Welcome him and hand over what belongs to him

Question his claim and wait for the owner

Kill him and take the inheritance for themselves

Give him what belongs to him and let him rule

Wait until the owner forgets, then keep it

Respect him privately but keep control yourself

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit my sin, my pride, and my desire to run my own life. I turn from my sin and from every selfish grasp for control. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord and welcome you as the rightful King over me. Thank you for forgiving me and making me yours. Amen.

Receive the True Heir

Lord, wake up your Church from greed, pride, and half-hearted obedience. When we are tempted to hold tightly to what is not ours, teach us to honor your Son, receive his rule, and live as faithful stewards. Renew our love for what is right, and make us quick to obey you, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Revive Us to Honor the Son

Father, I confess that I often want control, recognition, and more than my share. Forgive my envy, my entitlement, and every time I have treated your gifts as if they were mine to seize. Turn my heart from grasping to trust, and teach me contentment and obedience, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Forgive My Grasping Heart

Pray by naming one area of life where you are tempted to cling tightly to control or possession. Ask God to help you recognize Christ's rightful claim there, and to show you one concrete act of surrender you can take today.

Pray for a Steward's Heart

Pray for people who lead, manage resources, or hold authority: that they would see Jesus' rightful claim, refuse greed, and use what they have to serve instead of seizing more. Pray also for anyone tempted to protect status at any cost, that God would soften their heart and turn them toward humility.

For Those in Power

Give thanks that God's word exposes hidden greed before it hardens into action. Thank him that the Son remains the rightful heir, and that he calls us away from violence and self-rule into faithful obedience. Ask for a grateful heart that receives his warning and changes course.

Give Thanks for the Warning

οἱ{hee###hee###the} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} γεωργοὶ{ye-or-GEE###yeh-ohr-GEE###farmers} ἰδόντες{i-DON-tes###ee-DOHN-tehs###having seen} τὸν{TON###TOHN###the} υἱὸν{hee-ON###hee-OHN###son} εἶπον{EE-pon###EE-pohn###(they) said} ἐν{en###ehn###among} ἑαυτοῖς·{he-af-TEES###he-ahf-TEES###themselves} Οὗτός{hoo-TOS###hoo-TOHS###This} ἐστιν{e-stin###eh-steen###is} ὁ{ho###hoh###the} κληρονόμος·{klee-ro-NO-mos###klee-roh-NOH-mohs###heir} δεῦτε{DEF-te###DEHF-teh###come} ἀποκτείνωμεν{a-pok-TEE-no-men###ah-pohk-TEE-noh-mehn###let us kill} αὐτὸν{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###him} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} ⸀σχῶμεν{SKHO-men###SKHOH-mehn###let us have} τὴν{TEEN###TEEN###the} κληρονομίαν{klee-ro-no-MEE-an###klee-roh-no-MEE-ahn###inheritance} αὐτοῦ·{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###of him}

Matthew 21:38 — LiteralTAB

More on this verse