Matthew 21: Authority, Rejection & Kingdom Transfer

MATTHEW 21 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-11   TRIUMPHAL ENTRY → King arrives
    │   ├─► Jesus sends for donkey/colt
    │   ├─► Fulfills Zechariah prophecy
    │   ├─► Crowds spread cloaks, branches
    │   └─► "Hosanna to Son of David!"
    │       City stirred: "Who is this?"
    │       │
    │       └─► PUBLIC MESSIANIC CLAIM
    │
    ├─ vv. 12-17  TEMPLE CLEANSING → King cleanses
    │   ├─► Drives out money changers
    │   ├─► "House of prayer" vs "den of robbers"
    │   ├─► Heals blind and lame
    │   └─► Children cry "Hosanna!"
    │       Leaders indignant
    │       │
    │       └─► CONFRONTS CORRUPT SYSTEM
    │
    ├─ vv. 18-22  FIG TREE CURSED → Judgment enacted
    │   ├─► Hungry, finds no fruit
    │   ├─► Curses tree → withers
    │   ├─► Disciples amazed
    │   └─► Faith lesson: mountains move
    │       Believe = receive in prayer
    │       │
    │       └─► SIGN OF JUDGMENT
    │
    ├─ vv. 23-27  AUTHORITY QUESTIONED → Trap fails
    │   ├─► Chief priests: "By what authority?"
    │   ├─► Jesus: "John's baptism—heaven or human?"
    │   ├─► Leaders trapped by question
    │   └─► "We don't know"
    │       "Neither will I tell you"
    │       │
    │       └─► EXPOSES THEIR UNBELIEF
    │
    ├─ vv. 28-32  PARABLE: TWO SONS → Actions vs words
    │   ├─► Son 1: Says no, then obeys
    │   ├─► Son 2: Says yes, doesn't obey
    │   ├─► Which did father's will? First.
    │   └─► Tax collectors/prostitutes → kingdom
    │       You saw, didn't repent
    │       │
    │       └─► REPENTANCE > PROFESSION
    │
    └─ vv. 33-46  PARABLE: TENANTS → Violent rejection
        ├─► Owner plants vineyard, rents to tenants
        ├─► Sends servants → beaten, killed
        ├─► Sends son → "Kill him, take inheritance"
        └─► Owner will destroy tenants
            Give vineyard to others
            Stone builders rejected = cornerstone
            Kingdom taken, given to fruit-bearing people
            │
            └─► REJECT KING = LOSE KINGDOM

CHAPTER 20 ENDS:
    │
    └─► VINEYARD WORKERS (20:1-16)
        │
        └─► Last = first, first = last
            Generosity of kingdom
            │
            └─► JAMES/JOHN'S REQUEST (20:20-28)
                │
                └─► Greatness = service
                    Son of Man came to serve, give life
                    │
                    └─► BLIND MEN HEALED (20:29-34)
                        │
                        └─► "Have mercy, Son of David!"
                            Eyes opened, follow Jesus
                            │
                            CHAPTER 21 OPENS:
                            │
                            └─► "SON OF DAVID" ENTERS JERUSALEM
                                │
                                └─► Fulfills prophecy
                                    Zechariah 9:9
                                    │
                                    "Your king comes, gentle, riding donkey"
                                    │
                                    BUT:
                                    │
                                    └─► Leaders reject Him
                                        Question authority
                                        Plot to kill
                                        │
                                        └─► Two kingdoms collide:
                                            │
                                            ├─ Jesus: Heaven's authority
                                            │   └─► Prophet from Nazareth
                                            │       Cleanses temple
                                            │       Heals sick
                                            │
                                            └─► Leaders: Human authority
                                                └─► Chief priests, elders
                                                    Protect position
                                                    Reject truth

THE ESCALATION:
    │
    ├─ ENTRY (vv. 1-11)
    │   └─► Public claim: "This is Jesus, the prophet"
    │
    ├─ CLEANSING (vv. 12-17)
    │   └─► Direct confrontation: "You made it den of robbers"
    │
    ├─ FIG TREE (vv. 18-22)
    │   └─► Symbolic judgment: Fruitless → cursed
    │
    ├─ AUTHORITY (vv. 23-27)
    │   └─► Open challenge: "By what authority?"
    │       Jesus exposes their unbelief
    │
    └─► PARABLES (vv. 28-46)
        │
        ├─ Two sons: Repentance beats empty profession
        │
        └─► Tenants: Reject Son = violent judgment
            │
            └─► "Kingdom taken from you"
                │
                └─► Point of no return
                    Leaders know He speaks of them
                    Want to arrest
                    Fear the crowds

THE THREAD: AUTHORITY CONFLICT
    │
    ├─ WHO HAS AUTHORITY?
    │   │
    │   ├─ Jesus claims: From HEAVEN
    │   │   └─► Entry fulfills prophecy
    │   │       Cleanses temple by divine right
    │   │       Speaks for God
    │   │
    │   └─► Leaders claim: From TRADITION
    │       └─► "We sit in Moses' seat"
    │           Temple is ours
    │           Our position, our rules
    │
    ├─ WHAT PROVES AUTHORITY?
    │   │
    │   ├─ Jesus: FRUIT
    │   │   └─► Heals blind, lame
    │   │       Children praise Him
    │   │       Fig tree judgment
    │   │       "Vineyard given to fruit-bearers"
    │   │
    │   └─► Leaders: POSITION
    │       └─► "We are chief priests"
    │           "We are elders"
    │           Empty claims, no fruit
    │
    └─► RESULT OF CONFLICT:
        │
        └─► Kingdom TRANSFERRED
            │
            ├─ From: Israel's leaders (fruitless tenants)
            │   └─► Rejected servants, killed Son
            │       "You didn't believe John"
            │       "You saw repentance, didn't believe"
            │
            └─► To: Fruit-bearing people
                │
                └─► Tax collectors, prostitutes
                    Those who actually REPENT
                    │
                    └─► The inversion continues:
                        │
                        ├─ Religious → excluded
                        ├─ Sinners → included
                        │
                        ├─ Professers → rejected
                        └─► Doers → accepted

THE PREPARATION (vv. 1-3)
    │
    └─► "As they approached Jerusalem and came to
         Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
         Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
         'Go to the village ahead of you,
         and at once you will find a donkey tied there,
         with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.'"
        │
        └─► Geographical markers:
            │
            ├─ "Bethphage" — "house of unripe figs"
            │   └─► Village on Mount of Olives
            │       Near Bethany
            │       │
            │       └─► Ironic: "house of unripe figs"
            │           Next passage: cursed fig tree
            │
            └─► "Mount of Olives"
                │
                └─► East of Jerusalem
                    Overlooks temple
                    │
                    └─► Zechariah 14:4: "His feet will stand
                                         on Mount of Olives"
                        │
                        └─► Messianic prophecy location

