THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE

Proclamation:

“He went on to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away a long time.  At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.  But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  He sent another servant … He sent still a third … I will send my son … they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.  What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?’ … ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone … anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.’”  Luke 20:9-19 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  As He was teaching and preaching in the temple, the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders came to Him and questioned His authority to do the things which He did. (Luke 20:1-8)  He answered them then He returned to the people and told them this parable, the parable of the tenants. (Luke 20:9-19)  Afterwards, He answered their questions regarding the paying of taxes to Caesar (Luke 20:20-26) and regarding the resurrection and marriage. (Luke 20:27-40)  Then Jesus asked them a question, “Why is it said that The Messiah is the Son of David?” (Luke 20:41-44)  While they pondered that, He warned the people about the teachers of the law. (Luke 20:45-47)

Application

In this parable the owner of the vineyard represents God, the servants that He sent were the prophets, and the son represented Jesus, The Christ.  Jesus was telling them that He was going to die, and that although they rejected Him, He would be triumphant. (Psalm 118:22, Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17-19, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7)  We are indirectly responsible for the death of Christ.  However, if we believe, repent, and confess, we can throw ourselves upon The Rock of our salvation, the cornerstone which they rejected, and be saved.  Those upon whom The Stone comes down on will be crushed on judgment day as the great image was crushed in the dream that Daniel interpreted. (Daniel 2:34-35)  If The Rock is our foundation then we will be saved. (Luke 6:48)