Luke 20:1-18
20: One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then 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 tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And 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 those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
0 “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Reflection
The tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities is growing rapidly. After Jesus cleanses the temple in the previous passage (Luke 19:45–48), the Jewish leaders demand that he identify the source of his authority (20:1–2). Christ cleverly refuses (v. 8) and goes on to tell the people a story that sternly criticizes Israel’s leadership (vv. 9–18).
The conflict will eventually result in Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, the allimportant “cornerstone” of God’s kingdom (v. 17; cf. v. 15). The most important person in human history is rejected by those he came to save. Ironically, his rejection accomplishes the most important event in human history: the salvation of sinners.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Reflection
Because God chose us, loved us, gave us eternal comfort through grace, and called us through the gospel, we will “obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13–14). Secure in this glorious promise of the gospel, we are called to stand firm in his ways (v. 15), confident that we will be sustained by the work of God’s Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and God our Father (vv. 13–14). Our three-in-one God is faithful to his gospel promise—a promise reinforced by his gracious commitment to comfort our hearts and strengthen them for every good work so that all might see our lives and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Psalm 112:7
7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Ask the Lord to help you stand firm in his ways, trusting in his Word despite all temptation to do otherwise. The glory of what is to come is certain, and he will strengthen us to endure in the meantime.