THE INSTRUCTIONS:
    │
    ├─ "Find a donkey... with her colt"
    │   │
    │   └─► Specific knowledge
    │       Divine foreknowledge
    │       │
    │       OR:
    │       │
    │       └─► Pre-arranged (less likely)
    │
    ├─ "Untie them and bring"
    │   │
    │   └─► Taking someone's animals
    │       Normally = theft
    │       │
    │       BUT:
    │       │
    │       └─► Next verse...
    │
    └─► v. 3: "If anyone says anything to you,
               say that the Lord needs them,
               and he will send them right away"
        │
        └─► "The Lord" (ὁ κύριος)
            │
            ├─ Could mean: "The owner/master needs them"
            │   └─► Common courtesy
            │
            └─► OR: "The LORD needs them"
                │
                └─► Divine claim
                    Owner recognizes Jesus' authority
                    │
                    └─► Either way: immediate compliance expected

THE CITATION (vv. 4-5)
    │
    └─► "This took place to fulfill
         what was spoken through the prophet:

         'Say to Daughter Zion,
          See, your king comes to you,
          gentle and riding on a donkey,
          and on a colt, the foal of a donkey'"
        │
        └─► Zechariah 9:9 quoted
            │
            └─► Original context:
                │
                └─► "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
                     Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
                     See, your king comes to you,
                     RIGHTEOUS and VICTORIOUS,
                     LOWLY and riding on a donkey,
                     on a colt, the foal of a donkey"

KEY ELEMENTS:
    │
    ├─ "Your KING"
    │   └─► Not just prophet
    │       Not just teacher
    │       │
    │       KING
    │       │
    │       └─► Messianic claim
    │
    ├─ "GENTLE" (πραΰς)
    │   │
    │   └─► Same word: Matt 5:5 "Blessed are the meek"
    │       Matt 11:29 "I am gentle and humble"
    │       │
    │       └─► Not conquering warrior
    │           Humble servant
    │           │
    │           └─► But still KING
    │
    └─► "RIDING ON DONKEY"
        │
        └─► Why significant?
            │
            ├─ Kings in PEACE rode donkeys
            │   └─► 1 Kings 1:33: Solomon rode David's mule
            │       Judges 5:10: Leaders rode donkeys
            │
            └─► Kings in WAR rode horses
                │
                └─► Zech 9:10: "I will take away chariots...
                                 war-horse from Jerusalem...
                                 He will proclaim peace"
                    │
                    └─► Donkey = peace
                        Not military conquest (yet)
                        │
                        └─► First coming: peace, salvation
                            Second coming: war, judgment (Rev 19:11)

MATTHEW'S DETAIL:
    │
    └─► Matthew mentions BOTH:
        │
        ├─ Donkey (mother)
        └─► Colt (young one)
            │
            └─► Mark, Luke, John: only colt
                │
                └─► Why both?
                    │
                    └─► Poetic parallelism in Zechariah
                        "Donkey... colt, foal of donkey"
                        │
                        └─► Same animal, Hebrew poetry
                            Matthew emphasizes literal fulfillment

THE OBEDIENCE (vv. 6-7)
    │
    └─► "The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
         They brought the donkey and the colt
         and placed their cloaks on them
         for Jesus to sit on"
        │
        └─► "Placed their cloaks"
            │
            └─► Makeshift saddle
                Sign of honor
                │
                └─► 2 Kings 9:13: When Jehu proclaimed king,
                                   people spread cloaks
                    │
                    └─► Royal treatment

THE CROWD'S RESPONSE (v. 8)
    │
    └─► "A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
         while others cut branches from the trees
         and spread them on the road"
        │
        └─► Two actions:
            │
            ├─ CLOAKS on road
            │   │
            │   └─► 2 Kings 9:13 (same)
            │       Treating Jesus as KING
            │
            └─► BRANCHES on road
                │
                └─► John 12:13: "Palm branches"
                    │
                    └─► Symbol of:
                        │
                        ├─ Victory (Rev 7:9)
                        ├─ Celebration
                        └─► National liberation
                            │
                            └─► 1 Maccabees 13:51: Jews entered
                                                    citadel with palms,
                                                    celebrating freedom
                                │
                                └─► Crowd expects:
                                    Political deliverance
                                    Overthrow Rome
                                    │
                                    But Jesus brings:
                                    Spiritual deliverance
                                    Overthrow sin

THE SHOUTS (v. 9)
    │
    └─► "The crowds that went ahead of him
         and those that followed shouted,

         'Hosanna to the Son of David!'
         'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'
         'Hosanna in the highest heaven!'"
        │
        └─► Three acclamations:
            │
            ├─ "HOSANNA to the Son of David"
            │   │
            │   └─► "Hosanna" (Ὡσαννά)
            │       │
            │       └─► From Hebrew הושיעה נא (hoshi'ah na)
            │           "Save, please!" or "Save now!"
            │           │
            │           └─► Psalm 118:25: "LORD, save us!
            │                              LORD, grant us success!"
            │               │
            │               └─► Originally: prayer to God
            │                   Became: acclamation for Messiah
            │                   │
            │                   "SON OF DAVID" = Messianic title
            │                   │
            │                   └─► 2 Sam 7:12-13: "Your son...
            │                                        will build house for my Name...
            │                                        I will establish his kingdom
            │                                        FOREVER"
            │                       │
            │                       └─► Davidic covenant
            │                           Messiah from David's line
            │
            ├─ "BLESSED is he who comes in the name of the Lord"
            │   │
            │   └─► Psalm 118:26
            │       │
            │       └─► Originally: greeting for pilgrims
            │           Now: Messianic welcome
            │           │
            │           "In the name of the Lord"
            │           = With God's authority
            │           │
            │           └─► Divine representative
            │
            └─► "HOSANNA in the highest heaven"
                │
                └─► "In the highest" (ἐν τοῖς ὑψίστοις)
                    │
                    └─► Echoes angels: Luke 2:14
                        "Glory to God in the highest"
                        │
                        └─► Praising God
                            By praising His Messiah

THE STIRRING (v. 10)
    │
    └─► "When Jesus entered Jerusalem,
         the whole city was STIRRED and asked,
         'Who is this?'"
        │
        └─► "Stirred" (ἐσείσθη)
            │
            └─► σείω (seiō) — "shake, quake"
                │
                └─► Same word: Matt 27:51 "earth shook"
                               Matt 28:2 "earthquake"
                    │
                    └─► City SHAKEN
                        Earthquake-level disturbance
                        │
                        └─► "Who is this?"
                            │
                            └─► The question:
                                │
                                ├─ Crowds know: "Son of David!"
                                │
                                └─► But city asks: "Who?"
                                    │
                                    └─► Jerusalem doesn't recognize
                                        Its own King
                                        │
                                        Luke 19:41-42: Jesus weeps
                                        "If you had known... things
                                         that bring you peace—
                                         but now hidden from eyes"

