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In regards to Matthew 21: 28-32
Matthew 21:28-32 English Standard Version (ESV) 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Questions
1. How does conflicting Kingdoms impact us?
(We embrace the gospel Kingdom through Christ, but we are only part of the true Kingdom of God because God has regenerated us (Titus 3), as we are born again (John 3).)
(We are citizen of the Kingdom of God by grace through faith by the applied atoning and resurrection work of Jesus Christ, for good works, but not by our own works. (Ephesians 1-2))
(We embrace salvation, given to us by God.)
2. What do we practically do with knowledge of conflicting Kingdoms?
(We prayerfully ask that God will guide us to be humble, obedient citizens that can assist in the growth of other citizens (Christians) and be good witnesses to non-citizens.)
3. Who are we in this story?
(If we become too judgmental and arrogant in looking down on others that do not confess Jesus, we can be like persons with a false view of God. When we prayerfully, in humility, being saved by grace through faith, act Christ-like, we can be effective Christians with gospel witness.)
4. How should we treat others that are within the false Kingdom?
(We should treat others with love and respect. Living the gospel and presenting it where good situations arise.)
5. How should we act when we are hated for our Kingdom citizenship?
(We can be relatable as human beings that are finite and sinful, as are all human beings that live today. When reasonably possible, we can lovingly explain that we relate with our non-Christian fellow human beings, but that the gospel provides us with forgiveness of sins, through Christ.)
COURSON, JON (2005) Application Commentary, Thomas Nelson, Nashville.
ELLISON, H.L. (1986) ‘Matthew’, in F.F. Bruce (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
FRANCE, R.T. (1985) Matthew, Grand Rapids, IVP, Eerdmans.
MARSHALL, ALFRED (1975)(1996) The Interlinear KJV-NIV, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
MEYER, HEINRICH, AUGUST, WILHELM (1884-1887) Meyer's Commentary on the New Testament, New York, Funk and Wagnalls.
