Q15 How did the listening Jews respond to Jesus’ parable about the failures and atrocities of the keepers of the vineyard?
When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons … And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that He spake of them. Matthew 21:42,45.
Q16 With what strong words did Jesus confirm what they had said?
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Matthew 21:43
Q17 How did Jesus tell them that the special relationship had come to an end?
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Matthew 23:37,38.
Q18 Which earlier Bible prophecy did Jesus’ words confirm?
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people. Daniel 9:24
NOTE: At the beginning of the last week period of the 70 prophetic weeks in AD27, Jesus began His ministry as the Messiah to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, proclaiming that ‘the time is fulfilled’ Mark 1:14,15. This was the time prophesied of the period determined on the Jewish nation, that was cut off from a much longer prophecy.
During Jesus ministry He concentrated on reaching individuals in the Jewish nation. On the Day of Pentecost in AD 31 thousands, as a result of the Apostles preaching about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, believed on Jesus as their Saviour, exclaiming ‘what shall we do?’ Acts 2:37. Peter told them to repent and be baptised. These were Jews, men and women, but now they were Christians. The disciples continued to reach individual Jews in spite of the hatred of the Jewish leaders.
At the end of the 70th week, AD 34 Stephen was martyred. This marked a turning point as the converted Jews scattered to all parts of the then known world taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. As they travelled they preached much to the dismay of the Jewish leaders. It was said that they turned the world upside down. Acts 17:6.
In AD 70 the Temple in Jerusalem was razed to the ground. The special era for the Jewish nation was completely over. Now the Gospel of Christ went the world over to individuals of all nations to make up the household of faith.
There is nothing in the Bible to say that the Jews return to prominence again at the end of the world. This teaching only began in the early 1800’s and had not been known before then.
Q19 How did the nation itself break the covenant between God and themselves?
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Matthew 27:22-25 |
