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EZEKIEL 15
THE PARABLE OF THE VINE
MEMORY VERSE: JOH 15:5
v THE NEXT THREE CHAPTERS OF EZEKIEL (15,16, 17) ARE A SERIES OF PARABLES ABOUT THE FAILURES OF ISRAEL. IT IS A JUSTIFICATION FOR GODS JUDGMENT.EZEKIEL GAVE THESE THREE PARABLES TO THE JEWISH ELDERS WHO CAME TO HIS HOUSE.
v GOD HAD CHOSEN ISRAEL TO BE HIS SPECIALPEOPLE. HE DID NOT CHOOSE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SPECIAL. THE IDEA OF CHOICE HAS NOTHINGTO DO WITH THE QUALITY OR CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. IT ALSO DOES NOT MEAN THAT HE REJECTEDOTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE PERHAPS MORE WORTHY. THE IDEA BEHIND THE WORD CHOSENSIMPLY MEANS GOD, AS CREATOR, HAS A RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHOMEVER HE WANTS.
v GOD CHOSE ISRAEL TO ACCOMPLISH FOURTASKS.
Ø 1. GOD WANTED A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO BE AVISUAL EXAMPLE FOR THE REST OF HUMANITY. (DEU 28:9-10)
§ THE OTHER NATIONS AROUND ISRAEL WERESUPPOSED TO LOOK AT THE JEWS AND SEE HOW GOD BLESSED THE JEWS. THEY WOULD SEE WHAT IT WASLIKE TO SERVE A LOVING GOD, AND THEY WOULD FEAR DISOBEDIENCE BY WATCHING WHAT HAPPENED TOTHE JEWS WHEN THEY DISOBEYED.
· THE JEWS FAILED IN THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
Ø 2. GOD WANTED A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOWOULD BE A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES.
§ THE JEWS WERE SUPPOSED TO WITNESS TOTHE GENTILES AND TEACH THEM ABOUT GOD AND HIS WORD.
· THE JEWS FAILED IN THIS RESPONSIBILITY.INSTEAD THEY BECAME EXCLUSIVE.
Ø 3. GOD WANTED A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO KEEPTHEIR GENEALOGY UNTIL THE FIRST COMING OF CHRIST.
§ GOD MADE PROPHECIES DESCRIBING THEFAMILY OF JESUS. THAT IS HOW MAN WOULD BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE JESUS WHEN HE CAME.
· THE JEWS BRILLIANTLY SUCCEEDED IN THISRESPONSIBILITY.
Ø 4. GOD WANTED A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOWOULD KEEP INTACT HIS HOLY WORD, THE SCRIPTURES, THROUGH ALL HISTORY.
§ THE JEWS, FOR THE MOST PART, SUCCEEDEDIN THIS RESPONSIBILITY THOUGH OCCASIONALLY THEY WERE IN DANGER OF FAILURE. A FAITHFULREMNANT KEPT THE SCRIPTURES INTACT.
v WITH A CHOICE COMES ARESPONSIBILITY BY THOSE CHOSEN:
Ø WHEN GOD CHOOSES PEOPLE FOR CERTAINTASKS, THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY. IF THEY DISOBEY, THERE IS SEVERE CHASTISEMENT.
§ THE JEWS ARE THE VISUAL EXAMPLE:
· GOD TOLD THE JEWS IF THEY OBEYED HIM,GOD WOULD BLESS THEM AND IF THEY DISOBEYED HIM, GOD WOULD CURSE THEM.
(DEU28:1-2 DEU 28:15)
· THE JEWS FAILED TO BE AN OBEDIENTPEOPLE. THEREFORE, THE JEWS HAVE SUFFERED GREAT CHASTISEMENT THROUGH HISTORY. (THE PART OFEZEKIEL WE ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING IS PROOF OF THIS.)
v READ EZE 15:1-8 THE PARABLE OF THE VINE
Ø THERE ARE THREE BOTANICAL SYMBOLS INTHE BIBLE THAT REFER TO ISRAEL.
§ 1. THE OLIVE TREE (ROM 11:17)
§ 2. THE FIG TREE (MAT 24:33 MAR11:21)
§ 3. THE VINE AND THE VINEYARD (EZE15:1-8 PSA 80 ISA 5:1-7 JER 2:21 MAT 21:28-46 LUK 20:9-19)
Ø ISRAEL AS THE VINEYARD
§ THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA IN THE BIBLE.
