor and guess when I go to a new doctor, they have me sit down and fill out papers. You know what? One of the things I have to do. Is there any history, family history, of cancer, heart trouble, high blood pressure in your father, in your grandparents? Why? It does pass down. Certain things does pass down. And the person, the father or the mother that's living godly lives, it sets that person up to know God early. All three of our sons came to know Christ early. You're raised in a Christian home. At what age did you come to the Lord, Jon?
John Boler The Lord. Right before I was five years old. Like a month before I was five.
Bert Harper That's amazing. but those that are raised in a family where they've ignored God again, go over that list. you know, just living ungodly lives away from God, that child. It doesn't mean God can't intervene, but that. That means that child has a lot to overcome.
John Boler That's right. And the godly choices will make a difference in your children and your grandchildren. According to this passage, the ungodly choices will make a difference in your children and your grandchildren. You've often heard people say, well, do as I say, don't do as I do.
Sandy: Our decisions affect our children and our grandchildren even more
No, our decisions affect our children. In fact, I would even say that our decisions may not affect us too much personally from our perspective, but it will affect our children even more and our grandchildren even more. This is a wonderful text, and I appreciate Sandy. I appreciate him calling in and sharing. And, it's a great reminder.
Bert Harper It's a reminder we need to be with God right now.
John Boler That's right.
Bert Harper We don't need to wait. Need to get with God. One more thing I would say concerning this. And, I did the devotion this morning at AFA and did it about Joshua. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones in their generation that got there. And after they had divided the land at the end of Joshua, it talks about what all they had done. And Joshua was 110 years old. And it said, and all the days of Joshua, they followed the Lord and kept his command. And then it says, and the elders, that was the next generation, followed him and did that. Guess what happened in the third generation. You have to go to the book of Judges. And all of a sudden, in that third generation, they forgot God. Now it's not. And I want to spend time here. It doesn't mean automatically. And Alex said this yesterday, matter of fact, God has no grandchildren. Just because One generation serves God doesn't mean the next one M does. Just because one generation does not serve God doesn't mean the next generation can't.
John Boler That's right. And I firmly believe. You look at. I, still consider myself a young adult no matter how old I get. But you look at teenagers today and people say, well, that's the next generation. I think if we look at it that way, it's too late. They are. We've got to pour into them today. And I, encourage churches. And if you've got, in your church, pour into your students, pour into your children so that they can continue to carry that baton. They are the generation.
Bert Harper Alex travels a lot. He's doing a lot of the youth camps. He has eight, if I remember how many he said. And he said, man, I'm really impressed with the youth. There seems to be a desire and a, conviction growing in them. And we see what's happened with, on college campuses right now at Auburn University. that's next state over from Mississippi there. It's amazing. They're chaplain in what's going on, in their athletic program. And, the athletes are choosing to do that. But that bunch in Wisconsin, that's separation of church. They're coming at it, and they have nothing to fight against because the athletes are doing it. The students are doing it because they're wanting something real. So, man, we're praying for that. God would raise up this generation.
John Boler People are looking for truth. They really are looking for truth.
Bert Harper And. Okay, thank you, Sandy brother, thank you for calling. Let's go to Ohio and talk to Carolyn. By the way, that number is 888-589-8840. Give us a call. We've got room for another question after Carolyn's.
Zachariah talks about four horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem
Carolyn, go right ahead.
Caroline yes, in Zachariah, 1:18, it talks about four horns. And then in 19 it talks. The horns are scattered, Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. It only gives three countries. Why only three compared to four horns?
Bert Harper Okay. what are you doing? Reading Zechariah, Carolyn?
No,
Caroline I'm going through 30,000ft Bible. that's where I got.
Bert Harper Well, you know, I'm asking that facetiously because, you know, we get into this area and. Oh, man. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi. But Zachariah. Okay, okay, Jon, let's see what we can do with this again. And these verses is 18 and 19. It says, Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were four horns. And I said to the angel who taught with me, what are these? So he answered me. These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. 3.
Bert Harper We talked about numbers and here we have it.
