The Stone Which the Builders Rejected

Psalm 80:1-19; Mark 12:1-12 / Psalm 118:1-29

I. Jesus Taught a Parable

A. Vineyard parables factor frequently into Biblical doctrine; Jesus raised a familiar theme and gave it a revelatory twist. “And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.” (Mark 12:1) “Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.” (Isaiah 5:1-2) (winefat: archaic form of winevat)

1. The owner stayed in touch with the vintners. “And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.” (Mark 12:2)

2. The farmers intimidated the owner’s messenger. “And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.” (Mark 12:3)

3. The bad reception did not keep the owner from trying. “And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.” (Mark 12:4)

4. The pattern began to replay like a broken record. “And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.” (Mark 12:5)

5. Finally, the owner sent his own son. “Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.” (Mark 12:6)

6. The vintners decided that killing the owner’s son would get them what they desired. “But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.” (Mark 12:7)

B. The vintners carried out their wretched design, murdering the son. “And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.” (Mark 12:8)

C. Believers understand, but unbelievers won’t be convinced. “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12)

II. Neglected Opportunity Is Deadly

A. Destruction inevitably follows rejection; Jesus was predicting the end of the Old Jerusalem and the start of the world ministry of the church. “What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.” (Mark 12:9)

B. Bible readers should have known where Jesus was taking them; God had warned the nation in the final song of the Passover marching music which the crowds had sung as they came into Jerusalem. “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:” (Mark 12:10) “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:22-23)

C. Grace is always marvelous. “This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:11) “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” (Habakkuk 1:5)

II. The Neglectors Understood What Jesus Said

A. The spiritual leaders understood what Jesus was saying, but their fear kept them from confronting Him. “And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.” (Mark 12:12)

B. The leaders who would eventually kill Jesus were not interested in listening to Him seriously; their minds were closed before Jesus even taught the parable. “And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.” (Mark 11:18)

C. These people with murderous intentions could have learned from David’s example of repentance when God exposed his conscience. “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.” (2 Samuel 12:7-9)

D. Eventually everyone will answer one simple question; the answer has eternal consequences. “And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.” (Mark 8:29)