33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
Kevin Murphy
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church – Walnut Creek CA
Observation: When God speaks to us, His words are for “upbuilding, and encouragement and consolation” (1 Corinthians 14:3), so how do I hear hard or challenging words? I want to hear God speaking to me, and I know there are times when it’s a voice of corrective love.
Action: I will pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me again in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). With humility and grace, I will listen to the Father’s loving voice, say “I’m sorry” for what God reveals needs correction and be reminded again that God loves me, forgives me, and always wants the best for me.
Observation: I see that Jesus is the cornerstone, the center, core, heart upon which everything stands. I see that these religious people rejected the cornerstone out of hatred orfear of losing power. I see that modern religious people (myself included) can likewise reject this cornerstone in favor of the latest fad or celebrity Christian.
Action: I will focus on the cornerstone today. I will acknowledge that Jesus is the heart of the Kingdom work and the only hope of Kingdom fruit. As Kevin says, I will remember that this Cornerstone is loving and encouraging even in challenge, and I will allow myself to be challenged and loved by Him.
What catches my attention is “..he rented the vineyard..”. Somewhere along the line, the farmers began thinking they owned the vineyard. The vineyard was in their possession, but it and everything it produced belonged to the farmer. I find my thinking to be like that of the renters. I struggle to release my hold of what I am renting.
I recognize this is a trust issue, so I will today listen for your direction Lord, on what you want me to do with what is yours.
Good word. May we all understand ourselves to be renters in God’s kingdom.
very good
Observation: We are all tenants in the vineyard. We each have everything we need to do God’s work for His kingdom. But sometimes I’m not satisfied with that.
Action: Today I will remind myself of God’s care for me. He has been faithful until now. He promises always to be faithful. I can thank Him for His provision…always.