John Boler Well, I don't think he's talking, I don't think when it says that there were four horns and these are the horns, these are the four horns that did that scattered the Judah. So I don't think it's, I don't think it's talking about Judah being one horn, Israel being one horn, Jerusalem being one. What's the fourth horn? I don't know if time will allow us to explain all the four and the four horsemen. You have to go to the Revelation. I would encourage Ms. M. Carolyn. Zechariah is a wonderful, wonderful book. I preached through it several years ago. it's a book that has a lot of prophecy, but there's a lot of, general application, that we can see as we're walking through the book of Zechariah. So I appreciate you reading it. Don't leave out any book of the Bible. You keep reading it. But at the same time, what helps us to understand Zechariah, a prophetic passage like this is to go and to read, Revelation and it talks about the four horns that are there and the four kingdoms and all of that coming towards the end times. But for this particular passage in verse 18 and 19, not talking about specific countries or specific cities, but these four horns have scattered these areas and
Bert Harper I agree with you fully.
Brent McFarlane: Why did the second prophet deceive the first
Brent, you say you got a question for us real quickly on Facebook?
Caroline I do.
Bert Harper This one is in reference to 1 Kings 13. Kathi writes, can you help me understand why a prophet would lie to another prophet? Both seem like honorable people. So why did the second prophet deceive the first? Okay, good question. I remember reading that and I was thinking the same thing. some prophets, they let their own desires and I would say wants get in the way of truth, don't they?
John Boler Old Testament interpretation, when you're. Just because somebody did something doesn't make it right.
Bert Harper Okay, I'm trying to do analysis, McFarlane. The Bible does not, affirm what they do. It reports what they do. And so one of the prophets, they would have said, Judas Iscariot was a great apostle if we didn't read the rest of the story.
John Boler Yes, that's right.
Bert Harper So when you read the rest of the story, you find out one of those prophets had an agenda. Is that what you would say?
John Boler I would say so. And these two prophets that are listed in first, Kings chapter, 13. But even going, let's look at some, very recognizable, figures of the Old Testament. Moses did some things we don't need to be doing.
Bert Harper David did some things, Sam did one or two.
John Boler Right, Absolutely. So when you see these people, even though they may be prophets of God, they were still human, they still were in sin. And some of the things they did we certainly would not want to do, and it doesn't make it right.
Bert Harper So I would say this. It's just, you know, they were wrong on that part. Do not let jealousy or greed. How many times jealousy and greed has got involved in those decisions. Servants, like Elisha's servant, you know, and so it can happen. Well, we got, Dianne. Yeah, Dianne from Ohio. Dianne, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Caroline Yes, thank you.
John: Some passages in the Bible are difficult to understand and explain
I. I want to help. Some help in understanding, especially, you know, when. When somebody is a new believer and, you know, when they throw, things out there about, you know, the Bible that are very. Are difficult to understand and, and to explain. But where in Sodom, the father said, whatever comes out the door, I will sacrifice, and his daughters come out? Yes, and yes. So I can't remember where that is.
Bert Harper Okay. We're talking about Jephthah, aren't we?
John Boler Yeah.
Bert Harper Well, the scripture she gives. Is that a different one?
John Boler Well, the scripture, I think is in, Is it the one in, Genesis, 19, where it talks about,
Bert Harper See, that's the one. Yeah.
John Boler It's the depravity of Sodom and Lot. And the next one that comes out, Dianne, It is a very, difficult passage to read. I admit that as a pastor. Ah. As you look at it and you talk about, the setup of Sodom's departure, depravity. The passage that you listed is just verses, few verses before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So there was sin and immorality, in all of chapter 19. In fact, it happened long before chapter 19. It set up this passage. But, this is one of those where a, few times in Scripture, the Lord didn't just judge an individual, he sent it into an entire city where we have no idea even where it's at today because of the judgment of God.
