30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 20 9-18 THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 11 Luke 20 14-16 Failure of the Jews resulted in blessing to the rest of us
📖 Luke 20:9-18
27Feb2021 - *Failure of the Jews resulted in blessing to the rest of us* - _Luke 20:9-18_ - THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE 11 – Bible reading: _Romans 9:4-5_
The Lord is now bringing the parable to a close and concluding with the main teaching from this illustration. He is drawing the response from His audience so that He can birth in them the deep lessons that they needed.
_Luke 20:14-16 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' (15) So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? (16) He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!" (NKJV)_
_Luke 20:15-16 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? (16) He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." Those who heard him said, "*That must never happen!*"(ISV)_
The Lord is asking a logical question at the end of the parable and He is making His audience to realise and commit to the needed change in their life.
The vine-growers, to whom the vineyard was leased and from whom fruit was expected, had killed the heir of the vineyard, thinking that they could do away with the line of authority and they could do whatever they wished with the vineyard, claiming it to be theirs.
This was a total foolish notion on their part since ownership rights of the vineyard can never be transferred. God is always the Creator and Owner and a man has to reconcile with God, whether that man believes in God or otherwise.
_Luke 19:27 But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.' "_ This is the response of God to all those who reject the authority of God over their lives since our relationship with God is a matter of Him being King and us, His subjects.
_Matthew 21:41 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."_ Isn’t this decision from the Owner, fair?
Yet, as the early church grew, it was to the Jews that the gospel was first presented but it was only when they ridiculed and rejected the message of Jesus as the cornerstone that the Apostles went to the Gentiles.
_Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "*It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first*; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles._
The first vine-growers were the Jews. They were special in the eyes of God.
_Romans 9:4-5 who are Israelis. To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. (5) To the Israelis belong the patriarchs, and from them, the Messiah descended, who is God over all, the one who is forever blessed. Amen._
Though they were the chosen people, they had failed to be the vine-growers that God had expected them to be. Was this situation a setback in the plan and purposes of God?
It definitely was not what God desired of Israel but this is where we see the sovereignty of God. The Lord converts failures into victories, weaknesses into strengths and setbacks into launching pads.
What did the Lord do through the failure of the Jews in being God’s vine-growers?
_Romans 11:11-33 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles._
Through the fall of the Jews, salvation has come to the Gentiles. _(12) Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!_
If their fall has resulted in riches to the Gentiles, imagine what could have happened if the first vine-growers, Israel, had fulfilled the purpose of God for them and delivered the results that God had expected of them?
*Thought to ponder*
```God is still on His throne.```