Displacing God! Luke 20:9-18
“9) And 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!” 17) But 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.”” Luke 20:9-18
Remember the context. Jesus was addressing the chief priests, scribes and elders of the people. They came to ask Him about His authority to preach the gospel and minister to the people.
This parable sets forth His answer. It can be summarized as “I am the Beloved Son sent by my Father to claim our vineyard. You are thieves and robbers.”
The parable includes a prophesy of what they were about to do to Jesus. They were about to kill Him.
In verse 17, Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22; “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” He was rejected by the vine growers, but He was about to become the chief cornerstone of human salvation.
See also Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:6. Jesus was building a new spiritual temple. It would be made from living stones of born-again people. The worthless vine growers would be destroyed and replaced. Jesus was about to establish His Kingdom.
There is so much to learn from this parable. It can also be applied to the institutional and apostate churches of our day. They constantly try to steal the vineyard, but the Holy Spirit works despite them and often beyond them. These devious and worthless workers are being destroyed and replaced.
Such is the plight of every genuine movement of God that becomes institutionalized and tries to control God. He doesn’t honor human boxes, subversion or control. He is either Lord and in control or His glory departs and He moves on to other vine growers that honor and glorify Him.
Jesus is building His Church. The Spirit of God is at work in extraordinary ways. Either submit and join Him or be discarded and become irrelevant.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“9) And 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!” 17) But 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.”” Luke 20:9-18
Remember the context. Jesus was addressing the chief priests, scribes and elders of the people. They came to ask Him about His authority to preach the gospel and minister to the people.
This parable sets forth His answer. It can be summarized as “I am the Beloved Son sent by my Father to claim our vineyard. You are thieves and robbers.”
The parable includes a prophesy of what they were about to do to Jesus. They were about to kill Him.
In verse 17, Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22; “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” He was rejected by the vine growers, but He was about to become the chief cornerstone of human salvation.
See also Ephesians 2:20 and 1 Peter 2:6. Jesus was building a new spiritual temple. It would be made from living stones of born-again people. The worthless vine growers would be destroyed and replaced. Jesus was about to establish His Kingdom.
There is so much to learn from this parable. It can also be applied to the institutional and apostate churches of our day. They constantly try to steal the vineyard, but the Holy Spirit works despite them and often beyond them. These devious and worthless workers are being destroyed and replaced.
Such is the plight of every genuine movement of God that becomes institutionalized and tries to control God. He doesn’t honor human boxes, subversion or control. He is either Lord and in control or His glory departs and He moves on to other vine growers that honor and glorify Him.
Jesus is building His Church. The Spirit of God is at work in extraordinary ways. Either submit and join Him or be discarded and become irrelevant.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
