Matthew 21:33-46 "The Examination of the King Part 2"

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Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew Chapter 21. We are covering VSS 33-46 today.

We are in section of scripture that some Christians call “Holy Week.” Jews call this Passover week. In Jesus’ day about 2 million Jews traveled to Jerusalem as this was one of the three mandatory feasts.

The final week of Jesus life was a big deal, and a bit over a third of the Gospels writings are devoted to this week. A third of Matthew…a third of Mark…a quarter of Luke…and nearly half of John.

Where we left off... Jesus was walking into the temple area, teaching and preaching to the people, and the chief priests and elders (The Sanhedrin) confronted Jesus asking Him, “By what authority are You doing these things?”

Jesus replied that He would answer them if they answered Him… “The baptism of John- where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

John’s ministry as the forerunner pointed to Jesus’ ministry. John baptized people to repentance to prepare their hearts for the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

If the religious leaders were not so stuck in their traditions, and comfortable in their corruption…perhaps they would have seen and believed all God was doing through John…and through Jesus.

But, they did not believe, and they would not confess that either John or Jesus had authority from heaven.

But, they also would not say that John’s ministry was from men, for they feared the multitude who counted John as a prophet.

They didn’t fear riots…they almost caused a riot against Jesus before Pilate. They just didn’t want the mob directed at them.

So, the religious leaders lie and say, “We do not know.” Thus, Jesus would not tell them about the origin of His authority… and exposed the Religious Leader’s lack of authority over Him.

Jesus then told the chief priests and elders three parables directed at them…the first we looked at last week… “The Parable of Two Sons” which highlighted that the religious leaders hypocrisy. They claimed to follow God, but willfully did not.

Contrasted with tax collectors and harlots, who repented, believed, and gained entrance into the kingdom of God.

We pick up today in the second parable…which came as a result of Jesus being questioned by the religious leaders…as they symbolically examine Him…just as they would Passover lambs.

From Matthew 21:16 to the end of Chapter 22, we observe 5 questions to Jesus and His replies to the Religious Leaders.

The title of today’s message is “The Examination of the King Part 2.”

Let’s Pray!

Matt 21:33-39 “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. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him."

Before we look at Jesus’ interpretation and application of the parable beginning in V40, let’s look at the parable itself.

This parable has been called both “The Parable of the Landowner” and “The Parable of the Wicked Servants”…depending on which character you focus upon.

A parable tells a natural or earthly story, that has spiritual or heavenly principles.

The characters in this parable are the landowner, vinedressers (or tenant farmers), the servants and the son.

The landowner invested in his vineyard to make it productive… a success. His investment was thoughtful, financially costly, and took time.

He planted grapes (we can assume ‘grapes’ being this is a vineyard)…set a hedge (a fence or a wall) around it for protection…dug a winepress (which I have a slide of…used to crush the grapes and extract the juice)…and even built a watchtower (to watch over the crop…from anything that might cause it harm…animals, natural fires, or even enemies who may want to burn the fields or sew bad seed).

So, the landowner is a planner, an investor, and set the vineyard and vinedressers up for a bountiful harvest.

He leases or rents the vineyard to tenant farmers…hired to work the land and care for the vineyard and at harvest... share the fruits of their labors with the landowner…at least that’s what the arrangement was supposed to be.

But at harvest, the farmers get greedy. They want the fruit and the very vineyard for themselves.

The landowner sent a servant to collect and they beat him. Now here’s where things get very unusual.

The landowner keeps sending servants…one is killed... one is stoned (stoning was the death penalty in Israel, so presumably he dies as well). And, then he sends more servants than the first, so how many is this? At least seven servants? And, they are killed as well.

He doesn’t bring an army to destroy the vinedressers…he exhibits mercy.

So, then he sends his son, assuming they will pay him respect, but they kill him as well…reasoning that through murder they will gain his inheritance…they will seize the vineyard.

Such strange reasoning… one does not gain an inheritance through murder. But, this is how they think, and this is what they do.

