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Sunday School Special : Lesson 23

Text: Matthew 21
30 August 2020

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 30 AUGUST 2020

Subject: Parables relating to the Kingdom of Heaven

Text: Matthew 21

INTRODUCTION

1. The Kingdom of Heaven

a) The Lord Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matthew 4:17)
b) Message of the Lord
i) Repent
ii) Believe in the Gospel (Mark 1:15)

2. Outreach of the Lord Jesus to be noted:

a) Through personal friendship/conversation (personal evangelism)
i) Disciples (Luke 5)
ii) Nicodemus (John 3)
iii) Woman of Samaria (John 4)
b) Through preaching to the crowds(Mass evangelism)
c) Through His miracles
i) The lame
ii) The blind
iii) The deaf

3. A summary of His ministry

a) He came into the world (John 1:10)
b) He came to His own people (John 1:11)
c) To all who believed in Him, they were given sonship (John 1:12)

A PARABLE ABOUT TWO SONS

Matthew 21:23-32

1. The Context

a) Questioning the authority of the Lord Jesus
i) When He cleansed the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17)
ii) The chief priests and the elders of the people    
b) The counter question of Jesus  
i) The authority of John the Baptiser
ii) Where did he get his authority to preach and to baptize?
c) The chief priests and elders refused to answer 
i) If they were to accept John’s authority as from heaven
ii) If they were to reject John’s authority
d) Jesus refused to answer their question

2. Instead He gave them a Parable

The Parable of Two sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

FEATURES OF THE PARABLE

1. A father

2. He had two sons

3. He spoke to the first son

a) He asked him to go out and work
b) This was turned down at first
c) But he regretted his decision
d) He went to work (Matthew 21:29)

4. He spoke to the second son

a) He promised to go
b) But he did not go

QUESTION ARISING FROM THE PARABLE

1. Which of the two sons did the will of the father? (Matthew 21:31)

2. The answer was obvious

The one who obeyed (Matthew 21:31a)

LESSONS FROM THIS PARABLE

1. Entering the kingdom of God

a) Tax Collectors and harlots
b) The so-called leaders of the people
(Chief priests and Elders) (Matthew 21:31b)

2. Comment on John the Baptiser’s ministry

a) John came to you (Matthew 21:32a)
b) In the way of righteousness
i) He lived righteously
ii) He taught the way of righteousness

3. Responses of people to John’s ministry

a) And you did not believe him (Matthew 21:32b)
i) The chief priests, elders
ii) They sent people to interview John the Baptiser  (John 1:19-27)
iii) But they did not repent
b) People who believed (Matthew 21:32b)
i) Harlots
ii) Tax collectors
iii) They will enter into the kingdom of God first
c) Continued rejection
i) The leaders saw the multitudes repent and were baptised
ii) But they did not regret/repent from their sins
iii) They did not believe

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN/GOD

1. Invitation is open to all to enter into God’s Kingdom

a) Everyone is invited
b) Manner of responding to God’s invitation
i) Repentance from sin
ii) Believing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
iii) Desire to follow the Lord as a believer-disciple

2. Every reason to believe

a) Forgiveness of sin
b) Salvation
c) Sonship
d) Entrance into the Kingdom of heaven
e) Restoration
f) Blessings