Falling on the Stone
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Luk 20:17-18
These are the concluding verses from a parable Jesus told about the wicked tenants of a vineyard. It’s about God’s experience with Israel and the land He gave them. They wanted to live as they pleased and killed the prophets God sent to them. Finally, He sent His Son and they killed Him. What can they now expect God to do to them?
To explain it further, He changes the scene from a vineyard to the cornerstone of a building that was rejected. Jesus refers His listeners to Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psa 118:22) Israel rejected their promised Messiah. But, one day He will come back and claim His throne and reign for a thousand years.
I heard a story about this in my early teens that supposedly happened during the building of Solomon’s Temple, the first temple. There, supposedly was the losing of the corner stone for that Temple. But, two hours of searching over 20 commentaries and a Google search did not produce a reference to a historic event. Apparently Psalm 118:22 is an established figure of reference in Hebrew literature. It’s a reference to something that may have happened many times and was Jewish tradition. Its use is to identify qualified people who may have been by-passed. This happens a lot. But, Psalm 118:22 is firmly established in Jewish literature.
It would be impossible to fall on a cornerstone that is part of a building. But if the stone had been cast aside, someone could stumble over it and break a hip.
McGee makes good comment: “Today you and I can fall on that Stone, who is Christ Jesus, and be saved—that is, we have to come to Him as a sinner, broken in spirit, broken in heart. When we do this, we are on the foundation that no man can lay, which is Jesus Christ the Stone. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1Cor 3:11).
Daniel tells of that Stone which will fall in judgment someday and "grind to powder" the nations that reject Him (see Dan. 2). What the Lord is saying in this parable is as clear as the noonday sun. It could not have been misunderstood.
Jesus said if one falls upon that stone, they will be broken. There is a great need today for new Christians to have been broken on The Stone. Millions of unsaved people are joining church programs that by-pass being broken upon the Rock. They are lost church members.
Jesus also said, that if the stone falls upon a person, it would grind him into powder. This is a way of saying that one must repent or perish.
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 18, 2017 – THURSDAY
A.M. 2Kings 20-22 P.M. John 6:45-71
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)
Song for Today:
He Giveth More Grace (3:07) (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9-Ri6qjZY&list=PLrQ_9CjH0M3DrNKFiJwWMcXeunA0lU-NB&index=8
(Wait several seconds. You may have to delete an ad.)
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Luk 20:17-18
These are the concluding verses from a parable Jesus told about the wicked tenants of a vineyard. It’s about God’s experience with Israel and the land He gave them. They wanted to live as they pleased and killed the prophets God sent to them. Finally, He sent His Son and they killed Him. What can they now expect God to do to them?
To explain it further, He changes the scene from a vineyard to the cornerstone of a building that was rejected. Jesus refers His listeners to Psalm 118:22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psa 118:22) Israel rejected their promised Messiah. But, one day He will come back and claim His throne and reign for a thousand years.
I heard a story about this in my early teens that supposedly happened during the building of Solomon’s Temple, the first temple. There, supposedly was the losing of the corner stone for that Temple. But, two hours of searching over 20 commentaries and a Google search did not produce a reference to a historic event. Apparently Psalm 118:22 is an established figure of reference in Hebrew literature. It’s a reference to something that may have happened many times and was Jewish tradition. Its use is to identify qualified people who may have been by-passed. This happens a lot. But, Psalm 118:22 is firmly established in Jewish literature.
It would be impossible to fall on a cornerstone that is part of a building. But if the stone had been cast aside, someone could stumble over it and break a hip.
McGee makes good comment: “Today you and I can fall on that Stone, who is Christ Jesus, and be saved—that is, we have to come to Him as a sinner, broken in spirit, broken in heart. When we do this, we are on the foundation that no man can lay, which is Jesus Christ the Stone. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1Cor 3:11).
Daniel tells of that Stone which will fall in judgment someday and "grind to powder" the nations that reject Him (see Dan. 2). What the Lord is saying in this parable is as clear as the noonday sun. It could not have been misunderstood.
Jesus said if one falls upon that stone, they will be broken. There is a great need today for new Christians to have been broken on The Stone. Millions of unsaved people are joining church programs that by-pass being broken upon the Rock. They are lost church members.
Jesus also said, that if the stone falls upon a person, it would grind him into powder. This is a way of saying that one must repent or perish.
Read Through the Bible in a Year
MAY 18, 2017 – THURSDAY
A.M. 2Kings 20-22 P.M. John 6:45-71
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Memory Verse This Month:
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)
Song for Today:
He Giveth More Grace (3:07) (Gaither Group)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9-Ri6qjZY&list=PLrQ_9CjH0M3DrNKFiJwWMcXeunA0lU-NB&index=8
(Wait several seconds. You may have to delete an ad.)
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