Whose Is the Kingdom?

GOLDEN TEXT: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” —Luke 12:32

MATTHEW 21:33-43

THE meaning of the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen is clearly established in verse 43, in which Jesus is quoted as saying, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” These words were addressed to representatives of the Jewish nation, “the chief priests and the Pharisees.” When they heard the parable “they perceived that he [Jesus] spake of them.”—vs. 45

Jehovah is the “householder” in the parable, and the Israelites are the “husbandmen.” The servants which were sent by the householder, and ill-treated by the husbandmen, were the prophets. Finally the householder’s son was sent, and the husbandmen killed him. This was Jesus.

When Jesus related the parable, he knew that it was in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees to kill him, so this part of the parable was prophetic. But the prophecy was speedily fulfilled, as he knew it would be. It was the rejection of the householder’s son, and their murdering him, that proved the nation to be wholly unworthy of the kingdom honors and privileges which had been conditionally promised.

God had promised the Israelites that if they obeyed his Law they would be unto him a kingdom of priests and an holy nation. (Exod. 19:5,6) When he gave them kings, he made it plain that they sat upon his throne, that the kingdom in which they reigned was his kingdom. (I Chron. 29:23) When Jesus came in fulfillment of the messianic kingdom promises, he offered himself to this nation. But when they rejected him and plotted his death, they proved themselves unworthy of kingdom honors.

That is why Jesus said, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (vs. 43) A little later Jesus said to the same people, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 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.”—Matt. 23:37,38

This “desolation” does not mean the loss of salvation for the Jewish nation. It is simply the desolation of the nation as the ruling house of God. This high kingdom honor was taken from them and given to another nation. Some of the Israelites, as individuals, did prove worthy of this great honor. These were the few who received Jesus, and of whom it is written, “To them gave he power to become the sons of God.”—John 1:12

The new “nation” to which the kingdom was given when taken away from Israel is the Gospel age house of sons. Paul wrote, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Rom. 8:16,17) The first of these “sons” were the Israelites who accepted Jesus. There have been additional Israelites throughout the age, and the remainder—144,000 in all—have been selected from among the Gentiles. That is why James declares that “God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”—Acts 15:14

The Apostle Peter further identifies the “nation” to which the kingdom was given when taken away from the nation of Israel. He writes, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” (I Pet. 2:9) In the next verse he adds, “which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.”

Jesus said that the kingdom would be given to a “nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” This emphasizes the importance of our bearing the fruits of the Spirit if we are to maintain our position this new nation. After identifying the fruitage of the Spirit, Peter wrote, “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”—II Pet. 1:10,11

Jehovah made every necessary provision for the Jewish nation to bear “fruit.” He hedged them about with his Law, and as the parable indicates, cared for his “vineyard” in other ways. He has also made provision for his new and “holy nation.” He has given us his Spirit, and his “exceeding great and precious promises.” It remains only for us to prove our worthiness by being faithful unto death.

We could not do this in our own strength, but if we do our part, the Lord will give us strength for our every time of need. If we work out our own salvation, he will work in us “to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

QUESTIONS

Who is represented by the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen?

In what sense was the parable also a prophecy?

Why was the kingdom taken from Israel?

Identify the nation to which the kingdom was given when it was taken from Israel?

What will assure our having a continued place in the “holy nation”?

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