Rejecting the Cornerstone: Authority, Judgment, and Redemption
Summary
Chapter 20 of the Gospel of Luke presents a profound encounter between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel, including the chief priests, scribes, and elders. As Jesus taught in the temple, these leaders questioned His authority, demanding to know by what power He performed His works. Instead of providing a direct answer, Jesus posed a question about John the Baptist's authority, which left the leaders in a dilemma. They feared the people's reaction if they denied John's divine authority, yet acknowledging it would challenge their rejection of Jesus. Their inability to answer led Jesus to withhold His response, illustrating their spiritual blindness and resistance to truth.
Jesus then shared a parable about a vineyard owner who sent servants to collect his share of the harvest from tenant farmers. The tenants beat and rejected each servant, and ultimately killed the owner's beloved son, hoping to seize the inheritance. This parable symbolized Israel's history of rejecting God's prophets and ultimately His Son, Jesus. The vineyard owner’s response was to destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others, signifying the transfer of God's kingdom to those who would bear its fruits.
Jesus concluded with a reference to Psalm 118, declaring that the stone rejected by builders had become the cornerstone. This cornerstone, representing Jesus, would be a stumbling block to those who rejected Him, leading to their downfall. The religious leaders, like the tenants, failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and their rejection would result in judgment.
Key Takeaways:
1. Authority and Recognition: Jesus' authority was questioned by the religious leaders, yet His life and works bore witness to His divine mission. Recognizing Jesus' authority requires spiritual discernment and humility, acknowledging Him as the cornerstone of faith. [05:03]
2. Parable of the Vineyard: The parable illustrates God's patience and justice. Despite repeated rejections, God continues to reach out to humanity. However, persistent rejection of His messengers and His Son leads to judgment. This calls us to reflect on our response to God's call. [13:14]
3. Rejection and Consequences: The rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders serves as a warning. Rejecting Christ leads to spiritual ruin, while accepting Him as the cornerstone brings life and stability. This challenges us to examine our own acceptance of Christ in our lives. [24:38]
4. The Cornerstone: Jesus as the cornerstone signifies the foundation of the church and the faith of believers. Embracing Him as the cornerstone means aligning our lives with His teachings and building our faith upon His truth. [25:31]
5. Judgment and Redemption: The parable and Jesus' teachings highlight the dual themes of judgment and redemption. While rejection leads to judgment, there is always an invitation to redemption through Christ. This duality encourages us to choose wisely and embrace the grace offered through Jesus. [26:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:26] - Question of Authority
- [01:07] - Jesus' Response
- [01:49] - Parable of the Vineyard
- [02:33] - The Rejected Stone
- [03:19] - Prayer for Understanding
- [04:10] - Confrontation with Leaders
- [05:03] - Jesus' Credentials
- [06:42] - John the Baptist's Role
- [09:08] - Authority of Jesus
- [10:52] - The Leaders' Dilemma
- [12:32] - Meaning of the Parable
- [13:14] - Vineyard Metaphor
- [15:02] - Rejection of Servants
- [17:43] - Murder of the Son
- [19:23] - Consequences for Tenants
- [21:00] - Jesus' Direct Challenge
- [24:38] - The Cornerstone
- [26:22] - Judgment and Redemption
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 20:1-18
- Psalm 118:22
- Isaiah 5:1-7
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Observation Questions:
1. What question did the religious leaders ask Jesus, and how did He respond to them? [00:26]
2. In the parable of the vineyard, what actions did the tenants take against the servants and the son? [01:49]
3. How did Jesus use the metaphor of the cornerstone in His teaching, and what was its significance? [02:33]
4. What was the reaction of the people when Jesus told the parable, and how did Jesus address them directly? [21:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why did Jesus choose to answer the religious leaders' question with another question about John the Baptist's authority? What does this reveal about His approach to confronting spiritual blindness? [09:55]
2. How does the parable of the vineyard reflect Israel's history of rejecting God's messengers, and what does it imply about the consequences of such rejection? [17:43]
3. What does Jesus' reference to the cornerstone in Psalm 118 suggest about His role in God's plan, and how does it challenge the religious leaders' understanding of the Messiah? [24:38]
4. How does the dual theme of judgment and redemption in Jesus' teachings encourage believers to reflect on their own acceptance or rejection of Christ? [26:22]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you questioned Jesus' authority in your life. How did you come to recognize His authority, and what steps can you take to deepen your spiritual discernment and humility? [05:03]
2. The parable of the vineyard illustrates God's patience and justice. How do you respond to God's call in your life, and what changes can you make to ensure you are not persistently rejecting His messages? [13:14]
3. Consider the consequences of rejecting Jesus as the cornerstone. How can you ensure that your life is built upon His teachings and truth, and what practical steps can you take to align your actions with His will? [24:38]
4. Jesus' teachings highlight the importance of recognizing Him as the cornerstone of faith. How can you embrace this truth in your daily life, and what specific actions can you take to strengthen your relationship with Him? [25:31]
5. The themes of judgment and redemption are central to Jesus' message. How do these themes influence your understanding of grace, and how can you share this understanding with others in your community? [26:22]
6. Reflect on the metaphor of the vineyard and its implications for your spiritual life. What areas of your life need pruning or nurturing to bear fruit for God's kingdom, and how can you address these areas? [13:14]
7. How can you actively participate in God's kingdom by bearing its fruits, and what specific actions can you take to contribute to the growth and health of your church community? [20:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Divine Authority
Jesus' authority was questioned by the religious leaders, yet His life and works bore witness to His divine mission. Recognizing Jesus' authority requires spiritual discernment and humility, acknowledging Him as the cornerstone of faith. The religious leaders' inability to answer Jesus' question about John the Baptist's authority highlighted their spiritual blindness and resistance to truth. This encounter challenges us to examine our own recognition of Jesus' authority in our lives and to approach Him with a heart open to His teachings and guidance. [05:03]
Matthew 21:23-27 (ESV): "And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?' Jesus answered them, 'I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?' And they discussed it among themselves, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," he will say to us, "Why then did you not believe him?" But if we say, "From man," we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.' So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know.' And he said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to recognize Jesus' authority, and how can you invite Him to guide you in those areas today?
