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Read: Matthew 20-22

Here we see that Jesus is speaking in parables. The purpose of parables is to reveal truth and help guide understanding. God is all-knowing and Jesus is His Son. Jesus already knows His purpose on Earth. He is sharing His knowledge in a way that the people might understand. We see red letters as we read and know that those words were spoken by Jesus.

In these chapters, some important questions arise. Many of you reading this are probably married; I, myself, am. I love my husband and the family that we have created together. However, God is to come first. I have shared in previous posts that at our wedding ceremony we braided together 3 cords of rope. One cord symbolizing the husband, one the wife, and one God.

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” -Ecclesiastes 4:12

When God is intertwined in a marriage, it makes that marriage stronger and harder to break. Divorce is very prevalent in today’s world, and from personal experience, many of the couples I’ve seen remain strong through the years share one common thread, a real relationship with God. He designed marriage, after all, so it only makes sense to keep the Designer at the center. That doesn’t mean every divorce happens because someone didn’t love God; we live in a sinful and broken world. There can be many reasons, being unequally yoked, sin, personal brokenness, and more. However, keeping God at the center of a marriage truly matters.

You might say, “I’m not divorced. My husband and I are happily married.” That’s beautiful! Now I ask that you take a look at your spiritual life. How many of us are separated from God? If not completely distant, how many of us are actively pursuing Him? Do you love Him enough to be committed to Him for eternity? Do you truly know Him? Marriage is covenant and daily choosing, and our relationship with God requires that same intentional commitment day after day.

Sometimes our relationship with God fails because we are too busy seeking what we want to find instead of seeking what we need. Don’t waste your time looking only for what you want. Ensure that your ears are being used to hear God, your eyes are being used to see God, and your heart is being used to love God.

“He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”” -Isaiah 6:9-10

In chapter 21 we read the Parable of the Tenants. As you read, pay attention to what Jesus is telling you through representation. Go back and reread if necessary.

PARABLE	MEANING
Landowner	God
Vineyard	God’s people
Tenants	Israel’s religious leaders
Servants	Prophets
Others	Apostles
Son	Jesus
Fruit	Justice and righteousness

In Matthew 21:37-39, we see that the tenants did not respect the son, the same way the religious leaders of Israel did not respect Jesus.

“Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” -Matthew 21:37-39

We must have respect for our Father and our Savior. After all, you cannot be in a loving relationship without respect. Jesus is our cornerstone. Cornerstone can be defined as “an important quality or feature on which a particular thing depends or is based” (define cornerstone – Search).

 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” -Matthew 21:42

The word stone here is the Hebrew word iben. This word comes from the Hebrew word ben, which means one.

HEBREW	ENGLISH
ben	one
iben	stone

Jesus is the ONE!

In Matthew 22, Jesus tells us the greatest commandment:

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” -Matthew 22:36–40

To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind means being fully surrendered; rooted in Him, consumed by His truth, and saturated in His presence. But how often do we try to fill ourselves from other wells like the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4? In John 4, Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well. Keep in mind that this is someone others avoided and judged. Yet He intentionally went to her. He knew her past, saw her fully, and still offered her living water.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.” -John 4:13–14

We often run to distractions, relationships, achievements, comfort, or control to fill our emptiness. But apart from Christ, we remain thirsty. The love Jesus showed that woman is the same love we are called to extend to our neighbors. If we truly see others as brothers and sisters in Christ, as neighbors, then no one is our enemy. Remember that the goal is to make heaven crowded.

The two greatest commandments are:

1. Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind
2. Love your neighbor as yourself

If you keep these commandments, your relationship with God will be strong, your heart and mind will be guarded to Him, and your soul will spend eternity in Heaven with Him.

Discussion Questions

1. Jesus asks what is wanted in Matthew 20:21 & 32. If He asked you that today, how would you respond?
2. Are you trying to fill your cup with something, or someone, other than Jesus? What would it look like to lay that/them aside so that you may be satisfied by Him who loves you?

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