Jesus, The Cornerstone

Jesus The Cornerstone

Text: Luke 20:1-19

Introduction:

A. This is a follow up to act of Jesus cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem.

1) Jesus has made His “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem.

2) On the way to Jerusalem --- Jesus was descending the Mount of Olives – He stopped and wept over the City.

a. The cause for His weeping -- Israel’s rejection of Christ as Messiah.

b. Jesus saw the coming destruction – 70 AD –

1. Rome would level Herod’s Temple

2. Not one stone would be left upon another.

3. If the temple refuses to be occupied by the Savior, it shall fall into judgment.

B. Jesus has cleansed the temple and now He is teaching in the Temple – and the chief priest and scribes come to Him along with some of the Jewish elders ---

1) Who gave You the authority to do these things?

a. To cleanses the temple.

b. To teach in the temple.

c. To take ownership of the temple.

2) Keep in mind, when Jesus taught, He taught as one having authority.

a. He didn’t say, “as others have said.”

b. He spoke as having the authority to speak for God and as God.

I. There is a Challenge to His Authority (vv.1-8)

A. “Who is He that gave thee this authority?”

1) They failed to realize that Jesus WAS and IS the AUTHORITY.

2) They never grasp the fact that Jesus was and is the SON OF GOD.

a. The very one who questioned His authority were supposed to be employed by His Father.

b. They were supposed to IN TOUCH with the scriptures and with the Father.

c. This shows just how “OUT OF TOUCH” they were with both.

d. The authority of Jesus was a SPIRITUAL MATTER and could only be fully understood in a SPIRITUAL setting.

 1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

B. The Reason For the Challenge of His Authority

1) The Chief Preist, the Scribes and the Elders – fear Him.

2) He has taken charge of the Temple as though He owns it. He acts like an owner!

a. Cleansing it.

b. Teaching in it.

c. Saying things as though He speaks directly from God.

3) They feel threatened.

a. Shouldn’t God be in control in His own house?

b. Paul’s Instructions to Young Pastor Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:2-5 (KJV)

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

C. By Cleansing the Temple;

1) Jesus sought to remove all distractions – so people could connect with God and His Word.

2) Jesus sought do get man out of the way so God could have His way.

3) Jesus sought to remove unnecessary burdens being imposed on the people who sought to connect with Him and His Father.

D. Jesus turns the tables on them (vv.3-4)

1) John the Baptist came preaching about the signs of the coming Messiah.

2) He used the words of the Old Testament Prophets –

E. Their reasoning – (vv.5-7)

1) The Chief Priest, the Scribes and the Elders were now caught in a dilemma.

2) They were more concerned about their influence than facts.

3) They would not answer Jesus – for people were listening for their response.

4) They feared the crowd of people would turn on them.

F. The Result of (v8)

Luke 20:7-8 (KJV)

7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

II. Jesus Offers A Parable – It Deals with His Rejection (vv.9-16)

A. The planting of a vineyard (v.9)

1) The Vineyard – is symbolic of Israel.

 Isaiah 5:7 (KJV)

7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

2) The persecution of the servants (vv.10-12)

a. God still owns the land – the Vineyard.

b. He has entrusted the care of the vineyard to men.

c. Like land that has been leased or rented out.

d. The tenant farmers represent Israel’s corrupt leadership.