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.
3) Land owners in the day would normally receive a percentage of the money earned from the sale of the crops from the vineyard.
a. The corrupt leaders of Israel wanted the people to be reliant on them rather than God.
B. The Persecution of the Servants (vv.10-12)
1) These servants represent the Prophets of God who were mistreated and in some cases murdered.
Acts 7:51-53 (KJV)
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
C. The Plan of the Owner (v.13)
Luke 20:13 (KJV) “Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.”
1) Is there any doubt as to who is being referred to here?
a. “I will send my beloved son”
b. Don’t miss it!!
1. This world is the Field of our Lord.
2. The souls of men and women are the thing to be harvested.
3. The Church is to be reaping the harvest.
4. Israel got it wrong.
5. God sent His Son to reach out --- to seek and to save that which was lost.
Jesus – the Son of God confirmed at His Baptism
Luke 3:22 (KJV) “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon
him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I
am well pleased.”
Jesus – the Son of God confirmed upon the Mount of Transfiguration.
Matthew 17:5 (KJV) “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”
D. The Plot of the Vinedressers (vv.14-15)
Luke 20:14-15 (KJV)
14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
1) They threw the Son out of the Vineyard.
2) Rather than becoming a Joint Heir with Christ – the Jews rejected Him and took Him outside of Jerusalem to crucify Him.
a. Through this parable – Jesus is telling of His coming death and what it will mean for all.
b. The Chief Priest, the Elders and the Scribes were not going to share the limelight with this One that had been healing the sick, delivering the captives, saving the lost, and teaching and preaching with such a powerful demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
E. The Punishment of those who reject the Son (vv.15-16)
Luke 20:15-16 (KJV)
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
1) God Himself will remove the wicked leaders.
2) He will give His vineyard to others to care for.
3) Give it to “Others” represent the Gentiles.
a. We are now in the age of the Gentiles, the CHURCH AGE.
• John 10:16 (KJV) “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”
4) The Rejected Son – is the Stone the Builders rejected.
a. Refused to build their life on Him.
b. Refused to place their hope in Him.
c. Would not rest in the Salvation He came to offer.
d. SALVATION is the key to PEACE
1. Israel has never been at Peace.
2. More than an ongoing feud between the Jews and the Arabs.
3. Serves to remind the Jews and us as well of the turmoil that will exist in the lives of al who reject Christ.
They will never have spiritual peace.
III. Christ the Cornerstone (vv.17-19)
A. David spoke in the Old Testament about this Cornerstone and how He would be rejected.
• Psalm 118:21-24 (KJV)
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
1) Others may reject Him – What will You do with Him?
2) If we fall upon Him, we ourselves become broken – yet as we stand upon Him, He repairs our lives, He remakes, remolds and reshapes our lives so that we may reflect the character of the Father.
3) Those who refuse to fall upon this Stone – The Stone will one day fall upon them.
a. He can be your Savior or He will be your Judge.
C. Let me tell you something about Christ the Rock.
1) Jesus is the Rock that Moses smote in the Wilderness.
• 1 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
2) Jesus is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to unbelievers.
• 1 Peter 2:8 (KJV) “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.”
3) Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the Church (Eph. 2:20)
4) Jesus is the Daniel’s Rock cut out of the Mountain without hands that will one day come crashing down on the Kingdoms of this world.
5) He is the Rock of Ages
6) He is the Believer’s Fortress
7) He is the Clift in the Rock – which provides safety and shelter for the believer.
8) He is the foundation of My Faith
9) He is that unshakable force in my life when all around me is shaking.
10) He is the Rock that will give final blow to the head of my enemy!!
Psalm 18:2 (KJV)
2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 18:31 (KJV) For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
Psalm 18:46 (KJV) The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
