Luke 20
Gospel of Luke
Chapter 20
Scripture of the Week: 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 Luke 20:17-18
This chapter begins as Jesus is entering the last week of His earthly life and showcases the supreme authority and wisdom of Jesus, navigating confrontational religious debates and exposing the hypocrisy. He raises a mirror to religiosity, exposing attitudes, while blessing the authentic faith of a poor widow. Jesus establishes that the Kingdom of God values humility, sincerity, and generosity over pride and outward displays. As we face questions and challenges, may we respond with the wisdom and truth modeled by Jesus.
Observation
The religious community of Jesus day consisted of the Scribes, Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees. They had a rigid interpretation of the law and the Old Testament. This community held the Jewish people to strict adherence to their interpretation. Jesus’ ministry was rooted in love and grace, which was opposite of the messages of the time.
Starting in verse 9, Jesus tells another parable, this one about wicked tenants who reject their landowner. In this parable, there is a landowner who rents out a vineyard to some farmers. Come harvest time, the landowner sends some servants to collect some of the fruit, but they beat up the servant and send him back to the landowner empty handed. After this happens a few times, the landowner sends his son, thinking the farmers surely will not reject his son. The farmers conspire to kill the son and take the land for themselves. The people are shocked by this!
Jesus responds to the people’s reaction with a bold reference to himself as the Messiah. In verse 17, Jesus says he is the “cornerstone” and will be rejected by the “builders.” We will unpack this more in a moment. For now, it is key to note that the established religious community knew Jesus was talking about them and how they wanted to kill him.
Interpretation
Some of the verses that stick out in this chapter are 17 and 18. Unpacking them really help us understand the reality of who Jesus truly is, The Chief Cornerstone! In the architectural sense the term is used twice in the New Testament to speak of the exalted Jesus as the foundation stone, which holds up the Bride of Christ; the church and its 2000 plus years of history and future (Eph 2:20 ; 1 Peter 2:6).
The New Testament draws on two Old Testament passages about the coming Messiah. In Isaiah 28:16 the prophet speaks God's words directly to the rulers in Jerusalem who boasted that they were immune to the scourges of life because they were secure in themselves. God
said their security was false because He would lay a stone in Zion, a precious cornerstone, which really was secure — and it was not them! Zechariah 10:4 expands this promise by saying that the cornerstone will come from the tribe of Judah. In Isaiah 8:4, Jesus is prophesied as a stone of offense and stumbling to those who refuse to believe. In the New Testament, Paul builds on this concept in Ephesians 2:20 saying Jesus is the foundation that the apostles and prophets point to, and the church as a whole will not stand unless He is at the center.
Application
The metaphor seems obvious: the cornerstone is either a source of blessing or judgment, depending on a person's attitude toward it. The very foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. This was prophesied by the prophets of old and fulfilled through the incarnation. Those who believe are blessed and those who stumble over that rock chosen by God are condemned. Jesus is everything and should be the foundation of all we are and all we do. Imagine how your life and family would be transformed if you had Jesus as your cornerstone?
Practical Application Questions
- Is there any area of your life where you are challenging the authority of Jesus?
- What is at the center of your foundation? Money, Jesus, family, work, etc?
- What would it look like in your life if you lived with Jesus as your foundation?
- What else stood out to you in Chapter 20? Share with your group.
Luke 20
Gospel of Luke
Chapter 20
Scripture of the Week: 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 Luke 20:17-18
This chapter begins as Jesus is entering the last week of His earthly life and showcases the supreme authority and wisdom of Jesus, navigating confrontational religious debates and exposing the hypocrisy. He raises a mirror to religiosity, exposing attitudes, while blessing the authentic faith of a poor widow. Jesus establishes that the Kingdom of God values humility, sincerity, and generosity over pride and outward displays. As we face questions and challenges, may we respond with the wisdom and truth modeled by Jesus.
Observation
The religious community of Jesus day consisted of the Scribes, Pharisees, Priests, and Sadducees. They had a rigid interpretation of the law and the Old Testament. This community held the Jewish people to strict adherence to their interpretation. Jesus’ ministry was rooted in love and grace, which was opposite of the messages of the time.
Starting in verse 9, Jesus tells another parable, this one about wicked tenants who reject their landowner. In this parable, there is a landowner who rents out a vineyard to some farmers. Come harvest time, the landowner sends some servants to collect some of the fruit, but they beat up the servant and send him back to the landowner empty handed. After this happens a few times, the landowner sends his son, thinking the farmers surely will not reject his son. The farmers conspire to kill the son and take the land for themselves. The people are shocked by this!
Jesus responds to the people’s reaction with a bold reference to himself as the Messiah. In verse 17, Jesus says he is the “cornerstone” and will be rejected by the “builders.” We will unpack this more in a moment. For now, it is key to note that the established religious community knew Jesus was talking about them and how they wanted to kill him.
Interpretation
Some of the verses that stick out in this chapter are 17 and 18. Unpacking them really help us understand the reality of who Jesus truly is, The Chief Cornerstone! In the architectural sense the term is used twice in the New Testament to speak of the exalted Jesus as the foundation stone, which holds up the Bride of Christ; the church and its 2000 plus years of history and future (Eph 2:20 ; 1 Peter 2:6).
The New Testament draws on two Old Testament passages about the coming Messiah. In Isaiah 28:16 the prophet speaks God's words directly to the rulers in Jerusalem who boasted that they were immune to the scourges of life because they were secure in themselves. God
said their security was false because He would lay a stone in Zion, a precious cornerstone, which really was secure — and it was not them! Zechariah 10:4 expands this promise by saying that the cornerstone will come from the tribe of Judah. In Isaiah 8:4, Jesus is prophesied as a stone of offense and stumbling to those who refuse to believe. In the New Testament, Paul builds on this concept in Ephesians 2:20 saying Jesus is the foundation that the apostles and prophets point to, and the church as a whole will not stand unless He is at the center.
Application
The metaphor seems obvious: the cornerstone is either a source of blessing or judgment, depending on a person's attitude toward it. The very foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. This was prophesied by the prophets of old and fulfilled through the incarnation. Those who believe are blessed and those who stumble over that rock chosen by God are condemned. Jesus is everything and should be the foundation of all we are and all we do. Imagine how your life and family would be transformed if you had Jesus as your cornerstone?
Practical Application Questions
- Is there any area of your life where you are challenging the authority of Jesus?
- What is at the center of your foundation? Money, Jesus, family, work, etc?
- What would it look like in your life if you lived with Jesus as your foundation?
- What else stood out to you in Chapter 20? Share with your group.