THE ANSWER (v. 11)
    │
    └─► "The crowds answered,
         'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee'"
        │
        └─► "The prophet"
            │
            └─► Deut 18:15: "Lord will raise up prophet
                             like me [Moses]"
                │
                └─► The Prophet
                    Not just "a" prophet
                    │
                    └─► But notice:
                        │
                        ├─ Crowds shouted: "SON OF DAVID" (King)
                        │
                        └─► But describe to city: "PROPHET from Nazareth"
                            │
                            └─► Downplaying?
                                Or explaining?
                                │
                                └─► "From Nazareth in Galilee"
                                    │
                                    └─► John 1:46: "Can anything good
                                                    come from Nazareth?"
                                        │
                                        └─► Humble origins
                                            Not from Jerusalem
                                            Not from Judea
                                            │
                                            Galilean prophet
                                            │
                                            → City's skepticism begins

THE CLEANSING (vv. 12-13)
    │
    └─► "Jesus entered the temple courts
         and drove out all who were buying and selling there.
         He overturned the tables of the money changers
         and the benches of those selling doves"
        │
        └─► The scene:
            │
            ├─ WHERE: "Temple courts" (ἱερόν)
            │   │
            │   └─► Not holy of holies (ναός)
            │       Not inner sanctuary
            │       │
            │       OUTER courts
            │       │
            │       └─► Court of the Gentiles
            │           Where non-Jews could worship
            │           │
            │           NOW: marketplace
            │
            ├─ WHO: "All buying and selling"
            │   │
            │   └─► Money changers (κολλυβισταί)
            │       │
            │       └─► Temple tax had to be paid in
            │           Tyrian shekel (pure silver)
            │           │
            │           People came with Roman/Greek coins
            │           Had to exchange
            │           │
            │           └─► Changers charged commission
            │               Often exploitative rates
            │       │
            │       └─► Dove sellers
            │           │
            │           └─► Lev 12:8: "If cannot afford lamb,
            │                          bring two doves"
            │               │
            │               └─► Sacrifice for the poor
            │                   │
            │                   But temple sellers:
            │                   Charged exorbitant prices
            │                   │
            │                   Exploiting the poor
            │
            └─► WHAT Jesus did:
                │
                ├─ "Drove out" (ἐξέβαλεν)
                │   └─► Forcefully expelled
                │       Not gentle suggestion
                │
                ├─ "Overturned tables"
                │   └─► Money scattered
                │       Business disrupted
                │
                └─► "Overturned benches"
                    └─► Doves released?
                        Sellers scrambling

THE DECLARATION (v. 13)
    │
    └─► "'It is written,' he said to them,
         'My house will be called a house of prayer,'
         but you are making it 'a den of robbers'"
        │
        └─► Two Scripture quotes:
            │
            ├─ "HOUSE OF PRAYER"
            │   │
            │   └─► Isaiah 56:7
            │       │
            │       └─► Full quote: "My house will be called
            │                        a house of prayer
            │                        FOR ALL NATIONS"
            │           │
            │           └─► Temple = for ALL nations
            │               │
            │               But Court of Gentiles:
            │               Turned into marketplace
            │               │
            │               └─► Can't pray with:
            │                   Money clinking
            │                   Animals bleating
            │                   Merchants haggling
            │                   │
            │                   Gentiles EXCLUDED
            │                   By commercialization
            │
            └─► "DEN OF ROBBERS"
                │
                └─► Jeremiah 7:11
                    │
                    └─► Context: Jeremiah's temple sermon
                        │
                        └─► Jer 7:9-11: "Will you steal, murder,
                                         commit adultery... burn incense to Baal,
                                         and follow other gods...
                                         then come and stand before me
                                         in this house bearing my Name,
                                         and say 'We are safe'—
                                         safe to do all these detestable things?
                                         Has this house... become
                                         a DEN OF ROBBERS to you?"
                            │
                            └─► "Den" (σπήλαιον) = cave, hideout
                                │
                                └─► Robbers do crime
                                    Then hide in den
                                    │
                                    Temple leaders:
                                    │
                                    ├─ Exploit people (rob them)
                                    └─► Then hide in temple
                                        "We're religious!"
                                        │
                                        └─► Using God's house
                                            As cover for evil

THE INDICTMENT:
    │
    └─► Jesus claims:
        │
        ├─ Authority over temple
        │   └─► "MY house" (quoting God)
        │       Speaks as God's representative
        │
        ├─ Temple's TRUE purpose
        │   └─► Prayer for all nations
        │       Not profit for leaders
        │
        └─► Leaders have corrupted it
            │
            └─► Made it den of robbers
                │
                └─► RESULT: Coming judgment
                    │
                    Jer 7:14: "I will do to the house...
                               what I did to Shiloh"
                    │
                    └─► Shiloh destroyed (1 Sam 4)
                        Temple will be destroyed (Matt 24:2)

THE CONTRAST (v. 14)
    │
    └─► "The blind and the lame came to him at the temple,
         and he healed them"
        │
        └─► Beautiful inversion:
            │
            ├─ Jesus drove OUT: corrupt merchants
            │   │
            │   └─► Those who didn't belong
            │       Those who defiled
            │
            └─► Jesus welcomed IN: blind and lame
                │
                └─► 2 Sam 5:8: "The lame and blind...
                                they are David's enemies"
                    │
                    └─► Tradition: lame/blind excluded from temple
                        │
                        BUT JESUS:
                        │
                        └─► HEALS them
                            Restores them
                            │
                            Temple becomes:
                            │
                            ├─ NOT: marketplace
                            └─► IS: house of healing
                                │
                                True purpose restored

THE CHILDREN'S PRAISE (vv. 15-16)
    │
    ├─ Leaders' indignation (v. 15):
    │   │
    │   └─► "But when the chief priests and teachers of the law
    │        saw the wonderful things he did
    │        and the children shouting in the temple courts,
    │        'Hosanna to the Son of David,'
    │        they were INDIGNANT"
    │       │
    │       └─► They saw:
    │           │
    │           ├─ "Wonderful things" (τὰ θαυμάσια)
    │           │   └─► Miracles, healings
    │           │       Undeniable works
    │           │
    │           └─► Children shouting "Hosanna"
    │               │
    │               └─► "Indignant" (ἠγανάκτησαν)
    │                   │
    │                   └─► Not: "amazed"
    │                       Not: "worshipped"
    │                       │
    │                       ANGRY
    │                       │
    │                       └─► Why?
    │                           │
    │                           ├─ Children calling Him "Son of David"
    │                           │   = Messianic claim
    │                           │
    │                           └─► In THEIR temple
    │                               Their territory
    │                               │
    │                               How dare He?
    │
    └─► Jesus' response (v. 16):
        │
        └─► "'Do you hear what these children are saying?' they asked him.

