Gospel, the Firm Foundation - Luke 20:17

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[Luke 20:9-20] …He looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?”

Gospel, the Firm Foundation

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” The cornerstone is the stone from which all the other stones in the foundation are aligned. With the cornerstone in place, the other stones line up right. Without it, there are cracks and shifting sand. What is the “stone that the builders rejected” which has “become the cornerstone”?

I.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable to the people while the scribes and chief priests listen within earshot.         

A man planted a vineyard – where grapes would be grown to make wine – and rented out this vineyard to tenants who were to be its caretakers while he went away into a far country.

At the right season, the owner sent his servants to collect from the tenants the fruits of that vineyard. Instead of giving fruits, they beat the first servant and sent him away. Then they did the same and worse to the second and third.

The Owner of the vineyard then sends His beloved Son, saying, “Perhaps they will respect Him.” But when the tenants see Him, they are full of envy. “Let’s kill Him and make the vineyard ours!” So, they throw His beloved Son out of the vineyard and kill Him.

Jesus stops and poses the question: What will the Owner of the vineyard do to these tenants? “He will destroy them and give the vineyard to others.” 

Those hearing exclaim, “Surely not!” – perceiving that Jesus “told this parable against them.” Jesus looks at them directly and says those words we heard at the beginning.

The “stone that the builders rejected” is Jesus – the very ones hearing this parable will soon plot and will cry, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” – but, on the third day, He will rise and “become the cornerstone” of a brand-new house, a brand-new vineyard.

That verse - “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” – is from the Old Testament, from Psalm 118:22, is quoted here by the Lord, and is spoken elsewhere in Scripture, the New Testament, referring to Jesus and also calling Him the “stone of stumbling.”

“You yourselves like living stones” – it says in 1 Peter 2 – “are being built up as a spiritual house” because that “living stone” that “stone of stumbling and rock of offense” which “the builders rejected” has become your “cornerstone”. [1 Peter 2:4-8]

And then, in Romans 9:30-33, the Apostle Paul sums up the whole thing – really applies the Lord’s parable – and makes it clear, in these plain words, in what way Jesus, our Rock and Foundation, is also, to many, the stumbling stone they trip over:

“What shall we say, then?” The answer: “That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel” – our Lord’s audience – “who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law” – they did not attain that righteousness – “Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone…

II.

The stumbling stone, the rock of offense, is the Gospel. That a person is right with God by faith alone in Jesus and not by their works or merit – not by their works or worthiness – is the stone that our fallen human flesh stumbles over. Rejects.     

God’s grace is His unearned, unmerited love. His love and favor for you that you did not earn. Faith is trust in what Jesus has done to save sinners – that He offered Himself on the cross as the sacrifice that makes up for all your sins and shortcomings.

You are justified – forgiven and counted righteous to God, made right with God – by His grace alone through faith alone. Faith in Jesus. Not by your works or worthiness.

We say it this way in our Lutheran Confessions: “Furthermore it is taught that we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions (i.e. making up for our sins), but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ’s sake” – because of what He did – “through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for His sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness in His sight…” [Augsburg Confession, Article IV]

This is the cornerstone of the Christian faith and of a man or woman’s life with God. Yet it’s what our sin-fallen nature stumbles over most. But it’s the source of peace we never knew we could have when we do believe it [Philippians 4:7].

Peace with God through faith alone in Jesus is what we heard about in our Epistle reading today: “…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” [Philippians 3:8-9]

This is our healing when we are crushed. It is the firm foundation on which we stand. Don’t reject it, but accept it. And constantly depend on it in your day-to-day life.

III.

What does this mean for me each day? It means that my value, my worth – and my right relationship with God, my Creator – are not based on my works, merit, or worthiness, but on the value God placed on me when He gave His own Son for me – this means for me, everyday, that I can:  

(1) ‘rejoice all the more in my weaknesses’; (2) have the freedom of acknowledging my shortcomings without fear; (3) and have the peace of calling my sins sin – because I know I am forgiven in my Savior.

I am freed from the burden of “What do I measure up to?” – because I can trust in the measure of what God has paid for me: His beloved Son. He might be rejected by many, but in Him I believe.

Also, that you are right with God by that perfect sacrifice Jesus gave on the cross, and not by your merit or worthiness, is why you can have confidence in all earthly circumstances. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” [Romans 8:32]

Many of our daily anxieties are issues of daily bread. About these needs, we say the following in our Small Catechism:

“I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them; He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have; He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me…” [Luther’s Small Catechism; Creed, First Article]

Not because I did good enough, but because He is my Helper and Father. By grace, because of Jesus, He accepts you and navigates your boat through the uncertain waves and winds. Because of His unearned grace and love, you can have faith.

“For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.” [Luther’s Small Catechism; Creed, First Article]

Jesus is your cornerstone. This Gospel of faith alone in Him is the firm foundation of your life with God – in this world and in the life to come. Thanks be to God. Amen.