Sent to Suffer

The Ultimate Rejection: God’s Son Sent for Us

Bible Passage: Luke 20:9–18

Summary: In this passage, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants who reject the vineyard owner’s son, symbolizing Israel's rejection of God’s messengers, culminating in the rejection of His Son, Jesus.

Application: This sermon can help Christians understand the significance of rejecting or accepting Jesus in their lives. It challenges them to evaluate their own response to God’s call and the consequences of ignoring His messages through Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: The parable illustrates the history of Israel’s relationship with God, highlighting the ongoing pattern of disobedience and rejection of divine authority. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and honoring God’s chosen ones, ultimately teaching the necessity of accepting Christ as the cornerstone of faith.

How this passage could point to Christ: This passage reveals Christ as the pivotal figure within God’s redemptive plan. The rejection of the son in the parable foreshadows Christ’s own rejection in His earthly ministry and highlights His role as the cornerstone upon which the new covenant is built.

Big Idea: God has sent His Son as the ultimate messenger and cornerstone; rejecting Him leads to dire consequences, while embracing Him brings eternal life and restoration.

Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, consider delving deeper into the context of this parable within Luke’s Gospel, particularly examining the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders. Look into how this rejection theme is echoed in other parts of Scripture using the Logos library. Additionally, exploring commentary insights on the vineyard imagery can provide valuable perspectives on understanding God's relationship with Israel and the implications of the Son's rejection.

Repetition of Rejection

Luke 20:9–12 ESV

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.

You could highlight how the tenants represent a historical pattern of Israel rejecting God’s messengers, drawing parallels to how people today may ignore God’s voice in their lives. This is a reminder for us to attentively listen to God’s calls for repentance and change, evident through His Word and Spirit. By understanding the tenants' rejection, we’re prompted to examine our lives—are we rejecting or accepting God’s messages?

The Son Sent

Luke 20:13–16 ESV

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!”

Perhaps reflect on the sending of the son as a profound act of love and ultimate appeal—you might emphasize that God sent His Son out of love, not judgment. The son's rejection signifies how ignoring God's ultimate messenger leads to judgment. This is a critical call for the audience to reflect on how they value Christ's sacrifice and message today.

Christ the Cornerstone

Luke 20:17–18 ESV

17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “ ‘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.”

Maybe consider illustrating how the rejected stone becomes the cornerstone, illustrating that Christ, though rejected, is central to God’s plan. Encourage the audience to see Christ as their foundation, understanding that rejecting Him leads to spiritual ruin, while embracing Him restores and strengthens our faith journey. Christ, as the cornerstone, should be the basis of our lives.