             'Yes,' replied Jesus, 'have you never read,

             "From the lips of children and infants
              you, Lord, have called forth your praise"?'"
            │
            └─► Psalm 8:2 quoted
                │
                └─► Original: "Through praise of children and infants
                               you have established a stronghold
                               against your enemies,
                               to silence the foe and the avenger"
                    │
                    └─► God uses WEAKEST (children)
                        To defeat ENEMIES
                        │
                        └─► Application:
                            │
                            ├─ Children = weak, lowly
                            │   └─► But they SEE truth
                            │       Praise Jesus
                            │
                            └─► Leaders = educated, powerful
                                └─► But they're BLIND
                                    Reject Jesus
                                    │
                                    └─► Children > leaders
                                        In spiritual sight

THE DEPARTURE (v. 17)
    │
    └─► "And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,
         where he spent the night"
        │
        └─► Symbolic:
            │
            └─► Jesus LEAVES Jerusalem
                Stays in Bethany
                │
                └─► Jerusalem = rejects Him
                    Bethany = receives Him
                    │
                    └─► Foreshadowing:
                        Jerusalem's abandonment

THE HUNGER (v. 18)
    │
    └─► "Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city,
         he was hungry"
        │
        └─► "Was hungry" (ἐπείνασεν)
            │
            └─► Genuine human need
                Not symbolic hunger
                │
                └─► Mark 11:12 adds: "It was not the season for figs"
                    │
                    └─► Important detail
                        Why curse tree for no figs
                        When not fig season?

THE CURSING (v. 19)
    │
    └─► "Seeing a fig tree by the road,
         he went up to it
         but found nothing on it except leaves.
         Then he said to it,
         'May you never bear fruit again!'
         Immediately the tree withered"
        │
        └─► Breaking it down:
            │
            ├─ "Fig tree by the road"
            │   │
            │   └─► Public location
            │       Visible to all
            │       │
            │       Not private garden
            │
            ├─ "Nothing on it except LEAVES"
            │   │
            │   └─► Fig trees: leaves + fruit together
            │       │
            │       Leaves PROMISE fruit
            │       │
            │       └─► This tree:
            │           Leaves (appearance of life)
            │           No fruit (no substance)
            │           │
            │           → HYPOCRISY
            │
            ├─ "May you never bear fruit again"
            │   │
            │   └─► Permanent curse
            │       Not "this season"
            │       NEVER again
            │
            └─► "IMMEDIATELY the tree withered"
                │
                └─► Instant judgment
                    │
                    Mark 11:20: "Next morning, withered from roots"
                    │
                    └─► Matthew compresses timeline
                        Emphasizes immediacy

THE SYMBOLISM:
    │
    └─► Fig tree = ISRAEL
        │
        └─► Jeremiah 8:13: "When I would gather them...
                             there are no grapes on the vine.
                             There are no figs on the tree"
            │
            └─► Israel's unfaithfulness
                │
                Hosea 9:10: "I found Israel
                             like grapes in the wilderness;
                             I saw your ancestors
                             as the early fruit on the fig tree"
            │
            └─► Fig tree = God's people
                │
                └─► Jesus' enacted parable:
                    │
                    ├─ Leaves = outward religion
                    │   └─► Temple, sacrifices, traditions
                    │       APPEARANCE of worship
                    │
                    ├─ No fruit = no righteousness
                    │   └─► No justice, no mercy
                    │       No genuine faith
                    │       │
                    │       Matt 7:20: "By their fruit recognize them"
                    │       Matt 23:27: "Whitewashed tombs"
                    │
                    └─► Withering = judgment coming
                        │
                        └─► AD 70: Temple destroyed
                            Fig tree (Israel) withered
                            │
                            Luke 13:6-9: Fig tree parable
                            "Cut it down. Why should it use up soil?"

THE DISCIPLES' AMAZEMENT (v. 20)
    │
    └─► "When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.
         'How did the fig tree wither so quickly?' they asked"
        │
        └─► They miss the symbolism
            Focus on the miracle
            │
            └─► "So quickly" (παραχρῆμα)
                "Immediately, at once"
                │
                └─► Supernatural speed
                    Impossible naturally

JESUS' ANSWER (vv. 21-22)
    │
    └─► "Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you,
         if you have faith and do not doubt,
         not only can you do what was done to the fig tree,
         but also you can say to this mountain,
         "Go, throw yourself into the sea,"
         and it will be done.
         If you believe, you will receive
         whatever you ask for in prayer'"
        │
        └─► Two-part teaching:
            │
            ├─ FAITH without doubt (v. 21)
            │   │
            │   └─► "If you have faith" (ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν)
            │       │
            │       "And do not doubt" (μὴ διακριθῆτε)
            │       │
            │       └─► διακρίνω — "waver, hesitate"
            │           │
            │           James 1:6: "Must believe and not doubt,
            │                        because doubter is like wave"
            │           │
            │           └─► Undivided faith
            │               Total trust
            │       │
            │       └─► Result: "Not only fig tree, but MOUNTAIN"
            │           │
            │           └─► "This mountain"
            │               │
            │               └─► Possibly: Mount of Olives (where they are)
            │                   Or: Temple Mount (visible from there)
            │                   │
            │                   → Symbolic of removing obstacles
            │               │
            │               "Throw yourself into the sea"
            │               │
            │               └─► Impossible by human power
            │                   Possible by faith
            │                   │
            │                   Matt 17:20: "Faith like mustard seed...
            │                                say to mountain, 'Move'...
            │                                and it will move"
            │
            └─► PRAYER with belief (v. 22)
                │
                └─► "If you believe, you will receive
                     whatever you ask for in prayer"
                    │
                    └─► Sweeping promise
                        │
                        └─► Qualifications elsewhere:
                            │
                            ├─ James 4:3: "Ask with wrong motives...
                            │              do not receive"
                            │   → Must align with God's will
                            │
                            ├─ 1 John 5:14: "If we ask according to his will,
                            │                 he hears us"
                            │   → Not blank check
                            │
                            └─► John 15:7: "If remain in me... words remain...
                                            ask whatever... will be done"
                                → Condition: abiding in Christ
                    │
                    └─► Context here:
                        │
                        └─► Disciples will face:
                            │
                            ├─ Hostile leaders
                            ├─ Impossible mission
                            └─► Mountains of opposition
                                │
                                BUT:
                                │
                                └─► Faith + prayer = God's power
                                    Nothing impossible

THE CHALLENGE (v. 23)
    │
    └─► "Jesus entered the temple courts, and,
         while he was teaching,
         the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him.
         'By what AUTHORITY are you doing these things?' they asked.
         'And who gave you this authority?'"
        │
        └─► Context:
            │
            ├─ "Entered temple courts"
            │   └─► Day after cleansing
            │       Back in THEIR territory
            │
            ├─ "While he was teaching"
            │   └─► Public setting
            │       Crowds listening
            │       │
            │       Leaders interrupt
            │
            └─► "Chief priests and elders"
                │
                └─► Part of Sanhedrin
                    Religious ruling council
                    │
                    → They have official authority
                      Question His

THE QUESTION: "By what AUTHORITY?"
    │
    └─► ἐξουσία (exousia)
        │
        └─► "Right, power, authority to act"
            │
            └─► "These things" = what?
                │
                ├─ Triumphal entry (accepting "Hosanna")
                ├─ Temple cleansing (driving out merchants)
                ├─ Teaching in courts (their jurisdiction)
                └─► Accepting children's praise
                    │
                    ALL assert authority over temple
                    │
                    └─► Leaders' authority CHALLENGED
                        They demand: "Who authorized you?"

