Enduring Word Bible- #41
Luke 20: 9-18
The Parable of the Wicked Tenant
We know this type of farming arrangement
was common in Galilee.
The first listeners of Jesus would remember
the connection of the vineyard
and Old Testament readings in Isaiah.
Here the vinedressers were the religious leaders
among the Jewish people.
We also see God's incredible patience
in dealing with the rebels,
but a warning there will be a day of reckoning.
The leaders see the connection to beloved Son
and heir in Jesus.
The religious leaders saw the themselves
implicated immediately and were indignant.
Then Jesus uses a Psalm 118 connection
with the coming Messiah to Jerusalem.
Jesus goes from hosanna greetings
to the Messianic stone rejection.
The cornerstone was the essential stone
to any structure and
Jesus is referred to as
the rock or stone in the Bible.
The power of the stone shows
both the ability to break-
to crush our pride and self-will,
and to destroy and crush in judgment
those who refuse to come to the rock.
It is easy to sit back and point
to the Jewish leaders
with their hardened hearts-
and feel this isn't about me.
But, each and every day there are pieces
of my hardened heart
that must see the light of Gospel
repentance and hope.
Pieces that need the force of rock
to break in order for the healing to truly happen.
Pieces that need light to cast out the shadows.
We know this type of farming arrangement
was common in Galilee.
The first listeners of Jesus would remember
the connection of the vineyard
and Old Testament readings in Isaiah.
Here the vinedressers were the religious leaders
among the Jewish people.
We also see God's incredible patience
in dealing with the rebels,
but a warning there will be a day of reckoning.
The leaders see the connection to beloved Son
and heir in Jesus.
The religious leaders saw the themselves
implicated immediately and were indignant.
Then Jesus uses a Psalm 118 connection
with the coming Messiah to Jerusalem.
Jesus goes from hosanna greetings
to the Messianic stone rejection.
The cornerstone was the essential stone
to any structure and
Jesus is referred to as
the rock or stone in the Bible.
The power of the stone shows
both the ability to break-
to crush our pride and self-will,
and to destroy and crush in judgment
those who refuse to come to the rock.
It is easy to sit back and point
to the Jewish leaders
with their hardened hearts-
and feel this isn't about me.
But, each and every day there are pieces
of my hardened heart
that must see the light of Gospel
repentance and hope.
Pieces that need the force of rock
to break in order for the healing to truly happen.
Pieces that need light to cast out the shadows.
Lord, Help me to remember that you
are the cornerstone of my days and weeks.
Let me not move to wicked finger pointing
and indignant belief that it is- not me.
May the Spirit keep my broken and contrite heart,
that it may always seek
to be mended by the Rock. Amen.
Supplies:
Scrapbook paper
Colored pencils
Fine-point Sharpie pen
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