By Jerry D. Ousley
Jesus was the Master storyteller. In Matthew 21, beginning in verse 33, He told the story of the man who planted a vineyard, hedged it in, set up the winepress and had it all ready, including all the latest equipment of their day.
It was basically ready to go. It just needed the right people to work it. He thought he had found them and so he leased it out. He then took a journey into a far land.
When vintage time arrived, he sent some of his servants to collect his share of the harvest, but when they arrived, those leasing the vineyard decided that they wanted to keep everything for themselves. They severely beat one of them, brutally killed another, then stoned the third. Then the owner sent a larger group of servants and they did the same thing to them.
Finally, he sent his son, the heir to all he had, thinking that they would have to respect him. But they didn’t. They reasoned, “This is the heir. Let’s kill him and so we will have everything.”
Jesus then asked those Jewish leaders listening to Him, “What should the owner of the property do?” Of course, their answer was that he should destroy the wicked men and lease the vineyard out to respectable, reliable people who would honor their deal and yield the fruit in its season. Yes, of course, that was the right answer.
But then Jesus elaborated. He began by quoting a passage in Psalm 118: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:22-24).
By the way, that last verse about this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it, has been misquoted so very much. In fact, I’ve done it myself. But in the correct context, the text is saying that the day in which the stone rejected has become the cornerstone is the day that is to be celebrated.
Getting back to the message of this teaching, Jesus was telling them that He was this stone that had been rejected, but in reality, He is the most important cornerstone of the entire structure. He then plainly spoke, “The Kingdom of God has been taken away from you, the Jewish leaders, and given to a group (most versions use the word “nation” but the original language suggests a group of people) bearing the fruit of accepting Jesus, the Messiah, the chief cornerstone.”
This group is none other than the Church established by Christ. As a result, He further said, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:44).
That is the key. Some will fall on the stone and upon others it will fall on them and they will be ground to powder. The question is, who are those upon whom it will fall, and who are those who will fall upon it?
Okay, so if we see the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He is that chief cornerstone, then we must fall upon Him. Our rebellious nature is broken and our old man, old nature, is destroyed. We become new creations in Jesus Christ. The cornerstone has broken us and made us new. We are now members of His Church – not a church – but of the One True Church established by Jesus Christ.
That may be a painful thing, to be broken. But it releases us allowing our new nature in Christ to come out.
However, if we aren’t broken then the only other choice is that the stone falls upon us and we are crushed, and ground to powder. We are spiritually destroyed and our only option is eternal destruction in Hell, and ultimately the Lake of Fire.
Two choices, one decision. Will you fall on the stone and allow our Lord to break you and in that process, make you new? Will you trust in His salvation and in the end reap everlasting life? Or, will you do nothing and allow the stone to fall upon you? The only result from that decision is you will be crushed and ground into powder.
Broken or Ground? Which is your choice? Whether you think this is ridiculous or not, it is a choice that each of us must make. Both bring pain. Both offer only destruction. But being broken offers a destruction that allows re-construction by God. Being ground does not.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit spiritbread. com to download these and more completely free of charge.
Jesus was the Master storyteller. In Matthew 21, beginning in verse 33, He told the story of the man who planted a vineyard, hedged it in, set up the winepress and had it all ready, including all the latest equipment of their day.
It was basically ready to go. It just needed the right people to work it. He thought he had found them and so he leased it out. He then took a journey into a far land.
When vintage time arrived, he sent some of his servants to collect his share of the harvest, but when they arrived, those leasing the vineyard decided that they wanted to keep everything for themselves. They severely beat one of them, brutally killed another, then stoned the third. Then the owner sent a larger group of servants and they did the same thing to them.
Finally, he sent his son, the heir to all he had, thinking that they would have to respect him. But they didn’t. They reasoned, “This is the heir. Let’s kill him and so we will have everything.”
Jesus then asked those Jewish leaders listening to Him, “What should the owner of the property do?” Of course, their answer was that he should destroy the wicked men and lease the vineyard out to respectable, reliable people who would honor their deal and yield the fruit in its season. Yes, of course, that was the right answer.
But then Jesus elaborated. He began by quoting a passage in Psalm 118: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:22-24).
By the way, that last verse about this is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it, has been misquoted so very much. In fact, I’ve done it myself. But in the correct context, the text is saying that the day in which the stone rejected has become the cornerstone is the day that is to be celebrated.
Getting back to the message of this teaching, Jesus was telling them that He was this stone that had been rejected, but in reality, He is the most important cornerstone of the entire structure. He then plainly spoke, “The Kingdom of God has been taken away from you, the Jewish leaders, and given to a group (most versions use the word “nation” but the original language suggests a group of people) bearing the fruit of accepting Jesus, the Messiah, the chief cornerstone.”
This group is none other than the Church established by Christ. As a result, He further said, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:44).
That is the key. Some will fall on the stone and upon others it will fall on them and they will be ground to powder. The question is, who are those upon whom it will fall, and who are those who will fall upon it?
Okay, so if we see the revelation that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He is that chief cornerstone, then we must fall upon Him. Our rebellious nature is broken and our old man, old nature, is destroyed. We become new creations in Jesus Christ. The cornerstone has broken us and made us new. We are now members of His Church – not a church – but of the One True Church established by Jesus Christ.
That may be a painful thing, to be broken. But it releases us allowing our new nature in Christ to come out.
However, if we aren’t broken then the only other choice is that the stone falls upon us and we are crushed, and ground to powder. We are spiritually destroyed and our only option is eternal destruction in Hell, and ultimately the Lake of Fire.
Two choices, one decision. Will you fall on the stone and allow our Lord to break you and in that process, make you new? Will you trust in His salvation and in the end reap everlasting life? Or, will you do nothing and allow the stone to fall upon you? The only result from that decision is you will be crushed and ground into powder.
Broken or Ground? Which is your choice? Whether you think this is ridiculous or not, it is a choice that each of us must make. Both bring pain. Both offer only destruction. But being broken offers a destruction that allows re-construction by God. Being ground does not.
—————
Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit spiritbread. com to download these and more completely free of charge.