Day 2: Responding to God's Patience
The parable of the vineyard illustrates God's patience and justice. Despite repeated rejections, God continues to reach out to humanity. The vineyard owner sent multiple servants to collect his share of the harvest, symbolizing God's persistent attempts to reach His people through prophets. However, the tenants' ultimate rejection and murder of the owner's son represent humanity's rejection of Jesus. This parable calls us to reflect on our response to God's call and to consider how we are tending to the vineyard of our lives. [13:14]
Isaiah 5:1-2 (ESV): "Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes."
Reflection: How have you responded to God's call in your life, and what steps can you take to ensure you are bearing fruit in His vineyard?
Day 3: The Consequences of Rejection
The rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders serves as a warning. Rejecting Christ leads to spiritual ruin, while accepting Him as the cornerstone brings life and stability. The parable of the vineyard highlights the consequences faced by the tenants who rejected the owner's son. This challenges us to examine our own acceptance of Christ in our lives and to consider the foundation upon which we are building our faith. [24:38]
1 Peter 2:7-8 (ESV): "So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and 'A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.' They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do."
Reflection: What areas of your life might be stumbling blocks to fully accepting Jesus as your cornerstone, and how can you address them today?
Day 4: Embracing the Cornerstone
Jesus as the cornerstone signifies the foundation of the church and the faith of believers. Embracing Him as the cornerstone means aligning our lives with His teachings and building our faith upon His truth. The religious leaders failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but for those who accept Him, He becomes the cornerstone that brings stability and life. This calls us to evaluate the foundation of our faith and to ensure that it is firmly rooted in Christ. [25:31]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Reflection: How can you more fully align your life with Jesus' teachings and build your faith upon Him as your cornerstone?
Day 5: Choosing Redemption
The parable and Jesus' teachings highlight the dual themes of judgment and redemption. While rejection leads to judgment, there is always an invitation to redemption through Christ. The vineyard owner's response to the tenants' actions signifies the transfer of God's kingdom to those who would bear its fruits. This duality encourages us to choose wisely and embrace the grace offered through Jesus, recognizing that redemption is always available to those who seek it. [26:22]
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively choose redemption and embrace the grace offered through Jesus in your daily life?