THEIR ASSUMPTION:
    │
    └─► Valid authority must come from:
        │
        ├─ Sanhedrin (them)
        │   └─► They give permission
        │       Or it's unauthorized
        │
        └─► If not from them, it's REBELLION
            │
            └─► John 7:48: "Have any of the rulers...
                            believed in him?"
                │
                → No official backing = no legitimacy (they think)

THE RESPONSE (v. 24)
    │
    └─► "Jesus replied, 'I will also ask you one question.
         If you answer me, I will tell you
         by what authority I am doing these things'"
        │
        └─► Rabbinic technique:
            Answer question with question
            │
            └─► But more than technique:
                Jesus TRAPS them
                │
                → Their answer will expose them

THE QUESTION (v. 25a)
    │
    └─► "'John's baptism—where did it come from?
          Was it from HEAVEN, or of HUMAN origin?'"
        │
        └─► Simple binary:
            │
            ├─ FROM HEAVEN (ἐξ οὐρανοῦ)
            │   └─► Divine authority
            │       God sent John
            │
            └─► OF HUMAN ORIGIN (ἐξ ἀνθρώπων)
                └─► Human invention
                    John = self-appointed
            │
            └─► No middle ground
                Must choose

WHY THIS QUESTION?
    │
    └─► Connection to Jesus' authority:
        │
        ├─ John baptized Jesus (Matt 3:13-17)
        │   └─► Voice from heaven: "This is my Son"
        │       │
        │       If John from heaven
        │       → John's testimony about Jesus = valid
        │       → Jesus' authority = from heaven
        │
        └─► John prepared way for Jesus
            │
            Mal 3:1: "I will send my messenger,
                      who will prepare the way before me"
            │
            → Can't accept John, reject Jesus
              Can't reject John, claim spiritual authority

THE DELIBERATION (vv. 25b-26)
    │
    └─► "They discussed it among themselves and said,
         'If we say, "From heaven,"
         he will ask, "Then why didn't you believe him?"
         But if we say, "Of human origin"—
         we are afraid of the people,
         for they all hold that John was a prophet'"
        │
        └─► The trap WORKS:
            │
            ├─ OPTION 1: "From heaven"
            │   │
            │   └─► Logical consequence:
            │       │
            │       └─► "Then why didn't you believe him?"
            │           │
            │           ├─ John said: "Behold, Lamb of God" (John 1:29)
            │           ├─ John pointed to Jesus
            │           └─► John's baptism = preparation for Messiah
            │               │
            │               If John from God
            │               → Should have believed John
            │               → Should have believed Jesus
            │               │
            │               EXPOSES: Their unbelief
            │
            └─► OPTION 2: "Of human origin"
                │
                └─► "We are afraid of the people"
                    │
                    └─► Political problem:
                        │
                        └─► "They all hold John was prophet"
                            │
                            └─► Matt 14:5: Herod "wanted to kill John,
                                            but afraid of people,
                                            because they considered him prophet"
                                │
                                → Leaders ALSO afraid
                                  Public opinion constrains them
                                │
                                If say "human origin"
                                → Crowd could riot
                                  Lose popular support
                                  │
                                  EXPOSES: Their cowardice
                                           Their political calculations

THE ANALYSIS:
    │
    └─► Leaders are trapped because:
        │
        ├─ Don't believe John (or Jesus)
        │   └─► Hearts = hard
        │
        ├─ Don't want to admit unbelief
        │   └─► Would expose spiritual blindness
        │
        └─► Don't want to lose popular support
            │
            └─► Care more about position than truth
                │
                → CANNOT answer honestly

THE EVASION (v. 27a)
    │
    └─► "So they answered Jesus, 'We don't know'"
        │
        └─► Οὐκ οἴδαμεν (Ouk oidamen)
            │
            └─► "We don't know"
                │
                ├─ NOT: "We're still studying it"
                └─► IS: Feigned ignorance
                    │
                    They DO know
                    │
                    └─► They rejected John
                        They know he claimed divine authority
                        │
                        But won't SAY it
                        │
                        → Dishonest evasion

THE RESULT (v. 27b)
    │
    └─► "Then he said, 'Neither will I tell you
         by what authority I am doing these things'"
        │
        └─► Οὐδὲ ἐγώ — "Neither I"
            │
            └─► Tit for tat?
                │
                NO.
                │
                └─► Jesus proves point:
                    │
                    ├─ They're not REALLY seeking truth
                    │   └─► If they were, they'd have answered
                    │       About John
                    │
                    ├─ They already KNOW the answer
                    │   └─► John and Jesus: both from heaven
                    │       But they reject both
                    │
                    └─► No point giving answer
                        │
                        When question is in bad faith
                        │
                        → John 3:19: "People loved darkness
                                      rather than light"
                        │
                        They don't WANT to know
                        They want to TRAP Him

THE EXPOSURE:
    │
    └─► Jesus exposes their:
        │
        ├─ Unbelief (rejected John)
        ├─ Dishonesty (won't admit it)
        ├─ Cowardice (fear the people)
        └─► Hardness (refuse truth when confronted)
            │
            → Next two parables: directed at THEM

THE PARABLE (vv. 28-31a)
    │
    └─► "'What do you think?
         There was a man who had two sons.
         He went to the first and said,
         "Son, go and work today in the vineyard."

         "I will not," he answered,
         but later he changed his mind and went.

         Then the father went to the other son
         and said the same thing.
         He answered, "I will, sir,"
         but he did not go.

         Which of the two did what his father wanted?'

         'The first,' they answered"
        │
        └─► Simple parable, devastating point:
            │
            ├─ SON #1:
            │   │
            │   └─► SAID: "I will NOT"
            │       │
            │       ├─ Outright refusal
            │       ├─ Rebellion
            │       └─► Disrespectful
            │           │
            │           BUT:
            │           │
            │           └─► "Changed his mind" (μεταμεληθεὶς)
            │               │
            │               └─► μεταμέλομαι — "feel regret, change mind"
            │                   │
            │                   Different from μετανοέω (repent)
            │                   But similar result
            │                   │
            │                   → WENT to vineyard
            │                     DID the work
            │                     │
            │                     Actions > words
            │
            └─► SON #2:
                │
                └─► SAID: "I will, sir" (Ἐγώ, κύριε)
                    │
                    ├─ Respectful
                    ├─ Compliant
                    └─► Immediate agreement
                        │
                        BUT:
                        │
                        └─► "Did NOT go" (οὐκ ἀπῆλθεν)
                            │
                            → Empty promise
                              No follow-through
                              │
                              Words ≠ actions

