Text: Matthew 21:2832

Topic: What God desires

Introduction

Matthew 21:2832

• Illustration: Citing a C.S. Lewis analysis of Hamlet, Palmer explains how understanding the proper meaning of a story requires studying its elements.
• The first son personifies repentance.
• The second son personifies evasiveness.
• The story contains comedy.
• The story contains tragedy.

Through evasion the second son never knows his father.

The second son never experiences repentance.

The second son never enters the vineyard.

Through this parable, Jesus demonstrates his understanding of human nature.

Jesus expects people will object to his lordship.

Jesus expects people will evade him, too.

The parable teaches that the will of God is that we (eventually) believe on him.

The parable teaches that second thoughts are better than first thoughts.

• While worldly philosophies make sense initially, the gospel works slowly.

Illustration: Palmer quotes C.S. Lewis quote at length and then expands to show how pessimism, optimism, pantheism, and materialism seem more sensible than Christ's lordship at first, but are slowly undermined by the truth of the gospel.

• Jesus was confident in God's sovereignty to grow faith in time.