Quotes
“One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority. He answered them, I will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? And they discussed it with one another, saying, if we say from heaven, he will say, why did you not believe him? But if we say, from man, all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet. So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” [00:19:30]
“A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my beloved son, perhaps they will respect him. But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, this is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours. And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.” [00:82:55]
“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Again, sober and ominous words from the lips of our Savior, words given in superintended for our ratification by God, the Holy Spirit. I pray that we would receive them as such. Please be seated. Let us pray. Again, our Father and our God, we ask that you would condescend to our weakness, to our fragile understanding and give to us clear understanding of these words that were spoken by Jesus. Attend them by thy Spirit, for we ask it in the Name of Christ. Amen.” [00:176:10]
“Chapter 20 of Luke’s gospel begins with an account of Jesus teaching in the temple and preaching when He was visited by members of the Sanhedrin, the leaders of Israel that included the chief priest, the former high priests, the higher echelon of the Sadducees along with the scribes, that is the theologians numbered among the Pharisees, and as well of certain elders of the Sanhedrin. Together, they approached Jesus with this question. By what authority do you do these things? That is to say they came to Jesus, and they said, “Who do you think you are, coming into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, allowing these people to scream Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Then, the next day, coming into this sacred place of the temple and calling it a den of robbers? By what authority do you do these things? Let me see your credentials.” [00:226:20]
“You want to know by what authority I say these things? Do you remember, about 33 years ago, when there was this astronomical phenomenon seen in the skies that drew wise men from 500 miles away to come and inquire of King Herod saying, who is this who was born King of the Jews? Do you remember that? Some of you were certainly alive when that appearance in the sky was made manifest,” or, “When I came riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zachariah and appeared to you as the King of Israel, then this is my authority. I am your King, and that’s my authority and I can say to you, so let it be said, let it be done,” or maybe, “Just three years ago, you may recall the phenomenon that took place then when this man appeared out of the wilderness, saying, repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and he called all of Israel to the Jordan River to be baptized in repentance from their sins.” [00:332:40]
“Maybe, on the time you were visiting, you maybe saw me, where John ushered me into the water, and he poured water on me, and maybe you were witnesses of that moment when you saw on the sky the Holy Spirit like a dove coming down and resting upon me. If that didn’t convince you, you heard the voice of God Himself audibly when He declared, this is my beloved Son and whom I am well-pleased. Maybe you were there. Just a few days ago, when I was starting my journey from the north of Galilee and coming down here to Jerusalem, I met with my disciples of Caesarea Philippi and I said to them, who do men say that I am? And they gave me the scuttlebutt then I said, and who do you say that I am? My disciple Simon looked at me and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [00:441:00]
“You want my credentials? My credentials are I am the Messiah and it’s by the authority of the Holy Spirit resting upon me in that messianic office that I do these things and speak these things. You remember when John the Baptist was thrown in prison, and he began to have second thoughts. He sent a message to me saying, are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? I sent a message back to John and I said, John, read your Bible. What does it say in Isaiah? The Spirit of the Lord has come upon me. He’s anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, to give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. That’s the authority by which I do these things, that my Father has given me all authority on heaven and on the earth. It’s by that authority that I speak and act.” [00:510:66]
“Instead of answering their question, He turned the tables on them. Then, proceeded to give a parable. Remember, the word parable comes from the prefix para which means alongside of. Then, the root of the verb bole which means to throw. If Jesus wanted to illustrate a point, He would throw a parable along the way, tell a story. He proceeds then to give this parable as part of the broader answer to the question. He said, “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long time.” Anybody that was a student of the Bible, of which these men obviously where, would be well-aware of one of the most vivid metaphors ever used in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah at the beginning of the fifth chapter of the book that bears his name, where God likened His people Israel to a vineyard.” [00:737:88]
“Now, Jesus freshens the Old Testament metaphor and speaks again of the man who plants a vineyard, who is the owner of the vineyard and goes into a far country while he hires tenants or share croppers to work the vineyard for him. In those days, these tenant farmers would have to pay anywhere between 25 and 50% of the profits back to the owner at the appointed time. When the harvest came, the owner of the vineyard sent a messenger and sought to collect what was owed by the tenants. What happens? The tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. The messenger comes from the owner of the vineyard. They fall upon him, and they punched him and choke him, kick him, bruise him, wound him, and sent him back with empty pockets, giving not one penny over the return that was owed to the owner.” [00:847:86]
“Then, the question is this. Jesus says, “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do now? How about here? I told you the story. He sent three of his servants and they beat them up and left them empty-handed and he finally sent his beloved son and they killed him. Let me ask you a question. What do you think the owner of this vineyard will do now?” Do you think he’ll give up? Do you think he’ll let you rob him blind? Do you think he won’t make you pay what you owe him? Nope. He will come and destroy the share croppers. He will come and destroy the tenant farmers. He will come and then take that vineyard that he so lovingly planted and cared for and give it to somebody else.” [00:1118:04]
“Jesus looked directly at them. Can you imagine being in the audience that day listening to that parable? When Jesus finishes the story, He didn’t just say and so it goes and walk away. He looked them in the eye to describe to Pharisees, to priests, to the Sanhedrin, the ones who would ask Him the question, by what authority, that He do the things that He did. Again, He quote Scripture and said, “What then is this that is written? The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” There had been to Rome and see the ancient city or go to Florence and see the craftsmanship and the work of the artists of the Renaissance. Look at the monumental achievements of the Renaissance sculptors that marked the landscape in those days.” [00:1244:64]
“The Bible said that the stones which the builders rejected would become the chief cornerstone. To remember Isaiah’s prophecy in the 53rd chapter of the suffering servant when he described in terms like this, he was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He had no form of comeliness. He was despised and rejected of men, and we turned our faces away from him like so much rubble, but the stone that the builders rejected, God shaped as the chief cornerstone for the church that He would build. Some of the images of the church in the New Testament, the church has a body, but also the church is not would just made up of individual stones. The foundation of which would be the prophets and the apostles, but the chief cornerstone would be Christ.” [00:1485:36]
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