THE QUESTION: "Which did father's will?"
    │
    └─► "The first" (Ὁ πρῶτος)
        │
        └─► They answer correctly
            │
            → Condemn themselves
              (They're about to find out)

VARIANTS:
    │
    └─► Some manuscripts reverse sons
        │
        ├─ Some: First says yes, doesn't go
        │         Second says no, then goes
        │
        └─► Point remains same:
            Actions matter more than profession

THE VERDICT (v. 31b)
    │
    └─► "Jesus said to them,
         'Truly I tell you,
         the TAX COLLECTORS and the PROSTITUTES
         are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you'"
        │
        └─► ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν — "Truly I tell you"
            │
            Solemn pronouncement
            │
            └─► "Tax collectors and prostitutes"
                │
                ├─ Most despised groups
                │   │
                │   └─► Tax collectors:
                │       │
                │       ├─ Traitors (work for Rome)
                │       ├─ Extortioners
                │       └─► Ritually unclean
                │           │
                │           Matt 9:10-11: Pharisees shocked
                │           Jesus eats with "tax collectors and sinners"
                │
                └─► Prostitutes (πόρναι):
                    │
                    ├─ Sexual immorality
                    ├─ Social outcasts
                    └─► Ritually defiled
                        │
                        → THESE are entering kingdom
                          BEFORE religious leaders
                          │
                          Scandalous claim

"ENTERING... AHEAD OF YOU"
    │
    └─► προάγουσιν ὑμᾶς (proagousin hymas)
        │
        └─► "Going before you"
            │
            ├─ NOT: "instead of you"
            └─► IS: "ahead of you"
                │
                → Leaves open possibility:
                  Leaders COULD enter
                  If they repent
                  │
                  But sinners are FIRST
                  │
                  → Another inversion

THE REASON (v. 32)
    │
    └─► "For John came to you to show you
         the way of righteousness,
         and you did not believe him,
         but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.
         And even after you saw this,
         you did not repent and believe him"
        │
        └─► Two-part indictment:
            │
            ├─ FIRST FAILURE: Rejected John initially
            │   │
            │   └─► "John came... you did not believe"
            │       │
            │       ├─ "Way of righteousness" (ὁδὸν δικαιοσύνης)
            │       │   └─► Path of right living
            │       │       John called to repentance
            │       │       │
            │       │       Leaders: "We're already righteous"
            │       │       → Rejected message
            │       │
            │       └─► "Tax collectors and prostitutes... believed"
            │           │
            │           └─► Matt 3:5-6: "People... from Jerusalem...
            │                            confessing sins, were baptized"
            │               │
            │               Luke 3:12: "Even tax collectors came
            │                           to be baptized"
            │               │
            │               → Outcasts KNEW they needed cleansing
            │                 Came in repentance
            │
            └─► SECOND FAILURE: Saw evidence, still didn't repent
                │
                └─► "Even after you SAW this,
                     you did not REPENT and believe"
                    │
                    └─► "Saw this" = what?
                        │
                        └─► Saw sinners repenting
                            Saw lives transformed
                            Saw John's ministry validated
                            │
                            Still didn't change
                            │
                            → Double indictment:
                              │
                              ├─ Rejected initial call
                              └─► Rejected evidence afterward
                                  │
                                  Hardened hearts

THE PARABLE DECODED:
    │
    ├─ SON #1 (said no, then obeyed):
    │   │
    │   └─► TAX COLLECTORS & PROSTITUTES
    │       │
    │       ├─ Lived in open rebellion
    │       ├─ Said "no" to God by lifestyle
    │       └─► But: heard John, REPENTED
    │           │
    │           Changed mind
    │           Entered vineyard (kingdom)
    │           │
    │           → ACTIONS prove repentance
    │
    └─► SON #2 (said yes, didn't obey):
        │
        └─► RELIGIOUS LEADERS
            │
            ├─ Professed obedience
            ├─ Said "yes" with religious performance
            └─► But: no genuine repentance
                │
                Empty profession
                No fruit
                │
                → Like FIG TREE:
                  Leaves but no fruit

THE PARABLE SETUP (vv. 33-34)
    │
    └─► "'Listen to another parable:
         There was a LANDOWNER who planted a vineyard.
         He put a wall around it,
         dug a winepress in it
         and built a watchtower.
         Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers
         and moved to another place.
         When the harvest time approached,
         he sent his servants to the tenants
         to collect his fruit'"
        │
        └─► Isaiah 5:1-7 allusion:
            │
            └─► "My loved one had a vineyard...
                 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
                 and planted it with choicest vines.
                 He built a watchtower in it
                 and cut out a winepress as well...

                 The vineyard of the LORD Almighty
                 is the nation of Israel"
                │
                → Audience KNOWS this reference
                  Vineyard = Israel
                  Owner = God

DETAILS:
    │
    ├─ "Put a wall" — protection
    ├─ "Dug a winepress" — provision for harvest
    ├─ "Built a watchtower" — oversight
    │
    └─► Owner invested EVERYTHING
        Set up for success
        │
        → Then "moved to another place"
          │
          Gave tenants freedom to work
          Trusted them

"Sent servants to collect HIS fruit"
    │
    └─► Rightful claim
        His vineyard, his investment
        │
        Expects return

FIRST WAVE (v. 35)
    │
    └─► "The tenants seized his servants;
         they beat one, killed another,
         and stoned a third"
        │
        └─► Three servants, three fates:
            │
            ├─ Beat (ἔδειραν)
            ├─ Killed (ἀπέκτειναν)
            └─► Stoned (ἐλιθοβόλησαν)
                │
                → Escalating brutality
                  Total rejection

SECOND WAVE (v. 36)
    │
    └─► "Then he sent other servants to them,
         more than the first time,
         and the tenants treated them the same way"
        │
        └─► Owner persists
            Sends MORE
            │
            Result: SAME violence
            │
            → Tenants are hardened
              Pattern of rejection

