May 23, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Luke 20:9  Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 10  And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 11  And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 12  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 13  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 14  But when the husbandmen 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. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 16  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. 17  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? 18  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

The Lord Jesus is still speaking with the chief priest, the scribes and the elders. He is giving them a history lesson as well as a future prophecy.

God, down through the ages has sent His prophets (These are the servants of the Lord) to His own people. In our text the first one was treated with shame him and sent him away.

God sent his prophets one after another and they were beaten and wounded and cast out.

Jesus is letting these religious people know that they are the ones depicted as the husbandmen; they are the ones who would eventually kill the son (Jesus is the Son) of the nobleman (who is God).

Verse 14  But when the husbandmen 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.

When Jesus pointed His finger of accusation at the chief priest and scribes and elders; their response was “God forbid.” They didn’t know they were going to be the ones who would crucify the very one who stood before them, the Lord Jesus Christ. They could not see their own wickedness.

After their despicable crime was completed, Peter relates the fact that they did indeed kill Jesus as prophesied.

Acts 2:22  Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23  Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Today God sends his missionaries and preachers and teachers and Christians to people around the world and many are rejected by society for preaching the truth which goes against the norm and against societal expectations. Christians all over the world suffer at the hands of the cruel husbandmen.

Notice the last verses in this text. Luke 20:17  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? 18  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

My friend, one day the chief cornerstone, who is Jesus, will return and those who rejected Him will be broken.

Those who willfully fall upon the chief cornerstone will do so with a spirit of brokenness realizing their need to be saved.

1Peter 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Will you receive or reject the Son the chief cornerstone?

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook