2At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.
3But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
4Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully.
5He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.
6"He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
- P82
7"But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
8So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9"What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.
10Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: "‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
11the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?"
- P82
12Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest him because they knew he had spoken the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd; so they left him and went away.
- P83
This parable illustrates both God’s enduring patience and the persistent rebellion of His people. The vineyard represents Israel, and the tenants represent the religious leaders who are supposed to care for the people. The servants symbolize the prophets God has sent to call His people back to Him. - P84
Instead of welcoming God’s representatives, the religious leaders mistreat and reject them. Just as the owner keeps sending his servants to the tenants, God relentlessly pursues His people despite their continual rejection of His grace. - P84
Like the tenants, God entrusted us with responsibilities in our homes, schools, jobs, and churches. May we not neglect or reject our duties but remember that we are called to be faithful with what God has placed in our care.- P84
Psalms 118:22 NLT
[22] The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
- P84
After many failed attempts at getting the tenants to heed his requests, the owner finally sends his beloved son to the vineyard. The tenants’ rejection of the son mirrors how the religious leaders reject Jesus and plot His death. They are selfish, focused only on what they themselves can gain. - P84
Jesus quotes from Psalm 118, declaring that the rejected stone has become the cornerstone—the most essential part of a building’s foundation. This imagery invites us to reflect on our own lives. - P84
Is Jesus truly our foundational cornerstone or have we built our purpose, decisions, and beliefs upon something or someone else? When Jesus is our cornerstone, we experience the stability and strength of a life built on trusting in Him.- P84
"Human beings, whether good or evil, rejecting or accepting, believing or unbelieving,
cannot thwart the ultimate purposes of God."- John Piper- P84
Lord Jesus, You are the cornerstone of my life. Forgive me for the times I have trusted in other foundations. I surrender my fears and doubts to You. Be the firm foundation of my heart, my family, and my future. In Your name, amen.- P85
the Lent season, I often reflect on the many ways that Christ‘s atoningsacrifice has saved my life. Because of Jesus, I have been changed forever.
No longer do I stand condemned because of my sins. I am free from theeternal separation that is the consequence of sin and have instead receivedeternal life. - P89
Not only has Christ‘s atoning work saved me, but it has alsoled to experiencing a life that is nearer to the way God intended. With thechange of heart that comes from believing in Christ, I understand more andmore how to give glory where glory is due. I am able to praise the Lord forHis character and for His mercies upon me and others.
- P89
All who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ are truly blessed. When weacknowledge the gospel and the blood of the covenant that Christ shed onour behalf, we receive the gift of living in the light of God‘s grace and truth.
We always have a reason to give thanks because we now experience what itmeans to truly live.- P89
The disciples ask Jesus about preparations for the Passover meal. Jesus instructs them to find a man with a water jar, who will lead them to a furnishedupper room. During the meal, Jesus declares the bread as His body and thewine as His blood, symbolizing the new covenant- P87