FINAL ATTEMPT (vv. 37-39)
    │
    ├─ The sending (v. 37):
    │   │
    │   └─► "Last of all, he sent his son to them.
    │        'They will respect my son,' he said"
    │       │
    │       └─► ὕστερον (hysteron) — "finally, last"
    │           │
    │           └─► After ALL servants rejected
    │               Owner sends SON
    │               │
    │               ├─ Father's reasoning: "Respect my son"
    │               │   │
    │               │   └─► Surely they'll honor son
    │               │       If not servants, at least heir
    │               │
    │               └─► Represents:
    │                   │
    │                   ├─ Servants = prophets (OT)
    │                   │   └─► Jeremiah beaten (Jer 20:2)
    │                   │       Zechariah stoned (2 Chr 24:21)
    │                   │       Isaiah sawn in two (tradition)
    │                   │       │
    │                   │       → Israel killed prophets
    │                   │
    │                   └─► Son = JESUS
    │                       │
    │                       Heb 1:1-2: "In past... through prophets...
    │                                   in these last days... through his Son"
    │
    ├─ The plot (v. 38):
    │   │
    │   └─► "But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other,
    │        'This is the HEIR.
    │        Come, let's KILL him and take his INHERITANCE'"
    │       │
    │       └─► Evil calculation:
    │           │
    │           ├─ "This is the HEIR" (κληρονόμος)
    │           │   │
    │           │   └─► They RECOGNIZE him
    │           │       Know who he is
    │           │       │
    │           │       → Not ignorance
    │           │         WILLFUL rejection
    │           │
    │           └─► "Kill him, take inheritance"
    │               │
    │               └─► Greedy logic:
    │                   │
    │                   ├─ Owner far away
    │                   ├─ Kill heir
    │                   └─► Vineyard becomes ours
    │                       │
    │                       → Delusional
    │                         Think they can steal from God
    │
    └─► The murder (v. 39):
        │
        └─► "So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard
             and killed him"
            │
            └─► Two-step murder:
                │
                ├─ "Threw him OUT of vineyard"
                │   │
                │   └─► Rejected, expelled
                │       Outside the vineyard
                │       │
                │       → Jesus: crucified OUTSIDE city
                │         Heb 13:12: "Jesus... suffered outside gate"
                │
                └─► "Killed him"
                    │
                    → Ultimate rejection
                      Murder the Son

JESUS' QUESTION (v. 40)
    │
    └─► "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes,
         what will he do to those tenants?"
        │
        └─► Forces them to pronounce judgment
            On themselves

THEIR ANSWER (v. 41)
    │
    └─► "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,"
         they replied,
         "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants,
         who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time"
        │
        └─► Two-part judgment:
            │
            ├─ DESTROY wicked tenants
            │   │
            │   └─► "Wretches to wretched end"
            │       κακοὺς κακῶς (kakous kakōs)
            │       │
            │       → Wordplay: "Evil ones evilly"
            │         Fitting punishment
            │
            └─► TRANSFER vineyard to others
                │
                └─► "Who will give him share of crop"
                    │
                    → New tenants will be FAITHFUL
                      Produce fruit
                      │
                      Give owner his due

THEY DON'T REALIZE:
    │
    └─► They just condemned THEMSELVES
        │
        ├─ They are the wicked tenants
        ├─ Vineyard = kingdom
        └─► Will be given to others
            │
            → Self-condemnation

THE CORNERSTONE (v. 42)
    │
    └─► "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures:

         "The stone the builders rejected
          has become the cornerstone;
          the Lord has done this,
          and it is marvelous in our eyes"?'"
        │
        └─► Psalm 118:22-23 quoted
            │
            └─► Same psalm as triumphal entry:
                Ps 118:25-26: "LORD, save us!...
                               Blessed is he who comes
                               in the name of the LORD"
                │
                → Full circle

"STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED"
    │
    └─► λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες
        │
        ├─ "Stone" = Jesus
        │   │
        │   └─► 1 Pet 2:6-8: "See, I lay a stone in Zion,
        │                     a chosen and precious cornerstone...
        │                     The stone the builders rejected
        │                     has become the cornerstone"
        │       │
        │       Acts 4:11: "Jesus... the stone... rejected by you,
        │                   the builders, which has become
        │                   the cornerstone"
        │
        ├─ "Builders" = religious leaders
        │   │
        │   └─► Those who should build God's house
        │       But they REJECT the foundation stone
        │
        └─► "Has become CORNERSTONE" (κεφαλὴν γωνίας)
            │
            └─► "Head of the corner"
                │
                ├─ Most important stone
                ├─ Holds structure together
                └─► Sets alignment for whole building
                    │
                    → Jesus: foundation of God's true temple
                      │
                      Eph 2:20: "Built on foundation...
                                 with Christ Jesus himself
                                 as chief cornerstone"

THE IRONY:
    │
    └─► Builders REJECTED the very stone
        That becomes MOST IMPORTANT
        │
        → "The Lord has done this"
          God's plan all along
          │
          Their rejection → His exaltation

THE VERDICT (v. 43)
    │
    └─► "Therefore I tell you that
         the kingdom of God will be TAKEN AWAY from you
         and given to a people who will PRODUCE ITS FRUIT"
        │
        └─► διὰ τοῦτο (dia touto) — "Therefore, because of this"
            │
            └─► Because you:
                │
                ├─ Rejected the prophets
                ├─ Killed the Son
                └─► Refused to produce fruit
                    │
                    THEREFORE:
                    │
                    └─► Kingdom TAKEN AWAY

"TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU"
    │
    └─► ἀρθήσεται ἀφ᾽ ὑμῶν (arthēsetai aph' hymōn)
        │
        └─► Future passive: "Will be taken"
            │
            → Not your decision
              God's judgment
              │
              Rom 11:17-21: Branches broken off
                            Because of unbelief

"GIVEN TO A PEOPLE WHO WILL PRODUCE FRUIT"
    │
    └─► ἔθνει ποιοῦντι τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς
        │
        ├─ "A people" (ἔθνει)
        │   │
        │   └─► Could be:
        │       │
        │       ├─ Gentiles (ἔθνος = nation/Gentile)
        │       │   → Church from all nations
        │       │
        │       └─► OR: Different people (new Israel)
        │           → Believers, Jew + Gentile
        │
        └─► "Producing its fruit"
            │
            └─► Present participle: ongoing action
                │
                → New people WILL produce
                  What old tenants didn't
                  │
                  Matt 7:17-20: "Good tree → good fruit
                                 By their fruit recognize them"
                  │
                  Gal 5:22-23: "Fruit of the Spirit is..."

THE WARNING (v. 44)
    │
    └─► "Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces;
         anyone on whom it falls will be crushed"
        │
        └─► Two scenarios:
            │
            ├─ FALL ON STONE:
            │   │
            │   └─► "Will be broken" (συνθλασθήσεται)
            │       │
            │       → Stumble over Jesus = broken
            │         │
            │         Isa 8:14-15: "He will be a stone that causes
            │                       people to stumble...
            │                       Many... will stumble;
            │                       they will fall and be broken"
            │         │
            │         Rom 9:32-33: "They stumbled over the stumbling stone"
            │         │
            │         → Present rejection = present harm
            │
            └─► STONE FALLS ON YOU:
                │
                └─► "Will be crushed" (λικμήσει)
                    │
                    → λικμάω — "winnow, pulverize, crush completely"
                      │
                      Daniel 2:34-35: "Rock... struck statue...
                                       became like chaff...
                                       rock... became huge mountain"
                      │
                      Dan 2:44: "God of heaven will set up kingdom...
                                 It will crush all those kingdoms"
                      │
                      → Future judgment = complete destruction

THE DOUBLE DANGER:
    │
    ├─ Reject Christ now → broken (present)
    └─► Reject Christ finally → crushed (future judgment)
        │
        → No escape
          Stone is both stumbling block and crushing judgment

