Two Parables, Ezekiel 23 and Matthew 21
Here is the layout of chapter 21 in the Gospel According To Matthew.
The Triumphal Entry
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
The Parable of the Two Sons
The Parable of the Tenants
Now at a distance we are getting the complete picture. They are all events recorded on the same day (the 10th of the month of Abib) and in the same place, in Jerusalem.
The whole picture forms a judgement and the judgement tells a story.
On The Tenth Of Abib
The Parable Of The Tenants is given after the triumphant entry to Jerusalem, the cursing of the fruitless fig tree and the parable of the two sons. This day represents the part in the Torah where the House of Israel was to select the Passover Lamb, display it as without blemish and keep it in the house until the Passover. Y’shua was displayed in Jerusalem on a colt, followed by the colt’s mother the ass, as He entered through the East Gate of the City as the King who comes in peace. Four days later, according to the Torah prophecy, He became the Passover Lamb whose blood is used to seal believers for salvation.
The narrative in Chapter 21 finds its place in the condemnation of the nation (fig tree symbol) of Israel where she plays the son who promised to do a thing that he ended up not doing. He broke his own promise. However, Y’shua also gave hope in a new prophecy that the older son, compare to the older sister Oholah in Ezekiel 23, who changed his mind and went out to do the work in the vineyard. Oholah is the older sister from Ezekiel was played the harlot. But she was not given to drink from the cup. Her cup was passed to her younger sister, Oholibah, to drink. The cup is said to be wide and deep and she was made to be drunk from all of it to the last drop. As a result, many Jews today are still drunk with the cup of wrath of יהוה, and their veil is not lifted. They still do not see the Messiah that is Y’shua.
The tribes of Samaria in the north, symbolized by the older sister Oholah, became the first diaspora of the Yisrael. They became the Ten Lost Tribes that went to all the continents of the world. In the last generation, many find themselves having lost their the knowledge of their roots from the Old Testament, we are of the House of Yisrael. We turn to Jesus Christ as our Savior, thus fulfilling this prophecy in Matthew 21.
The Parable of the Two Sons
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.”
These two sons are the sons of Yisrael in which one repented and did the will of the Father (the older son). Now compare to the first 3,000 men that turned out on and after the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Those Jews that spread the Gospel to the Gentiles were also the ones who had lived a languid life until the Spirit of their God set them on fire and on love. They identified with the changing of mind in the parable. They went to the vineyard, thus fulfilling the parable of Y’shua. They went to the nations and spread the Good News.
‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went.
– Y’shua said of the sons of Yisrael who followed Him
And the younger son, who is unfaithful to his promise to the Father, gives only lip service with no action that counts.
As I said earlier, I have a hunch that the two brothers are the sequel to the Parable of the two sisters in Ezekiel 23 – Oholah and Oholibah. Both siblings were given by the Word of יהוה to illustrate the bookends, the first being the Diaspora and the one in the Brith Hadashah (New Covenant) the Aliyah, the gathering of the tribes.
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.
Their sin is in disbelief.
Matthew, who was renamed by Y’shua to Levi, came from the tribe of Dan. He and Zacchaeus were tax collectors, the scum of the Jewish community. They turned to follow the Lord. Mary of Magdala (Mary Magdalene) and Mary of Bethany were both the wild girls of their times. The woman by Jacob’s Well in Samaria (location of the old northern kingdom) narrated in John 4 had five husbands and a man that she was shacking up with. These are the known prostitutes in the Gospel that also changed their lives and followed the Lord.
2019
As we are winding down to the Blessed Hope of the Savior, we need to remember the one third of the House of Yisrael that Adonai prophesied for salvation. These will follow the Jewish Messiah before He appears to gather the elect. This is what the Word of יהוה says in prophecy of the last days to Zechariah.
9 And I will put this third into the fire,
and refine them as one refines silver,
and test them as gold is tested.
They will call upon my name,
and I will answer them.
I will say, ‘They are my people’;
and they will say,
‘Adonai is my God.’
Amein and amein, Y’shua Adonai is my God. He found me and I found Him.
Daniel's 70TH Week (Shavua) "I Will Be Back!" 