How do we respond when God reaches out to us again and again?
In Luke 20:9-18, Jesus tells the Parable of the Vine-growers, illustrating the persistent love of God and the grave consequences of rejecting His Son, the cornerstone of our faith.
Key Verse: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” – Luke 20:17 (NIV)
Background Context: In this parable, Jesus describes a landowner who rents out his vineyard to tenants but is repeatedly met with rebellion when he sends servants to collect the harvest. The tenants beat and shamefully mistreat the servants, and eventually, they even kill the landowner’s son. This parable is a direct confrontation of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, who were entrusted with God’s vineyard—Israel—but consistently rejected His prophets and ultimately His Son. Through this story, Jesus highlights both God’s incredible patience and the severe consequences of rejecting His authority.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Parable of the Vine-growers
9And He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time. 10“At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him some of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11“And he proceeded to send another slave; and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed. 12“And he proceeded to send a third; and this one also they wounded and cast out. 13“The owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14“But when the vine-growers saw him, they reasoned with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’ 15“So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16“He will come and destroy these vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard it, they said, “May it never be!”
17But Jesus looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone’?
18“Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”
Reflection on Luke 20:9-18:
- God’s Vineyard and Our Responsibility: The parable begins with a man planting a vineyard and entrusting it to vine-growers (Luke 20:9). This imagery is often used in the Old Testament to represent Israel as God’s vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). God entrusted His people with the responsibility to bear fruit for His glory, just as the tenants were expected to produce a harvest. However, instead of being faithful stewards, the tenants in the parable rebelled against the landowner. This serves as a reminder to us that God has entrusted us with gifts, responsibilities, and opportunities to bear spiritual fruit. How are we responding to that trust? Are we producing fruit for God’s kingdom, or are we neglecting or rejecting His call?
- The Rejection of God’s Messengers: In the parable, the landowner sends servant after servant to collect his share of the harvest, but each one is beaten, shamed, and sent away empty-handed (Luke 20:10-12). This represents the way God sent His prophets to Israel, calling them to repentance and obedience, yet they were consistently rejected. Prophets like Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were often mistreated and ignored by the people. God’s persistence in sending His messengers reflects His incredible patience and grace. He doesn’t give up on His people, even when they rebel. Today, God continues to send messengers into our lives—through His Word, His Spirit, and through others who call us back to Him. How do we respond when God speaks to us? Do we listen and obey, or do we reject His message because it doesn’t align with our desires?
- The Ultimate Rejection of the Son: After the tenants reject the servants, the landowner says, “I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him” (Luke 20:13). This clearly represents Jesus as the Son of God, sent as the final messenger to His people. But instead of honoring the Son, the vine-growers plot to kill Him, believing that by doing so, they can claim the vineyard for themselves (Luke 20:14). This part of the parable foreshadows Jesus’ death at the hands of the religious leaders, who sought to eliminate Him out of envy and fear of losing their power. The rejection of the Son is the ultimate offense against God. It is a sobering reminder that rejecting Jesus as Lord has eternal consequences. God offers His Son as the means of salvation, but to reject Him is to reject life itself.
- God’s Judgment and Grace: Jesus then asks, “What will the owner of the vineyard do?” and answers, “He will come and destroy those vine-growers and will give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:16). This speaks to the impending judgment on Israel for rejecting the Messiah. The vineyard will be entrusted to others—symbolizing the opening of God’s kingdom to the Gentiles and those who receive Christ. While this may seem harsh, it highlights both God’s justice and His grace. Though the vine-growers rejected their responsibility, God’s vineyard would not be abandoned. His mission would continue, and His grace would be extended to all who believe in His Son. For us today, this serves as both a warning and an invitation: if we reject God’s call and Christ’s authority, we face the consequences of that choice. But if we receive Him, we become part of His kingdom and His mission.
- The Rejected Stone Becomes the Cornerstone: Jesus concludes the parable by quoting Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Luke 20:17). This metaphor speaks of Jesus as the cornerstone—the most important stone in the foundation of a building. Though the religious leaders rejected Him, Jesus would become the foundation of God’s kingdom. His death and resurrection would bring salvation to the world. Jesus goes on to say, “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust” (Luke 20:18). This emphasizes the importance of accepting Jesus as the foundation of our lives. To reject Him is to be shattered spiritually, but to accept Him is to be built upon the secure and unshakable foundation of God’s truth.
Summary Key Points:
- God’s Patience and Persistence: The landowner’s repeated sending of servants reflects God’s incredible patience and grace, giving His people multiple chances to respond.
- Rejection of God’s Messengers and the Son: The vine-growers’ rejection of the servants—and ultimately the son—represents Israel’s rejection of the prophets and of Jesus. Rejecting Christ is the ultimate rebellion against God.
- God’s Judgment and Grace: While there are consequences for rejecting Jesus, God’s kingdom is extended to all who receive Him, symbolizing both judgment and grace.
- Jesus as the Cornerstone: Though rejected by many, Jesus becomes the foundation of God’s kingdom. He is the cornerstone upon which we must build our lives.
Application: Reflect on how you are responding to the message of Christ in your life. Are you accepting Him as the cornerstone of your faith, or are there areas where you are resisting His authority? Take time to consider how you respond to God’s call and messengers. Are you listening, or are you ignoring His voice? If there are areas in your life where you’ve been rejecting His direction, pray for the grace to repent and turn back to Him. Finally, rest in the assurance that Jesus is the cornerstone—a solid foundation upon which your life can be built, offering both security and purpose.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your patience and persistence in calling us back to You. We acknowledge that there are times when we have rejected Your voice or resisted Your authority. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to fully accept Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives. May we always be open to Your guidance and respond to Your call with obedience and faith. Thank You for the grace and salvation offered through Your Son. Help us to live in a way that honors Him as our Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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