RECOGNITION (v. 45)
    │
    └─► "When the chief priests and the Pharisees
         heard Jesus' parables,
         they knew he was talking about THEM"
        │
        └─► ἔγνωσαν (egnōsan) — "they knew, recognized"
            │
            → Crystal clear
              │
              ├─ Wicked tenants = them
              ├─ Killed prophets = their fathers did
              ├─ Will kill son = they will
              └─► Kingdom taken away = from them
                  │
                  → No ambiguity
                    Direct confrontation

INTENT (v. 46a)
    │
    └─► "They looked for a way to ARREST him"
        │
        └─► ἐζήτησαν (ezētēsan) — "they sought"
            │
            κρατῆσαι (kratēsai) — "to seize, arrest"
            │
            → Immediate response: Violence
              │
              Not: "Let's repent"
              Not: "Is he right?"
              │
              IS: "Arrest him"
              │
              → Proving the parable TRUE
                They ARE the wicked tenants
                About to kill the Son

RESTRAINT (v. 46b)
    │
    └─► "But they were afraid of the CROWD
         because the people held that he was a PROPHET"
        │
        └─► ἐφοβήθησαν (ephobēthēsan) — "they feared"
            │
            → Second time: fear of people
              │
              v. 26: Feared to say John "of human origin"
              v. 46: Fear to arrest Jesus
              │
              → Political calculations
                Not truth-seeking
                │
                "People held him as prophet"
                │
                └─► Public opinion restrains them
                    For now
                    │
                    But they will act
                    When crowd turns (ch 27)

MATTHEW 21 ARCHITECTURE:
    │
    ├─ ENTRY (vv. 1-11)
    │   └─► Public Messianic claim
    │       │
    │       ├─ Fulfills Zechariah 9:9
    │       ├─ Crowds: "Hosanna to Son of David!"
    │       └─► City: "Who is this?"
    │           Prophet from Nazareth
    │
    ├─ CLEANSING (vv. 12-17)
    │   └─► Confronts temple corruption
    │       │
    │       ├─ Drives out money changers
    │       ├─ "House of prayer" vs "den of robbers"
    │       └─► Heals blind/lame, children praise
    │           Leaders indignant
    │
    ├─ CURSING (vv. 18-22)
    │   └─► Judgment on fruitlessness
    │       │
    │       ├─ Fig tree: leaves but no fruit
    │       ├─ Withers immediately
    │       └─► Faith lesson: mountains move
    │           Believe in prayer
    │
    ├─ CHALLENGE (vv. 23-27)
    │   └─► Authority questioned, leaders trapped
    │       │
    │       ├─ "By what authority?"
    │       ├─ Jesus: "Was John from heaven or human?"
    │       └─► "We don't know" → "Neither will I tell you"
    │           Exposes unbelief
    │
    ├─ FIRST PARABLE (vv. 28-32)
    │   └─► Two sons: actions vs words
    │       │
    │       ├─ Son 1: Says no, then obeys
    │       ├─ Son 2: Says yes, doesn't obey
    │       └─► Tax collectors/prostitutes enter kingdom first
    │           You saw, didn't repent
    │
    └─► SECOND PARABLE (vv. 33-46)
        └─► Tenants: violent rejection
            │
            ├─ Vineyard rented to tenants
            ├─ Servants beaten, killed
            ├─ Son murdered
            └─► Kingdom taken, given to fruit-bearing people
                Stone rejected = cornerstone
                Leaders know, seek to arrest

THE SINGLE THREAD: AUTHORITY & FRUIT
    │
    ├─ WHO HAS AUTHORITY?
    │   │
    │   ├─ Jesus claims: FROM HEAVEN
    │   │   └─► Entry: fulfills prophecy
    │   │       Cleansing: acts as Lord of temple
    │   │       Cursing: judges like God
    │   │       Parables: speaks as vineyard owner
    │   │
    │   └─► Leaders claim: FROM TRADITION
    │       └─► "By what authority do you...?"
    │           But won't answer about John
    │           Trapped by their unbelief
    │
    ├─ WHAT PROVES AUTHORITY?
    │   │
    │   └─► FRUIT
    │       │
    │       ├─ Fig tree: No fruit → cursed
    │       ├─ Two sons: Obedience (fruit) > profession
    │       └─► Tenants: No fruit → kingdom taken
    │           │
    │           → Authority validated by FRUIT
    │             Not by position, words, or appearance
    │
    └─► RESULT:
        │
        └─► KINGDOM TRANSFERRED
            │
            ├─ FROM: Israel's leaders
            │   └─► Fruitless tenants
            │       Rejected prophets
            │       Will kill Son
            │
            └─► TO: Fruit-bearing people
                └─► Tax collectors who repented
                    Those who actually DO father's will
                    │
                    → The great inversion:
                      │
                      ├─ Religious → rejected
                      ├─ Sinners → received
                      │
                      ├─ Profession → worthless
                      └─► Repentance → everything

AUTHORITY QUESTION:
    │
    └─► Who has real authority?
        │
        ├─ POSITION-BASED: Chief priests, elders
        │   └─► "We sit in Moses' seat"
        │       Traditional authority
        │       │
        │       BUT: No fruit, no faith
        │
        └─► HEAVEN-SENT: Jesus
            └─► Fulfills prophecy
                Does miracles
                Speaks truth
                │
                → True authority from heaven
                  Proved by fruit

FRUIT QUESTION:
    │
    └─► What is the fruit God requires?
        │
        ├─ NOT: Religious performance
        │   └─► Fig tree had LEAVES (appearance)
        │       Son #2 said YES (profession)
        │       Tenants had VINEYARD (position)
        │       │
        │       But NO FRUIT
        │
        └─► IS: Genuine repentance & obedience
            │
            └─► Tax collectors/prostitutes: repented
                Son #1: actually obeyed
                New tenants: will produce fruit
                │
                → Fruit = changed life
                  Not just changed words

REJECTION QUESTION:
    │
    └─► What happens when you reject God's messengers?
        │
        ├─ First: Reject prophets
        │   └─► Beat, kill, stone servants
        │       Israel's pattern
        │
        ├─ Then: Reject John
        │   └─► Refused his baptism
        │       Didn't believe
        │
        ├─ Finally: Reject Jesus
        │   └─► Question His authority
        │       Plot to kill (like tenants)
        │
        └─► RESULT: Kingdom taken away
            │
            → Escalating rejection
              → Final judgment

TRANSFER QUESTION:
    │
    └─► Who receives the kingdom?
        │
        ├─ NOT: Those with pedigree
        │   └─► Chief priests, elders
        │       "Sons of Abraham"
        │       │
        │       But fruitless
        │
        └─► IS: Those who repent & obey
            │
            └─► "A people producing fruit"
                │
                ├─ Tax collectors (repented)
                ├─ Prostitutes (believed)
                └─► New tenants (will produce)
                    │
                    → Kingdom to fruit-bearers
                      Not profession-makers