Holy Tuesday: A Kingdom beyond borders

Matthew 21:15-46, Romans 11

As we journey through Holy Week, Holy Tuesday stands as a day of reflection and challenge. After the cleansing of the temple on Holy Monday, Jesus continues to confront the religious establishment, speaking directly to the hearts of those who claim to know God. It’s a day when Jesus speaks truth boldly, challenging both the pride of the religious leaders and the false systems of power that were misrepresenting God’s Kingdom.

In the temple, Jesus has some of His most pointed conversations, especially with the Pharisees and Sadducees, who test Him with difficult questions (Matthew 22:15-46). They seek to trap Him in His words, but time and again, Jesus turns their questions back on them, exposing their hypocrisy and misunderstanding of God’s law.

The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)
(Matthew 21:33-46) is one of the key teachings on Holy Tuesday. In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who rents out his vineyard to tenants. When the owner sends servants to collect the fruit, the tenants beat and kill them. Finally, the owner sends his son, and the tenants kill him too. Jesus uses this story to expose the religious leaders’ rejection of God’s messengers and, ultimately, the Son of God Himself. He speaks of how the Kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to others who will produce the fruit of the Kingdom.

While the parable is a clear critique of Israel’s leadership, it also points to a broader truth—God’s Kingdom is not confined to one group of people, and His purposes cannot be thwarted. For those of us in the church, this parable serves as a reminder that we, too, have been entrusted with the work of the vineyard. It’s not about heritage or position, but about fruitfulness—our ability to live out the principles of God’s Kingdom. The religious leaders thought they were the rightful heirs to God’s Kingdom, but Jesus’ words make it clear that God’s promises are not limited to just ethnic Israel. Rather, the Kingdom of God is open to all who will embrace the gospel and bear the fruit of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

The Apostle Paul uses this imagery in Romans 11, where Gentiles—once outsiders—are grafted into the covenant promises originally given to Israel. In the same way, this parable shifts the focus from a nationalistic view of God's Kingdom, where belonging is determined by ethnic or political identity, to a new understanding of the Kingdom as a community of people from every nation, united not by borders but by their faith in Christ. Jesus is calling for the creation of a new nation—a people who are marked not by their nationality, but by their fruitfulness in living out the values of God's Kingdom, which transcend any earthly power or authority.

In this context, the church becomes a living testament to the idea that the Kingdom of God is not about privilege or power but about the transformative grace of God that extends to all. The parable calls us to examine our hearts: Are we faithful stewards of the Kingdom? Are we bearing fruit that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and love? As the “grafted-in” people, we are called to live in a way that demonstrates the values of the Kingdom—not as a display of power or pride, but as a sign of humility, sacrifice, and reconciliation. (Galatians 3:28).

Reflection: The Kingdom and the Coming Judgment
Jesus’ teachings on Holy Tuesday are not just warnings; they are invitations. Invitations to examine the state of our hearts, the way we live, and how we engage with the world around us. In the parables and teachings, we are reminded that the Kingdom of God is not about outward appearance, but about the transformation of our hearts. Jesus confronts the religious leaders’ self-righteousness and calls us to humility.

As we reflect on this day, we are reminded that the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It is not a Kingdom built on power or control, but on the sacrificial love and humility of Christ. The challenges Jesus presents are as relevant today as they were when He first spoke them. Are we producing the fruit of the Kingdom? Are we prepared for His return?

In the same way Jesus challenged the religious leaders to examine their hearts, He challenges us today to live faithfully in anticipation of His return. The end of the story has already been written, and we are called to live in light of it.

As we move closer to the cross, let’s ask ourselves: What does it mean to be part of God’s Kingdom? How are we called to live in a way that reflects the justice, mercy, and love of Jesus? How can we live as faithful stewards of God’s grace, fruitfully participating in His mission of redemption?
 
Questions to Ponder:

• In the Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46), Jesus warns about the dangers of rejecting God’s messengers and His Son. How might we be rejecting God’s work in our lives or in the world today?
• Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God being taken from the religious leaders and given to others who will bear fruit (Matthew 21:43). What does it mean to bear fruit in God’s Kingdom, and how are we called to do so in our daily lives?
• Jesus teaches about the end times and the need to be ready for His return (Matthew 24-25). What does it look like to live in a way that reflects a readiness for Jesus’ return, especially in light of the already-but-not yet tension of God’s Kingdom?
• How can we cultivate a sense of vigilance and faithfulness in the present, knowing that Christ’s reign has already begun but is not yet fully realized?