Week of April 20 – The Attempted Entrapments
Matthew 21-22 and parallel passages in Mark and Luke
Wow! It’s amazing how much I missed in previous studies of the attempts of various parties to trap Jesus in His words. I always knew that they tried to trap Him, but without understanding each group and their beliefs, I never grasped their craftiness. Thus, I could not fully appreciate the divine wisdom, discernment, and authority that Jesus displays. The result of His replies was that the Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, and scribes were astonished, marveled, and/or were silenced.
We did not discuss the two additional parables that Matthew records at the time Jesus told the parable of the vineyard owner.
Let me just encourage you to study these two parables. Here’s a few questions to get you started. Please post discussion/questions/answers as you feel led by clicking on “comments” below.
Matthew 21:28-32
1a. What is the point of the parable? (See verses 28-31a)
1b. What is the way of righteousness?
1c. How does Jesus apply the point of the parable to them? (See verses 31b-33)
Matthew 22:1-14
2a. What is this parable describing? (See verse 2)
2b. What did the first set of people who were invited do?
2c. How did the king respond?
2d. What is similar in verse 6 to the parable of the vineyard owner?
2e. What were the servants to do in verse 9?
2f. Many scholars believe that the wedding garment was supplied by the king due to the haste the guests were gathered from the “highways”. What could the wedding garment in this parable represent? Consider the grace illustrated by the garment of Christ’s righteousness being supplied by the King.
If you would like to read ahead, this coming Sunday, we will begin discussing Judas and the Last Supper.
