26-0906a Transcript

(1:44) Good morning, church. (1:47) It involves me now in the vocation to present a message from God’s word. (1:56) And the title of my lesson is The Christian’s Inheritance. (2:10) This lesson comes from one of the emails I received that said, (2:20) The New Testament should be read as a will.

(2:28) For a testament is a will. (2:39) For that is what a testament is, a will. (2:43) According to Webster’s Third New International Unabridged Dictionary, (2:54) a testament is a covenant, scripture, last will.

(3:01) I have often heard it stated that, quote, (3:08) the last will and testament, unquote, would be read at a certain time. (3:17) If one of the definitions to testament is last will, (3:25) it is unnecessary to say last will and testament. (3:33) For the last will is a testament.

(3:36) And a testament is a last will. (3:43) Within a will is a list of heirs who are to receive an inheritance. (3:53) In Romans 8, verses 16 and 17, (4:00) it is said the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirits (4:09) that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs.

(4:20) Heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ. (4:26) If indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. (4:46) Most likely, a will is made up concerning the children.

(4:58) And what the father or the mother or the close relative decides to give them, there is a will. (5:25) Now, we want to look at some scriptures with the word inheritance. (5:31) In the scripture, first we want to look at Mark 12, (5:44) which we have Christ telling a parable.

(5:53) And he’s talking about a man that planted a vineyard (6:03) and set a hedge around it. (6:06) That’s beginning in chapter 12 and verse 1. (6:17) And dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. (6:24) He leased it to fine dressers and went into a far country.

(6:33) And so, at that time, he sent a servant to the vine dressers (6:42) that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vine dressers. (6:50) And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. (6:58) Again, he sent another servant, and at him they threw stones, (7:07) wound at him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

(7:16) And again, he sent another, and him they killed, (7:22) and many others, beating some and killing some. (7:28) Now, he has a son. He has this son that is his beloved.

(7:42) And he also sent to them last, saying, (7:48) They will respect my son. (7:55) But those vine dressers said among themselves, (7:59) This is the heir. Come, let us kill him.

(8:04) And the inheritance will be ours. (8:10) Now, I’m going to pause right here. (8:15) And in Matthew 21, I’m not going to read that, (8:24) but Jesus tells a parable, and it’s the same parable.

(8:36) And he is telling this, and he is, at this time, (8:47) says that when vintage time grew near, (8:53) he sent his servants, the vine dressers, (8:59) to the vine dressers, that they might receive his fruit. (9:04) And the vine dressers took his servants, (9:08) beat one, killed one, and stole another. (9:14) And he sent other servants, more than the first, (9:19) and they did likewise to them.

(9:22) Then last of all, he sent his son to them, saying, (9:30) They will respect my son. (9:36) Now, in this, Matthew says that they saw his son. (9:52) They said among themselves, (9:54) This is the heir.

Come, let us kill him, (9:58) and seize his inheritance. (10:03) So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard (10:08) and killed him. (10:12) Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, (10:16) what will he do to those vine dressers? (10:21) Now, it says in Matthew 21, 38, (10:28) that they seize the inheritance after slaying the son.

(10:40) In Mark 12, 7, (10:46) Now, in Mark 12, verse 9, it says, (11:05) He will come to destroy the vine dressers (11:09) and give the vineyards to others. (11:14) Now, again, let’s look at some differences here (11:21) in Matthew and Mark’s account. (11:29) In Matthew, Jesus asked, (11:35) What will the father of the son do? (11:42) And he says, (11:43) The people said to him, (11:49) He will destroy those wicked men miserably (11:54) and leave his vineyard to other vine dressers (12:00) who will render to him the fruit in their seasons.

(12:08) In Mark’s account, (12:17) Jesus tells what the father will do in verse 9. (12:24) He says, (12:25) Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? (12:29) He will come and destroy the vine dressers (12:33) and give the vineyards to others. (12:37) Now, you know, it came to my mind (12:41) that people are looking for so-called discrepancies, (12:50) and I say so-called because they’ll see (12:57) some worldly that is different in one place (13:03) than it is in another of certain things. (13:09) They don’t give much consideration to thinking about it.