Bert Harper I'm sorry, I was thinking of Jephthah, who, If you'll give me this victory. You know, sometimes you make rash decisions, but here we're talking about immorality to the nth degree, visiting someone visiting, and them wanting to come out to them. That happens in judges as well. Another so it shows the depravity. And I think that's where you would have to go, Dianne, is to show how far man has fallen and can fall. And we think it's new today somewhere. The Bible says, there's nothing new under the sun, Jon.
John Boler That's right. And it shows the depth of sexual sin. It shows the depth, of immorality. There is no end. There's no, hey, I'll just do this, or I'll just. Immorality knows no end. And I'll even take a step back from a bird's eye view. Sin knows no end. Looking at, Genesis 19, maybe they'll say, I didn't think I'd ever do that. I think it's a lesson for each one of us, as those who desire to follow the Lord, that there is no end in sin. Praise God. This is the day the Lord has made.
Bert Harper And when you try to find an answer for it, rather than repentance and coming to God by sending two daughters out, you. You only compound it, don't you? Trying to negate sin, trying to educate sin, doesn't take you out of that sin. M. Jon, thank you for being with us, man.
John Boler Thank you for the invitation. I appreciate it.
Bert Harper We appreciate it so much being. Praying for Alex. He'll be traveling tomorrow, and tomorrow, again, we'll be in one of the parables. So you want to tune in and listen. And we'll pray that you will tell someone about exploring the word and AFR and all the programming that we have here. We want you to be informed. We want you to be, encouraged. And, that's what we try to do. So tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.
John Boler M. The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
💬 Show Notes
In this episode of Exploring the Word, join hosts Bert Harper and Dr. Oz Bowler as they delve into the profound teachings found in Matthew 21. Together, they unpack the parables of the two sons and the wicked vinedressers, exploring the theme of authority and the significance of obedience to God's will.
As they navigate through the Scriptures, the hosts highlight the importance of recognizing Jesus' authority and the call to bear fruit in our lives. They discuss how the religious leaders of Jesus' time struggled with His teachings and how His parables challenged their understanding of righteousness.
Listeners will gain insight into the connection between the Old and NewSong Testaments, as the hosts draw parallels between the vineyard imagery and God's mission for His people. The episode emphasizes the transformative power of repentance and the invitation extended to all, including those deemed unworthy by society.
Join the conversation as they tackle listener questions and provide biblical clarity on various topics, encouraging everyone to seek a deeper relationship with Christ.
00:00 </Because of listeners like you, Preborn helped to rescue over 67,000 babies
00:39 </Having authority and being all involved is still important in Christianity
01:32 </John Bowler talks about authority in two Matthew parables
06:24 </Jesus uses fathers and sons in his parables
12:20 </AFA is celebrating America's 250th birthday with patriotic apparel
15:09 </Burt Byrd: We are covering two parables in Matthew's gospel
21:22 </Jesus tells them that the Messiah is coming. They did not know, but he's coming
23:44 </Now I want to go back to the stone which the builders rejected
25:10 </John's mission was to be missionaries to the whole world
29:41 </In Psalm 118, we've covered several passages that Jesus quotes
32:57 </Sandy from North Carolina asks about keeping mercy for thousands
37:41 </Sandy: Our decisions affect our children and our grandchildren even more
40:48 </Zachariah talks about four horns that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem
43:17 </Brent McFarlane: Why did the second prophet deceive the first
45:36 </John: Some passages in the Bible are difficult to understand and explain
✍️ Episode References
PreBorn
https://preborn.com
American Family Radio
https://afr.net
Matthew (Bible)
https://www.biblegateway.com
Psalm 118
https://www.biblegateway.com
Jeremiah (Bible)
https://www.biblegateway.com
Zechariah (Bible)
https://www.biblegateway.com
1 Kings (Bible)
https://www.biblegateway.com
Calvary Baptist Church
https://calvarytupelo.com
Live
Did you know American Family Radio is listener-supported? Your monthly financial support will allow us to continue upholding Godly values through our numerous channels, like American Family Radio, One Million Moms, The Stand magazine, and many more.
Become a Great Commission Partner TODAY to help AFR transform culture by rebuilding the family. When you donate today, you’ll get access to:
