He Came to Become the Cornerstone

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, we explore Luke 20:9-18, where Jesus tells a parable about a landlord’s dispute with tenants to confront religious leaders who reject Him. This story illustrates how the people of Israel continually rejected God's prophets, and ultimately, how the religious leaders rejected Jesus, the Son of God. The key theme is that Jesus is the Cornerstone, the foundation of God's kingdom. Although He was rejected by the religious leaders and the people, He is the one who will establish God's eternal reign.

Jesus uses Psalm 118:22-23, which refers to the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, to warn that those who reject Him will face judgment. The parable shows how the tenants (representing Israel's religious leaders) fail to honor God and, in their arrogance, reject His Son. Jesus is ultimately warning the people and leaders that if they reject Him, they will miss out on being part of God's kingdom.

The cornerstone, though rejected, becomes the foundation of God's eternal kingdom, and those who stumble upon it will be broken, while those who accept it will find refuge. We are called to acknowledge Jesus as the Cornerstone, to reflect on what He has given us, and to build our lives on Him. Though Jesus faced rejection, He rose in victory, offering life and glory to those who follow Him, even through suffering.

Sermon Text: Luke 20:9-18

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:

“‘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.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How have you been rejected for following Jesus? How has this brought you to closer intimacy with Christ?

2. How does Jesus shine His Glory in the midst of suffering? Over suffering?

3. How does the rejected stone point to all of God’s work?

4. How does Jesus pointing out that He is God in this passage? What significance would this be to the people? How is that significant to us?

5. How does Jesus foretelling His future in the parable help us trust Jesus and build intimacy in our relationship with Him?

6. In what ways are we more like the tenants?

7. What does this passage teach us about God?

8. How have you seen sacrifice bring fruit in your life?