The Cornerstone

And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 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’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Luke 20:9–18
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The Cornerstone
The devil works tirelessly to get us to turn from God. He plays at our every weakness. No matter what yours may be, the devil will find a way to attack that vulnerability. The only defense against it is a life built up and protected by God’s Word. It is, in fact, God’s Word that is used to not only defend against these attacks but to counter them and go on the offensive against the devil. This is how God keeps us in the faith, through the Holy Spirit enabling us to not reject God’s Word. For this reason, we are to stand ever watchful against the devil’s attacks and be built up by God’s Word. It is by parable and psalm, that Jesus warns against rejecting the Messiah. God’s mission in Christ will succeed; we turn from Him towards the devil and reject it at our great peril. Yet despite all opposition, God will build His Church on our Cornerstone, the crucified and resurrected Jesus. May He grant that we always build our heavenly hope on the one sure cornerstone He has provided, our Lord Jesus Christ.