Matthew Chapter 21: Verses 37-46 (NLT Translation)
…Finally the owner sent his son, thinking, ’Surely they will respect my son.’
But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves.’ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
“When the owner of the vineyard returns,” Jesus asked, “What do you think he will do to those farmers?”
The religious leaders replied, “He will put the wicket men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.
This is the LORD’s doing and it is wonderful to see.’
I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces and it will crush anyone it falls on.”
When the leading priests and pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them- they were the wicked farmers. They wanted to arrest him but they were afraid of the crowds who considered him a prophet.
How do we react when we receive right and proper counsel that is hard for us to hear? In fact, although we know in our hearts that its right, we don’t want to hear it. The priests and pharisees who heard Jesus tell this parable, knew what Jesus was saying was true, but they didn’t want to change, so they paid no heed to Jesus’ teaching; in fact, they were determined to prevent it.
God loves us the way that we are, but there are times when He will put His finger on an area of our life that need s to change. That’s when we should be wise enough to be obedient, even if the truth hurts, and remember that God only wants the best for us. God is slow to anger and gracious to forgive us when we sin, but He will not ignore wilful disobedience. What loving parent would?
Dear Lord,
Even if the counsel I receive seems difficult to hear, I know that You only have good plans for me. Help me to be brave enough to be obedient, and willing to change whatever it is You put Your finger on. Thank You that You always want the best for me and only ever act for my good. I pray that I will respond as I should, and bring You glory in doing so.
I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.