Barton's Bible Study Notes

Life of Christ: Unit 42 - Section 149

Read Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:1-8. During the day, Jesus would go into Jerusalem and teach in the Temple. The events recorded in these passages probably took place on Wednesday, although they could have taken place on Tuesday following the cleansing of the Temple as well. The religious leaders, comprised of the chief priests, those leading priests who oversaw the Temple functions; the scribes, those who copied the Scriptures and were the experts in what it said; and the elders, members of the Jewish Sanhedrin, which constituted the national legal authority allowed by Rome confronted our Lord as He taught the people. These were the top religious leaders, experts and authorities of Israel. The Temple and its concerns were their business, their responsibility. And yet Jesus had just stepped in and evicted those doing business and clearly declared it was wrong. This man who had come out of nowhere, who had no formal training, was declaring what they had allowed (and in which probably had a financial interest) was not what God wanted. They decided to confront Jesus about His authority to make such declarations and why He thought He had the authority to act as He did in driving out the merchants. They knew He had never studied under them, the teachers of the Law. As far as they could determine, He came out of Galilee and had no theological training of any kind. They wanted to make it very clear to the people that He had no qualifications, no theological credentials to make the pronouncements He was making and do the things He was doing.

1. What two questions did this group ask our Lord?

2. What do you think they were asking by these questions?

3. What was our Lord’s reply?

4. How did our Lord’s question differ from that of the religious leaders?

5. Why would they not answer the question?

Read Matthew 21:28-22:14, Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:9-18. After the chief priests, scribes and elders responded, our Lord began to teach in parables once more. This time the parables were pointed right at these religious leaders. Matthew records three of the parables; Mark and Luke both record just one.

6. Which parable do all three writers record?

7. What or whom do the following objects or characters in the parable represent?

a. The Vineyard:

b. The Owner:

c. The Vine-growers:

d. The Owner’s Slaves or Servants:

e. The Owner’s Son:

8. What Scripture did our Lord cite in connection with this parable?

9. What is the Lord telling them by citing this passage?

10. Speaking of the stone that the builders rejected, our Lord states, “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” What is our Lord saying by the first part of this statement, “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces?” What is He saying in the last half, “but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust?”

11. What is the point or object lesson of the parable about the obedience of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32?

12. In the parable of the invitation to the wedding feast, who do the original people invited represent?

13. What is represented by the destruction of the city by the armies of the king whose invitation was snubbed?

14. Who are the unworthy, who are now invited to the feast?

15. What is the point of casting out the wedding guest that was not properly attired?

16. What does our Lord mean, “For many are called, but few are chosen?”

The Applications:

What are the applications of these passages to our lives today? Identify as many as you are able.