· PSA 80:8 TELLS US THAT GOD BROUGHT AVINE OUT OF EGYPT AND PLANTED IT IN THE PROMISED LAND.
· READ ISA 5:1-7
¨ ISA 5:7 TELLS US THAT ISRAEL IS THEVINE .
¨ ISAIAH TELLS US THE PRIVILEGES GOD GAVETO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
Ø GOD PREPARED FOR THEM THE PROMISE LAND (HE DUG IT. ISA5:2).
Ø GODHELPED THEM DEFEAT THEIR ENEMIES SO AS TO CONQUER THE LAND UNDER JOSHUA. (GATHERED OUT THESTONES. ISA 5:2)
Ø GODGAVE THEM THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARD THE WORD OF GOD AND TO BE A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES.(BUILT A TOWER IN THE MIDST OF IT. ISA 5:2)
Ø GOD PLACED THE MEANS FOR SALVATION INIT = THE CROSS OF CHRIST WHERE SIN WAS JUDGED. (MADE A WINEPRESS IN IT. ISA 5:2)
Ø GOD LOOKED FOR THE NATION TO BRINGFORTH FRUIT (SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING), BUT IT BROUGHT FORTH WILD GRAPES (ISA 5:2)
§ WILD GRAPES WERE LITTLE BERRIES THATWERE HARD AND SOUR, NOT GOOD FOR ANYTHING.
· DURING THE REIGN OF DAVID, THE VINEYARDWAS FRUITFUL AND PROSPEROUS. BUT DURING THE REIGN OF SOLOMON, IDOLATRY RUINED THEVINEYARD. THEN IN THE TIME OF EZEKIEL, THE VINEYARD OF ISRAEL WAS WORTHLESS.
Ø WHAT IS THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF EZEKIELS PARABLE OF THE VINE?
§ ISREAL IS WORTHLESS TO GOD BECAUSE SHEDOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT FOR GODS KINGDOM.
§ GOD ASKS EZEKIEL SEVERAL QUESTIONS INTHIS CHAPTER.
· 1. HOW IS THE WOOD OF A VINE BETTERTHAN THE WOOD OF A TREE BRANCH? (2)
¨ THE GRAPEVINE IS GOOD FOR ONLY ONETHING, TO PRODUCE FRUIT. IF A TREE DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT, YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN AND USE THEWOOD FOR SOMETHING USEFUL. HOWEVER, THE WOOD FROM A GRAPEVINE IS NOT USEFUL FOR ANYTHING.
· 2. IS THE WOOD OF A VINE USED TO DO ANYKIND OF WORK? (3-4)
¨ NO. THE WOOD FROM A GRAPEVINE ISTWISTED AND FILLED WITH HOLLOW PARTS.
· 3. ARE THE BRANCHES OF A VINE WORTHANYTHING AFTER THEY ARE BURNED? (5)
¨ NO. IF THE WOOD IS USELESS BEFORE IT ISBURNED, IT IS MORE USELESS AFTER IT IS BURNED.
§ EZEKIELS PROPHECY WAS FULFILLEDWHEN THE BABYLONIAN ARMY BURNED EVERYTHING IN THE CITY OF JERUSALEM. (2CHR 36:19)
v APPLICATION:
Ø THE IDEA THAT THE JEWS ARE GODSCHOSEN PEOPLE UPSETS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, THEY FAIL TO CONSIDER THE FACTTHAT THERE IS A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY THAT ACCOMPANIES GODS CHOICE. THEY DO NOTOBSERVE THAT FAILURE OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY MEANS SEVERE CHASTISEMENT.
Ø GOD ALSO CHOOSES THE CHRISTIAN.
§ READ 2THE 2:13
§ SCRIPTURE IS VERY CLEAR TO TELL US THATWE DONT CHOOSE GOD. INSTEAD, IT IS GOD WHO CHOOSES US. (ROM 3:12) WHAT WAS TRUE OFTHE JEWS IS ALSO TRUE OF CHRISTIANS. ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT GOD CHOOSES TO BE CHRISTIANSMORE WORTHY THAN THOSE GOD DOES NOT CHOOSE? NO.
§ LIKE THE CHOSEN JEWS, DO CHRISTIANSALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY? YES,
· WE HAVE 3 OF THE SAME RESPONSIBILITIESTHAT GOD GAVE TO THE JEWS:
¨ 1. GOD HAS CALLED CHRISTIANS TO BE AVISUAL EXAMPLE:
Ø WE ARE TO DEMONSTRATE BY OUR LIVES WHATIT IS LIKE TO SERVE A LOVING GOD.
¨ 2. CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE A LIGHT TO THEWORLD:
Ø WE ARE TO WITNESS TO NON-BELIEVERSABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND ABOUT JESUS CHRIST AS THE WAY INTO HIS KINGDOM.
¨ 3. CHRISTIANS ARE TO KEEP THESCRIPTURES PURE, RIGHTLY INTERPRET THEM, AND PASS THEM TO OUR CHILDREN:
Ø THE MODERN TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLEGRADUALLY OVER TIME ERODE THE TRUTH OF THE WORD OF GOD. WE NEED A FAITHFUL REMNANT TODAYWHO WILL KEEP THE INTEGRITY OF THE WORD OF GOD.
Ø READ JOH 15:1-17 THE PARABLE OF THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
§ JESUS IS THE TRUE VINE. (1)
· ISRAEL WAS THE WILD VINE THAT PRODUCEDNO FRUIT. JESUS WOULD PRODUCE FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
§ GOD IS THE VINEDRESSER. (THE GARDENER) (1)
· THE VINEDRESSER PRUNES WILD BRANCHESTHAT DO NOT PRODUCE FRUIT. THESE BRANCHES ARE CALLED SUCKERS BECAUSE THEY SUCKALL THE NUTRIENTS OUT OF THE GROUND AND PREVENT THE REST OF THE VINE FROM GROWING ANDPRODUCING FRUIT.
· THE VINEDRESSER PURGES(WASHES) THE FRUIT THAT HANGS ON THE GROUND. (2-3)
§ CHRISTIANS ARE THE BRANCHES WHO RECEIVETHEIR NOURISHMENT FROM CHRIST AND HIS WORD.
§ THE 3 CONDITIONS FOR A FRUITFULCHRISTIAN LIFE:
· CLEANSING (2-3)
· ABIDING (4)
· OBEDIENCE (10,12)
§ THE FOUR LEVELS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION:
· NO FRUIT (2)
· FRUIT (2)
· MORE FRUIT (2)
· MUCH FRUIT (5,8)
§ PRUNING (CHASTISEMENT) ENABLES THE VINETO PRODUCE MORE FRUIT. IF THE VINE STILL DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT AFTER PRUNING, THE VINE ISCUT DOWN AND BURNED.
· THE CHRISTIAN WHO DOES NOT PRODUCEFRUIT FOR GODS KINGDOM IS CHASTISED. IF THE CHRISTIAN STILL DOES NOT PRODUCE FRUIT,GOD PUTS HIM ASIDE AS USELESS. ALL HIS WORKS ARE BURNED. HE RECEIVES NO REWARD, BUT HE ISSAVED.
¨ READ 1COR 3:11-15
Ø WE WANT TO BE THE CHRISTIANS WHOPRODUCE FRUIT FOR GODS KINGDOM.
Ø WE WANT TO BE OBEDIENT CHRISTIANS WHOFAITHFULLY FULFILL THE RESPONSIBILITIES GOD GAVE US.
Ø HOW DOES EZEKIELS PARABLE COMPAREWITH JESUS PARABLE IN JOH 15?
§ EZEKIELS VINEYARD (THE PEOPLE OFISRAEL) IS FRUITLESS. CHRIST TELLS US HOW TO BE FRUITFUL CHRISTIANS.
HOMEWORK
EZEKIEL 16:1-34
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORKANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
v APPLICATION OF EZE 15
Ø IN THE FOLLOWING TWO AREAS, WHAT ISYOUR LEVEL OF FRUITFULNESS IN GODS KINGDOM?
§ WITNESSING AND BRINGING OTHER PEOPLEINTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
§ DEVELOPING CHARACTER QUALITIES (GAL5:22-23)
§ IN WHAT WAYS CAN YOU PERMIT GOD TOIMPROVE YOUR FRUITFULNESS?
v PREPARATION FOR EZE 16:1-34
Ø READ EZE 16:1-34 THE PARABLE OF THE ABANDONED BABY AND THEUNFAITHFUL WIFE
§ WHO DOES THE BABY REPRESENT? (1-5)
§ WHO DOES THE NEW WIFE REPRESENT? (6-14)
§ WHO ARE THE CHILDREN THAT THE WIFEKILLED? (20-21)
§ HOW DOES THIS PASSAGE IN EZEKIEL RELATETO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
MEMORYVERSE: ROMANS 5:8
