How does Matthew 21:37 challenge us to respond to God's message today? The Verse in Focus “Finally he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.” (Matthew 21:37) Setting and Meaning in the Parable • Jesus is speaking to the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem. • The vineyard pictures Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). • The landowner is the Father; the renters are Israel’s leaders; the servants are the prophets; the Son is Jesus Himself. • The rejection of the Son foretells the cross that looms only days ahead. God’s Persistent Communication • Literal history shows God faithfully sending messenger after messenger—from Moses through Malachi. • Each prophetic visit was an act of grace, giving Israel opportunity to repent. • Matthew 21:37 shows the climax of that patience: sending His “beloved Son” (see also Mark 12:6). The Ultimate Revelation: The Son • Hebrews 1:1-2—“In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” • The Son is not just another messenger; He is the exact representation of God’s nature (Colossians 1:15-19). • Rejecting the Son therefore equals rejecting God Himself (John 5:23). Our Required Response Today Matthew 21:37 presses four urgent responses: 1. Listen—receive Scripture as the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16). 2. Respect—treat Jesus with reverence, not mere curiosity (Psalm 2:12). 3. Repent—turn from self-rule to His lordship (Acts 3:19). 4. Produce—bear fruit worthy of the kingdom (Matthew 21:43; John 15:5). Warnings From the Tenant’s Example • Privilege can breed presumption: spiritual heritage is meaningless without obedience (Matthew 3:9-10). • Delay does not equal approval: God’s patience aims at repentance, not license (2 Peter 3:9). • Judgment is certain for those who reject the Son (Matthew 21:41; John 3:36). Practical Ways to Honor the Son • Daily submit decisions to His Word. • Publicly identify with Him through baptism and testimony. • Invest resources—time, money, abilities—into His vineyard: the church and the Great Commission. • Guard against the drift of familiarity; cultivate fresh awe in worship. Encouragement From Related Scriptures • John 1:11-12—rejection is not the final word; “to all who did receive Him…He gave the right to become children of God.” • Romans 10:17—faith still “comes by hearing,” so proclaiming the Son matters. • Revelation 3:20—He continues to knock, seeking fellowship with any who will open. Concluding Call to Action God has spoken “finally” and decisively by sending His Son. Matthew 21:37 challenges every generation to heed that supreme message without delay, to receive the Son with reverent faith, and to yield lives that unmistakably honor Him. |
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