The Stone Which The Builders Rejected, The Same Is Become The Head, Therefore, As Jesus Said, Why Tempt Ye Me? - Part 1931

"And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on Him [Jesus] and they feared the people: for they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them. And they watched Him and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And they asked Him, saying, "Master, we know that Thou sayest and teaches rightly, neither accepts Thou the person of any, but teaches the way of God truly ..." (Luke 20:19-21)

It is here that the spies set out to trick Jesus in His words, so that they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor. Indeed, these took counsel with the Pharisees and how they might entangle Jesus in His talk. So these ask Jesus the question, "Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their craftiness and said unto them, "Why tempt ye Me? Show Me a penny. Wise image and superscription hath it?" They answered and said, "Caesar's."

And Jesus said unto them, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's and unto God the things which be God's." But these could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at His answer and held their peace." (Luke 20:22-26)

In Matthew's account of the same, we see that the Pharisees sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Master, we know that Thou art true, and teaches the way of God in truth, neither cares Thou for any [man]; for Thou regard not the person of men. Tell us therefore, "What think Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" (Matthew 22:15-22)

Mark adds to the dialogue between Jesus and these certain of the Pharisees and Herodians intent on catching Him in His words, by saying, "Shall we give, or shall we not give?" (Mark 12:13-15)

This is important because in Mark's account, Jesus begins by sharing the parable of "a certain man who planted a vineyard and set an hedge about [it], and digged a place for the wine fat, and hath a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season, he sent the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught [him] and beat [him] and sent [him] away empty. 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. And again, he sent another: and he they killed, and many others, beating some and killing some.

Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, "They will reverence my son." But those husbandmen [tenant farmers] said among themselves, "This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be our's. And they took [him] and killed [him] and cast [him] out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others .." (Mark 12:1-9)

And then Jesus asked, "And have ye not read this scripture? The Stone which the builders rejected is become the Head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" (Mark 12:10-11)

You see, Jesus was speaking about Himself in the parable, as the Lord who planted a vineyard -- having placed a hedge around His beloved people to protect them. But these did not want to worship the Lord, for if they did, these would have recognized the Son of man as the Lord of glory. Or, at the very least understood that it was them who killed the prophets that came afore, and now with the Son before them, desired to kill Him too.

Still, as Mark points out, the people who listened to Jesus' parable knew that Jesus had spoken the parable specifically against those who sought to catch Him in His worlds. Yet, as a consequence, the hearts of the Pharisees and Herodians did not change. Rather, these same people had not understood or welcomed the Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ into their midst, instead hoping to trick Jesus, so they (as Jesus pointed out in the parable) they could kill Him.

Indeed, these rejected the Lord of glory. And in so doing, thought their human intellect (that God gave them in the first place) could outwit the very Lord who created them. It is a sad commentary for sure. But is that not what we are doing now, within a society, wherein we believe our intellect is somehow superior to the Lord God's wisdom and knowledge -- even His Word which created all things?

I had planned to take this post in a different direction today, but then sidetracked, because I believe there is an even important message to be had herein. Therefore, meditate upon these scriptures. Understand that the Lord Jesus has built a hedge of protection around those who believe in Him by faith, so that we too, like David the psalmist, will fear no evil.

As for our hearts, we should not ever have to ask another if we should give,  or not. Let the Lord of heaven, our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ teach us to give so that no one within the fellowship is ever without. (Acts 2:1-47)

Stand in the offering plate.