The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26

It was Tuesday of the Lord's Passion Week.  Following His series of three judgment parables (see Lessons 124 and 125), the religious rulers of Israel confronted Jesus with what we are calling three "loaded" questions.  They were "loaded" in that they were purposely and maliciously designed to trap Him into condemning Himself by His responses.  Little did those rulers realize how their "loaded" questions were actually fulfilled the divine purpose of examining the Passover Lamb!

As we look at these questions - in this lesson it is a politically loaded question asked by some Pharisees - and the Lord's amazing answers to them, we will see even His worst enemies could find NO FAULT in Him!!  He was the SPOTLESS Lamb of God, Whose death and shed blood would totally satisfy the Father as the righteous payment for the sins of the world!

This second part of this BRAND NEW STUDY, "What on Earth is Going On," looks at today's extremely alarming world scenario through the lens of prophetic Scripture! 

Discussed in this study are not only New Testament descriptions of "the last days" (which we are clearly in), but some very important "end times" Old Testament prophecies. These include the prophetic vision of Ezekiel's "Valley of Dry Bones" ... which is already partially fulfilled ... and his divinely inspired description of the yet-future "War of Gog and Magog" (the geopolitical alignment of the nations involved in this battle exist today for the first time in 2600 years)!

We also summarize what many consider the greatest prophecy in support of the Identity of Jesus, the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world: Daniel's God-given "Seventy Weeks' Prophecy"! Not only did it predict the very day of His official presentation of Himself as Messiah to Israel, but this prophecy fully supports a Pre-Tribulation Rapture of Christ's Bride, the Church. Furthermore, it clearly teaches (as does "The Valley of Dry Bones Prophecy") that God has not replaced Israel with the Church! He will fully keep all His covenant promises with her! Romans 11:26!

God has placed blinking neon signs everywhere to warn the world He is coming soon! DO NOT be like Israel at the time of Christ's First Coming, when she MISSED THE DAY OF HER VISITATION!  Receive Him today as your sin-Substitute Savior, for He is LORD, and the Bible clearly proves that truth from Genesis to Revelation.

Take a "jet tour" through the entire Bible in this NEW STUDY, as we explore "God's Plan of the Ages" to see where we are today in HIS-story!  This is an extremely powerful message to strengthen faith in the undeniable RELIABILITY OF GOD'S WORD - and to use the information learned in SHARING with others so their "eyes are opened" to the TRUTH of the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ!

Many exciting prophetic picture-types of the Gospel throughout the Old Testament are presented - some of which may even surprise the seasoned Bible student.

Matthew 22:1-14

In this lesson, we discuss "The Lord's Answer" to a question that a delegation of religious rulers posed to Him in Matthew 21:23 regarding His authority to present Himself to Israel as her Messiah and to cleanse the Temple of the religious "robbers" who had made it their "den" of iniquity.  

Christ's answer challenged His enemies' four-fold rejection: (1) their rejection of John the Baptist and his authority, (2) their rejection of God the Father (which He taught via His "Parable of the Two Sons"), (3) their rejection of God the Son (which He taught by way of His "Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers") and (4) their rejection of God the Holy Spirit.  It is this fourth subject to which we come in this lesson.  Again, the Lord spoke by way of a parable: "The Parable of the Wedding Banquet for the King's Son".

Matthew 21:28-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19

While Jesus knew the religious rulers were insincere in their request to know the truth about His authority, He never failed to give an honest answer.  Furthermore, there were others in the crowd (as well as future readers of the written record of this time) who needed to hear His answer.  So, rather than evading the matter of His authority (to claim Messiahship and rightfully cleanse the Temple), He proceeded to tell three parables that effectively supplied the information requested - but in such a way that they (the rulers) could not stone Him!  The first two of those parables are discussed in this lesson.  They are: "The Parable of the Two Sons" and "The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers".