If Deuteronomy was the extent of scripture I might agree. And future generations can be added to a covenant and the covenant still end. But if you read the 3 parables between Matthew 21:28 to 22:14, Jesus actually says in 21:43 that the kingdom is taken from them, and gives the timing. After His death. All 3 together depict the kingdom being taken from Israel, the destruction of Israel, and God continuing to build His kingdom with another group.
All of the scripture is in agreement. There can't be a kingdom if its people are scattered to the four corners and into every nation. The kingdom was indeed taken from them and given to another. This is what
Romans 11 explains when Paul describes the cutting off of the natural branch for unbelief...but further in that same chapter is the promise that they will be regrafted onto the root when they repent and believe again.
Let's look at each parable in
Matthew 21...
The First Parable:
- One son paid lip service to obedience but didn't obey
- One son was initially rebellious but repented and obeyed
The Second Parable:
- The Husbandmen who were placed in charge of the vineyard stole it
- The Husbandmen killed every servant sent including the Owner's son
In both parables, The Messiah is indicting
the shepherds placed in charge of the kingdom. This is confirmed later in the chapter.
Matthew 21:45
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
So keep this in mind for later because it can help us to synchronize O.T. prophecies. Next, you mentioned The Parable of the Wedding:
- The Son's wedding was happening so invitations went out
- Those invited had better things to do
- So invitations went out to anyone else
- Someone shows up without proper attire and he is bound and cast out
Notice in this parable that BOTH people didn't make it in. Those who were originally invited didn't make it AND people who were later invited weren't allowed in because they thought they could show up without preparing themselves.
This is such a powerful parable because it perfectly reflects the Jews who originally had the invitation (i.e., salvation) but didn't recognize it...and then the Gentiles who accept the invitation (i.e., salvation) but who still won't be allowed in because they'll show up without cleaning themselves up (i.e., sanctification). Neither type of person respected the event. By the way, in Romans 11 Paul addresses both issues equally: the natural branches who were partially blinded and the wild branches boasting as if they can't lose the opportunity they were given.
"
For many are called, but few are chosen." (
Matt 22:14)
So this parable was about
both types not making it in (first the Jews and then Gentiles), whereas only a few will. The Messiah's parables are consistent with multiple passages in scripture, but these parables still don't preclude the natural branches from being regrafted when they repent as promised.
----
Let's get back to the Pharisees. These leaders were charged with caring for the vineyard, but clearly, we know they didn't. The Messiah's clash with the
Shepherds was prophesied in the O.T. in the book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 34:1-2
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
Now, the book of Ezekiel was written while the people were in Babylonian captivity. Its prophecy details events that were to happen AFTER the Jews returned to the land during the second temple period (i.e., Herod's Temple). I'm going to just reference passages but please feel free to read its chapters.
1. Ezekiel 33:28-29
- Jews will start sinning again when they return from Babylon.
- This was fulfilled before The Messiah in around 457 - 3 BC. We read of this drama in Nehemiah, Zechariah and those intertestamental books
2. Ezekiel 34
-
Corrupt shepherds will mislead the flock, and
the sheep will scatter, but The Almighty will search out his sheep and
make a covenant with them
- In fulfillment of this chapter we read about The Messiah's clash with the Pharisees in the gospels (corrupt shepherds), He often said He was sent to "the lost sheep of the house of Israel", and then He established the New Covenant (27 - 34 AD).
3. Ezekiel 35:5-15
-
Jerusalem is prophesied to be destroyed (i.e., desolated). We know this happened in 70 AD. And by your reckoning, the kingdom is taken from Israel and given to another group. Correct. But notice we have many more chapters left to fulfill in Ezekiel. Also, notice what else is mentioned in Chapter 35.
- Next, it says the Edomites will claim the land as theirs during Israel's punishment/scattering. But because they acted like enemies to their brother Jacob during his time of punishment (
Deut 28), the Edomites will live through
constant war and blood; never to experience peace until such time as their own destruction/desolation.
4. Ezekiel 36:1-7
- While Almighty's anger grows for Edom for claiming the land as their property, His anger grows for every nation of the world for how they treat His people (i.e., last approx 2000 years).
5. Ezekiel 36:8-15
- The nations will mock and hate His people (i.e., last approx 2000 years) until The Almighty Himself gathers them back home (
Deut 30 promise;
Roman 11 promise).
6. Ezekiel 36:24-27
- The Almighty reaffirms His promise to gather His people out of the lands they were scattered to and will confirm the new covenant with them (
Jer 31:31-33).
- They'll remain in the lands of their scattering until He does this (
Deut 30).
7. Ezekiel 37
- The Son of Man will raise the dead and rejoin both houses of Israel (
1 Thess 4:15-17). This is when the nation will be born in a day (
Isa 66:8).
8. Ezekiel 38-39
- Then Israel will live safely in their land without any protective walls or barriers (this is the 1000-year reign;
Rev 20), until Gog & Magog think to invade them (
Rev 20:7).
- But The Almighty will destroy them himself in His fiery fury (
Rev 20:9)
9. Ezekiel 40-45
- The millennial temple is described in detail. This is heaven descending to earth when The Almighty will dwell with man forever (
Rev 21)
-----
Again, the book of Ezekiel was written while the people were in Babylonian captivity. Its prophecy details all the stuff that was to happen
AFTER the Jews returned to the land during the second temple period (i.e., Herod's Temple) through to the appearance of the Messiah, the destruction of Jerusalem, the subsequent punishment/scattering of the people, the trampling of the land by Edom, the resurrection & regathering of the people, and the establishment of Heaven on earth.
All scripture is in harmony.