So, that’s the parable. Jesus tells it to the chief priests, the elders of the people, and for all present to hear.

The parallels are clear in this parable. D.A. Carson wrote, “The metaphorical equivalences are obvious: the landowner is God, the vineyard Israel, the tenants the leaders of the nation, the servants the prophets, and the son Jesus Messiah.”

God did everything to set Israel up for success…He established it, set His hedge of protection around it, gave them His statutes & ordinances, and He had His very eye upon it. He entrusted the nation to the Priests and Levites, and He expected fruits of righteousness.

In numerous OT scriptures, Israel is pictured as a vineyard. Deut 32:32, Ps 80:8, Jer 2:21, but especially Isa 5. Turn to Isa 5.

Isa 5 is a song titled, “God’s Disappointing Vineyard” or “A Love Song Gone Sour.” (Surely Casey Kasem’s Top 40).

Some scholars call this a song…others a Parable…it’s a bit of both…and it gives great insight into the Parable of the Landowner in Matt 21. I would not be surprised if Jesus had Isa 5 in mind when He spoke His parable.

Isa 5:1-7 “Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard [Isaiah is singing a song to Yahweh…God is the Well-beloved]: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. 2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. [Just like Jesus’ parable, God did all to ensure success and expected the nation to yield good spiritual fruits and prosperity, but they did not. Wild grapes are indicative of their rebellion, idolatry, and disobedience]. V3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 4 What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? [Rhetorical question… ‘nothing.’] Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes? [The fault lies on the vinedressers] 5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.” [V7 Interpretation] For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.”

Resulting from their wickedness…historically God destroyed His vineyard/ Israel... more than once…three of the most significant events…

From 740-722 B.C.- God used Assyria to judge the Northern Tribes of Israel... in multiple waves ultimately conquering the capital Samaria in 722 B.C. and deporting the people to Nineveh.

From 605-586 B.C, God used Babylon to judge the Southern Tribes of Judah... also in multiples waves…taking Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and deporting the people to Babylon.

In 70 A.D. He used Rome to again destroy the nation. All judgments for not bearing fruit.

It’s important to understand, that it was not these nations alone that destroyed Israel. God is sovereign, and He used these Pagan nations as His servants to enact His judgment upon Israel.

Against Israel, 1 Chr 5:25-26 “And they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land [idolatry], whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity.”

God stirred up the spirit of king Tiglath-Pileser.

Against Judah, Jer 25:8-9 “Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words, 9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the LORD, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations.”

3x in Jeremiah... Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon is titled by God... “My servant.” Jer 25:9, 27:6, & 43:10.

And, Jesus Himself predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the Temple. Commander Titus Vespasian (future Caesar Vespasian) became God’s servant.

In Matt 24:1-2 Jesus predicted this, “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Historically, God’s hand dealt some of the most difficult times in Israel... judging His vineyard for not bearing fruit.

And, I fear that unless our nation wakes up spiritually…unless we live as “doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22), then why would God not raze our nation to the ground as well?

Why would it not be said of us, as it was said of Israel “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind.” ? Hos 8:7.

God expects fruits of righteousness.

God expected fruit from His vineyard/ Israel... He patiently sent numerous prophets to warn them to bear fruit. They were “fruit inspectors” if you will…sent in grace…but, they were rejected by the leaders of Israel. Some prophets simply were not heeded, but other prophets were physically beaten or killed.

In the Parable, Jesus said the servants were beaten, killed and stoned. This literally happened to various Prophets historically.

Jer 20:2 “...Pashhur [a priest] struck Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks...”,

1 Ki 18:4 “...Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD...”

Jer 26:23 “...they brought Urijah [the Prophet] from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword...”

2 Ch 24: 20 Zechariah, the son of Jehoida the priest “...at the command of the king [Joash] they stoned him with stones...”

In Matt 23:34-35 Jesus said, “I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah [the minor Prophet], whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” and in V37 Jesus will lament...“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!”

Time and again...in grace, God sent prophets to Israel and Judah... calling them to repent and yield fruits of righteousness, and the vinedressers (the leaders of the nation) rejected these prophets…literally beating, killing and stoning them.

The most sobering words of this entire parable in Matt 21, are, “Then last of all he sent his son...”

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...”

Does it not make you marvel that Jesus tells this parable and the parable is unfolding before their eyes?

God sent His Son, into the vineyard (Israel) and the leaders rejected Him in their spiritually blindness.

They should have recognized Jesus as King and submitted to Him...yielding to Him what is His…praise, honor, glory, the kingdom, their hearts, faith…all of it.

But, they wouldn’t give it to them because they wanted to keep it for themselves. These very sins of selfish greed, and many other sins are why Jesus went to the cross.

It’s easy for us to cast stones at the religious leaders, but our nation, as a whole, is guilty of these same crimes.

If a Prophet was sent to our nation… calling us out to live holy and righteous lives... would our nation respond any different? I think not. Would they discredit and destroy the prophet? I imagine so.

If a Prophet approached you or I personally? Would there be something of concern?

A bold prayer, that I highly encourage you to pray is Ps 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties [my concerns]; 24 And see if there is any wicked way [idolatrous tendencies] in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

In love, God sent prophets and last of all His Son...Jesus... who went to the cross in sacrificial obedience to the Father’s will in order to redeem mankind. The religious leaders thought it was their plan to kill Jesus, but they…like Tiglath-Pileser, Nebuchadnezzar, and Titus Vespasian…are just pawns.

Jesus was never killed. He had total control and gave His life. John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

He gave His life…no one took it!

Lk 23:46 Jesus said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.”

He voluntarily yielded His life.

In John 10:17-18 Jesus said, “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power [exousia- authority] to lay it down, and I have power [authority] to take it again.”

The crimes of these wicked vinedressers/ the leaders were horrendous… but Jesus remained in sovereign control.

Still in lieu of the crime, in V40 Jesus asks the chief priests and the elders how they think the owner will judge. What will he do?

Matt 21:40-41 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

As the chief priests and elders judge, unknowingly they pronounce their own judgment…and speak prophetically about things to come.

Similar to when Nathan the Prophet came to David (2 Sam 12) after his sin with Bathsheba. David pronounced a death sentence against the man who took the poor man’s lamb (a parable of David’s crime against Uriah). Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” and prophetically laid out what would, and what precisely did happen to David…the sword never departed his house…his son Absalom came against him and took David’s concubines.

Gal 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

How interesting is it that when Jesus presents the parable to the religious leaders, and Nathan to David…both the religious leaders and David pronounce harsh judgment?

When we hate the actions or personality of someone else…often it’s because in some sense they are reflecting something we dislike about ourselves. Our sins never look pretty dressed up on someone else.

It’s interesting how, in Matt 21, these chief priests and elders in VSS40-41 speak correctly…even prophetically...about what God will do…He will judge the wicked vinedressers.

At times, God has spoken prophetically even through wicked leaders. A very significant time, which give us great insights into the motives of why the religious leaders resisted Jesus, and what they intended to do to Jesus....A great backdrop and insightful passage as we go through Matt 21 & 22 is John 11. Go ahead and turn to John 11.

This scene was just prior to this Passover, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead…just outside Jerusalem, near Bethany. Jews travelling to Passover were stirred to either believe in Jesus, or report what happened to the Pharisees.

We read in John 11:47-53, “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” [They feared a political uprising resulting in Rome taking the Temple and their Nation, and they would loose their livelihoods…maybe their lives]. 49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.’ 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”

This prophecy came from a man not walking with God... because of his authority as High Priest.

And, what he said in V52 “He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” is very similar in concept to Matt 21:40-41, when the the chief priests and elders prophetically said the owner of the vineyard will V41 “...lease his vineyard to other vinedressers....”