(13:15) They just only see a contradiction. (13:23) But there’s no contradiction in these stories. (13:26) Number one, in here, (13:32) we find that Matthew says that the vine dresser, (13:41) the owner of the wine press, (13:48) sent to the vine dressers to receive its fruit.

(13:56) And the vine dressers took his servants, (14:01) beat one and stoned another. (14:06) And he sent other servants more than the first. (14:10) They did likewise.

(14:12) Then last of all, he sent his son to them, (14:16) saying, they will respect my son. (14:25) In Mark’s account, (14:27) Matthew says that he sent a servant to the vine dressers, (14:42) and they took him and beat him. (14:46) Oh, there’s a contradiction here.

(14:54) Matthew says that he sends servants, (15:00) and Mark says he sends one servant. (15:05) I don’t think, no, there’s not. (15:11) Whether he sent one at a time (15:16) or whether he sent several at one time, (15:24) he did send his servants.

(15:31) And this is the same parable that he’s telling in Matthew and Mark. (15:43) And they mistreat the servants. (15:50) But then, supposing that the vine dressers would respect his son, (15:57) he sent him.

(16:00) And they killed his son. (16:07) Now, let’s consider this. (16:16) In Matthew, when Jesus asked the question, (16:26) therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, (16:30) what will he do to those vine dressers? (16:36) Matthew said, they said, that is, the people that are listening to him, (16:44) they said to him, (16:46) he will destroy those wicked men miserably (16:51) and lease his vineyard to other vine dressers (16:55) who will render to him the first in their series.

(17:02) And Mark, when Jesus asked that question, (17:12) Mark has Jesus responding and telling what the master will do (17:22) or the owner of the vineyard will do. (17:25) He will come and destroy the vine dressers (17:28) and give the vineyard to others. (17:33) Now, whether the people said or replied to his question (17:42) or whether Jesus told them doesn’t make any difference.

(17:54) The answer to that question is the same. (17:59) Whether it’s the people that replied to his question (18:05) or whether Jesus said what the owner will do. (18:15) Because it’s the same thing.

(18:18) Just the owner will come and he will destroy those wicked men miserably. (18:30) And he will give it to other vine dressers (18:34) who will take care of the vineyard as he wants it taken care of. (18:45) That will do just what the owner wants to do.

(18:50) Now, I know that this is the same because listen to this. (18:56) Have you not read this scripture? (19:01) The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. (19:10) This was the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes (19:19) because in my view it’s the same thing.

(19:24) Jesus said to them, have you never read in the scriptures (19:29) the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (19:35) and this was the Lord’s doing. (19:38) It is marvelous in our eyes. (19:45) Now, in verse 43 and 44 of Matthew 21 (19:55) says, therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you (20:01) and given to a nation by the fruits of it (20:05) and whoever falls on this stone will be broken (20:11) but on whomever it falls it will grind him to powder.

(20:19) Now, when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard this parable (20:25) they perceived that he was speaking of them (20:32) because they did the same thing to Jesus (20:39) that the bind dressers did to this bind dresser’s son. (20:48) Now, in Mark, if we were just reading Mark’s account alone (21:00) we would think that those bind dressers forgot all about the son’s father (21:10) the one who owned that vineyard (21:20) but when they killed his son (21:25) well, what will the father do? (21:29) The owner of that vineyard. (21:38) Well, they sought to lay hands on him (21:41) but there were a multitude for they knew (21:45) he had spoken the parable against them (21:49) so they left him and went away (21:54) because they feared the people (21:57) the people really looked to Christ.

