The Chief Cornerstone Rejected
Or
An Unbelieving Nation Is Rejected
Sunday July 17, 2022
Scripture To Consider:
“Hear another parable. There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when the vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.”
“Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
“They said to Jesus, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’S doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whosever it falls, it will grind him to powder.’“
“Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” Matthew 21.33-46
Something To Consider:
This parable should be interpreted as follows. A certain landowner [God] planted a vineyard [the nation of Israel]. He set a hedge [of protection] around it [the nation of Israel], dug a winepress [in hope of a harvest], and built a tower [to watch for enemies]. God had supplied all that was needed to be spiritually successful.
And He [God] leased it [the nation of Israel] to vinedressers [religious rulers] and left them to the task of producing spiritual fruit. The landowner [God] did not interfere or lord it over them. Quite the contrary, He patiently waited for fruit to be produced.
Is that not what God does in our individual lives? Has He not provided all that is needful for our lives to be spiritually fruitful? But the responsibility of our becoming fruitful is ours! How are we doing in the light of God’s living Word?
Something Else To Consider:
Before there is spiritual fruitfulness, there must be spiritual faithfulness. For according to Jesus in Matthew 25.23, “You have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.” Therefore, are we being faithful over a few things that God has entrusted into our care? Or have our actions proved that we have been unfaithful?
Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, declared in 1 Corinthians 4.1-2, “Let a man [woman or young person] so consider us, as servants of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” As servants of the Most High God, are we being faithful in the few things He has entrusted into our care? And if not, why not?
And yet, if we refuse to be faithful, we will in essence surrender the blessing of becoming fruitful. If we refuse to be faithful, then we are rejecting the chief cornerstone of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist instructed in Psalm 31.23; “Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person.”
Something More To Consider:
As harvest time drew near the landowner [God] sent servants [prophets] to the vinedressers [religious ruling leaders], that He might receive His fruit. But they beat one servant [prophet], killed one, and stoned another. Finally, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, the chief cornerstone unto His own people, the Jewish nation of Israel.
But His own, the Jewish nation, did not receive Him but rejected His rule by killing Him. Therefore, that unbelieving nation for a time, was rejected by God [the landowner]. The nation of Israel rejected the chief cornerstone Jesus, and the unbelieving nation of Israel was rejected by God!
Can we think of any other nations that have rejected God and His chief cornerstone Jesus Christ? We could easily name nation after nation who have equally rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. But in doing so, we could not honestly ignore naming the nation of America, once established on true biblical principles.
At the moment of the original writing of this lesson of a lifetime, March 31, 2020, America had the largest number of confirmed cases of coronavirus of all other nations! It is true, God preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud. Though living in America, have we pledged our spiritual allegiance to Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God? If not, why not?
A Few Final Words:
The right and responsibility of the kingdom of God was taken away from the Christ rejecting nation of Israel. It has appeared that the rejection of the nation of Israel has led to the blessing of the nation of America, who has taken the gospel message around the world.
But, in doing so, America has become proud, haughty, evil, and unbelieving in a matter of a few generations. How sad, that having become an unbelieving nation, America is indeed reaping what it has sown. Without a God-ordained true spiritual awakening, America for the most part, will continue to reap even more worse but deserving judgments for its repeated rejection of Jesus, the chief cornerstone.
To those who believe the Word of God, Jesus has become the chief cornerstone to the building of God’s true church. But to those who reject the truth, Jesus is a rock of offense. We will either be comforted by our allegiance to Christ, or we will be ground to powder, but then face the full brunt of God’s wrath for all of eternity. Please make the right decision!
For Jesus said to them, “Have you never read the Scriptures. ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes?’”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, may the world’s eyes be opened to clearly see and believe in Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone of the true church. May we become aware of the judgment against America and all nations who forget and reject Jesus Christ. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 