When Jesus died, the veil was torn making it possible for people to come to God directly. The authority of the priests was taken away. And at that time, and with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost... God leased the vineyard to other vinedressers.

Initially, a group of Jewish men…11 Apostles…12 if you count Matthias…along with 120 disciples (Acts 1)…they were given the authority over the vineyard. Then the Holy Spirit began to “gather together in one the children of God”…first 3000 devout Jews from every nation under heaven (Acts 2)…then 5,000 (Acts 4).

Then Paul took the gospel first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. History demonstrates these other vinedressers are the church. A mix of Jews and Gentiles who have faith in Jesus Christ.

If you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are a vinedresser. As a vinedresser…know that Jesus expects fruit. Please don’t take this parable lightly. Jesus may have directed this parable at the Religious Leaders, but He has since entrusted the vineyard to us…we are in this parable… and He expects us to “render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Fruits of the Spirit…being conformed into the image of His Son…living lives of holiness...making disciples of all nations…raising our children in the way they should go…husbands loving and leading wives spiritually, so wives are confident and happy to follow their lead...many and various fruits of righteousness.

The Religious Leaders did not render the spiritual fruit God expected. In idolatry, they loved things over God. As the parable said, they would kill the son…as their fathers before them killed the prophets…and God would bring judgment upon them…not in joy, but in justice... and He would trust His kingdom to people who walk by faith…the church…a mix of Jews and Gentiles…true believers in Jesus Christ.

In VSS42-44, Jesus takes the religious leaders to scripture… a good place to go in conversations like this…and gives them the interpretation of the Parable...

Matt 21:42-46 “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’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder. 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. [after V45 write “Duh.” The religious leaders are a bit slow.] 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.” [note: Jesus was more than a prophet].

Matthew, who I am convinced was raised religious, but witnessed much hypocrisy…loved highlighting Jesus’ rebukes to the religious. The question “Have you never read in the Scriptures…?” can be a convicting question.

In times past, when I wasn’t in the word daily, and someone asked me, “Do you read your Bible?”... I got an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach…that’s conviction. That’s a good thing.

A feeling of conviction helps you know you’re spiritually alive…the Holy Spirit is giving you a nudge.

A person who feels no conviction could have a debased mind (Rom 1:28). Paul warned Timothy, 1 Tim 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared [cauterized] with a hot iron...”

If you willfully do wrong, but feel nothing…this is a BIG spiritual red flag in your life… turn from that way and give your life to Jesus.

The religious leaders never repented…they were prideful and comfortable with Jesus not being in their lives…debased minds…consciences seared.

When Jesus asks, “Have you never read...”, I think this goes beyond convicting the Religious Leaders though. Given the context…it goes back to authority. They asked Jesus, in V23, “Who gave you this authority?” And, now Jesus is demonstrating His authority…

In V42, we observe...He had greater command over scripture…He highlights how He fulfills prophecy being the Chief Cornerstone…in effect proclaiming He is Messiah.

In V43, He pronounces judgment upon them, and foretells their authority being stripped away and passing to a faithful nation.

And, in V44, A call to faith. He extends an opportunity to choose…grace or judgment.

Let’s take a look...

V42, Jesus highlights Ps 118...a Hillel (or praise) Psalm…during Passover, Jews sung the ‘songs of ascents’ (Psalms 120-134) going up to Jerusalem, and Hillel Psalms (Psalms 113-118) during Feasts.

We just read Psalm 118 during the Triumphal Entry when the people cried out ‘Hosanna’ (Matt 21:9)… this Psalm was no doubt still ringing in the Religious leaders ears, and now Jesus brings it to the forefront of their minds, and prophetically applies it to Him. The connection should have been made in their minds, but sadly it wasn’t...

Let’s read, Psalm 118:22-26 “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the LORD’s doing [Sovereignty…He’s in control.]; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Save now, I pray [Hosanna], O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!”

The stone the builders rejected and the chief cornerstone are Jesus.