(22:07) So then, we want to go to another scripture (22:12) that is quite different from that parable (22:20) but it tells us something (22:26) and Jesus was speaking to a multitude of people (22:37) in verse 1 (22:39) and he is speaking to them all the way to verse 12 (22:47) but then in verse 13 (22:50) the scripture that was read in your hearing (22:57) then one from the crowd said to him (23:01) Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me (23:09) but he said to him (23:11) Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you? (23:20) He said to them (23:22) Take heed and beware of covetousness (23:28) for one’s life does not consist of the abundance of things he possesses (23:36) Now, let me for just a minute or two (23:45) talk about this (23:46) This is a situation here (23:51) and it’s within a family (23:56) brother to these two brothers (23:59) One of them has an inheritance (24:05) no doubt from their father (24:12) Now, I don’t know if this inheritance (24:18) is this brother (24:23) or whether it’s all of what is in the will (24:32) that is left (24:35) but you know something (24:39) people want to take advantage (24:43) of absolutely going to (24:49) I’m going to get a big inheritance (24:52) and they’re all ready to get that inheritance (25:03) and it’s going to be a big one (25:06) but then they get disappointed (25:09) because they don’t get as big of an inheritance as they think they are

(25:17) but then thinking that Jesus (25:23) being who Jesus is (25:29) in one translation he speaks to him (25:37) Master (25:41) Jesus is in an authority position (25:47) Tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me (25:57) but Jesus refuses (25:58) because Jesus was not sent to take care (26:05) of problems that come within the families (26:12) Families have to work out whatever problems come along (26:19) If they are to receive an inheritance (26:25) and the inheritance, the will (26:30) is effective when the testator dies (26:35) we’re told from the scripture (26:39) but Jesus says (26:41) who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you (26:47) in other words, Jesus is saying (26:50) I don’t have that position (26:55) and he’s not getting into family differences (27:04) and what has made this man (27:14) want his brother to divide the inheritance with him (27:20) is about the same thing that these vine dressers (27:26) did about the wine press (27:32) and he said to them (27:34) take heed and beware of covetousness (27:40) these vine dressers were coveting this wine press (27:47) but they didn’t go after that vine press the legal way (27:56) he said for one’s life does not consist (28:01) in the abundance of the things he possesses (28:10) these things are temporary (28:17) what dad needs is if he’s left the will (28:25) it’s temporary (28:27) we’ll have it for a little while (28:29) if it’s a house and property (28:35) you know it might get flooded out (28:40) it might catch fire and burn up (28:45) it’s gone (28:51) but now (28:54) these things are temporary (29:00) now I’m going to stop right there

(29:03) and I’m going to say that (29:08) Christ came to give us an inheritance (29:15) but we’re not going to get that inheritance (29:21) unless we become his children (29:24) we have the power to become his children (29:28) how? (29:31) by believing that Jesus is the son of God (29:37) and who he said he was (29:40) that he is the son of God (29:46) we hear that he came and he died upon the cross for us (29:54) and the gospel, the good news is (30:00) that he who believes and is baptized shall be saved (30:08) but he that does not believe shall be condemned (30:15) and then Acts 2 38 (30:20) Peter tells the people when they ask (30:23) what shall we do? (30:26) he said repent and be baptized every one of you (30:30) in the name of Jesus Christ (30:33) for the remission of sins (30:39) and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (30:48) these things, remission of sins will come (30:54) when we obey what God wants us to do (31:02) he will make us his children (31:08) when we become obedient to his way to get salvation (31:18) and when we do what he says (31:24) when we receive his word (31:27) and are baptized (31:29) we are added to the church (31:34) as Acts 2 47 says (31:37) that the Lord added daily to the church (31:44) those who were being saved (31:48) those saved are in the church (31:53) we must remain faithful to him (31:58) we must as children be obedient to him (32:04) so if we want this inheritance (32:09) that he is offering (32:12) this will in the New Testament (32:18) is effective (32:20) Christ died (32:22) and this will is effective (32:27) after the testator dies (32:30) who is Christ (32:34) so if you want to do what the will of God is (32:43) why not do so while we stand and sing (32:48) and if you have any other thing on your mind (32:53) why not come forward and have the church pray for you (32:57) why not do so while we stand and while we sing (33:01)