In Matt 21 (and other places)…the Religious Leaders rejected Messiah’s forerunner, John the Baptist, thus rejecting Messiah. His rejection is culminated at the cross.

Becoming the cornerstone of the church is culminated in His resurrection.

For a good side study…there around 11-13 specific verses Old and New Testament that refer to the cornerstone, and even more allusions to Jesus being the stone or a rock...

Isa 28:16 “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation...”

In the NT, the symbolism of the stone as tied to Jesus aided Christians in understanding why Jesus was rejected by His own people (Acts 4:11, Rom 9:33, 1 Pet 2:6).

Eph 2:19-22 pictures God’s Kingdom as a house…a building…and pictures us (Christians) as the very building materials... “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

2 Cor 6:16 states, “For you are the temple of the living God.” Beautiful verses.

But also sobering… God’s Spirit lives in us, and when we are unwholesome… in word or deed… He experiences it. Paul wrote, “… do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” (Eph 4:30) He is Holy, and when we are not…it goes against God’s nature…thus grieving Him.

This all ties directly to the work the Lord is doing in us...sanctification…pursuing holiness… being set apart from the world… putting to death the old man of sin… being conformed into the image of His Son…I thank God for His grace, and Paul would agree. He wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1 Tim 1:15).

In V43, Jesus pronounces judgment upon the Religious Leaders, and confirms the kingdom of God being given to another nation.

Earlier, we looked at John 11 and in John’s narrative we read...Jesus “would gather together in one the children of God” (John 11:52) and the Religious Leaders themselves said in Matt 21:41 the landowner would “lease his vineyard to other vinedressers.”

Now in V43, Jesus Himself confirms this passing of authority “...the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” The church.

In V44, “...whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” Jesus alludes to 2 OT scriptures.

Neither of these options sound pleasant. Choose one... Fall on the stone and be broken. Or have the stone fall on you and be ground to powder. “Is there a third option Jesus?” No there’s not.

These two options are consistent with scripture as a whole. Your faith in or rejection of Jesus has consequences.

To believe in Jesus Christ… one must submit to Him and His authority… this is falling on Him… this is brokenness.

Through a natural lens, a broken thing carries a negative connotation…it’s not new... likely discarded…or used for spare parts.

Through a spiritual lens… once our self-will is broken, and we realize our need for a Savior, this is when God can do His work. In self-sufficiency we rejected God… in brokenness, we accepted His Son. We have limited control in this life, and no control in the afterlife… one must fall on Jesus…fall on the stone… fall at His feet in brokenness and then He extends grace… forgiveness... and eternal life.

To reject Jesus Christ…to oppose Him… results in judgment…pictured here as the stone falling on that person and grinding them to power. Eternal death... hell.

The two verses Jesus alludes to in V44, Isa 8:14-15 (and perhaps Daniel 2:35).

Isa 8:14-15 reads, “He [LORD in V13...Yahweh…applied to Jesus in the NT…one in the same] will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.”

I have two slides of cornerstones... and you can see how they protrude (not uncommon). Someone not paying attention may stumble and get hurt… perhaps you may have been in a city and tripped on a cornerstone as you rounded a corner? That’s the natural application.

The spiritual application is upon coming in contact with Jesus, you may get tripped up…even fall in life when you encounter Jesus.

You thought you were going to live your life one way…you had a plan… you were walking the same broad road many people walk in this world… that broad road that leads to destruction.

But then you encountered the cornerstone…Jesus… and you stumbled and fell. He led you another way. The narrow road that leads to life.

And, let me close with this...It’s much better to fall on the stone, then to be crushed beneath it.

The warning of rejecting Jesus... and the invitation to faith that Jesus gave some 2000 years ago stands today. If you don’t know Him…fall on Him today.

Let’s pray!

In Luke 15, Jesus said, “...there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Each time someone falls on Him… confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior, there’s a party in heaven.

Brokenness…falling on the Stone… it’s a joyful thing! Go and share that good news this week!

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.