Jesus Is the Cornerstone

Jesus:  “¹⁰ Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone (capstone). ¹¹ This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous (wonderful) in our eyes?’” Mark 12:10-11 (NKJV)

On the Tuesday of Holy (Passion) Week, Jesus began teaching the people with various story-illustrations (parables or allegory) about Israel’s relationship to God’s Son (Mark 12:1-12; see also Matthew 21:33-46; Luke 20:9-19). Jesus not only healed people, performed exorcisms, and worked miracles, but He also taught the people about God and God’s Kingdom. Jesus’ favorite way of teaching people about God was using parables (e.g., see Matthew 13:2-3; Luke 8:4; Mark 3:23; Mark 4:2, 10-11, 13, 33-34). In general, parables are a comparison of two objects for teaching, usually in the form of a story.

In one of the stories, Jesus said a landowner (God) planted a vineyard (Israel) (Mark 12:1; see also Matthew 21:33; Luke 20:9). The landowner (God) built a wall around the vineyard (Israel), dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower (Mark 12:1; see also Matthew 21:33). Then, the landowner (God) leased the vineyard to tenant farmers (Israel’s religious leaders) and moved to another country (Mark 12:1; see also Matthew 21:33; Luke 20:9).

In this parable, Jesus reminded Israel of God's goodness to them as a nation. Jesus pictured Israel as God’s vineyard (see Isaiah 5:1-7). God had cultivated Israel to be His special treasure – “a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation” – from among all the peoples on earth order to bring salvation to the world (Exodus 19:5-6; see also 1 Peter 2:5, 9-10). Even more, God the Father blessed Israel with material and spiritual blessings, and He only asked that they obey His commandments and give Him a “spiritual harvest” of good fruit for His glory. Instead of being grateful for their blessings and joyfully giving God with good fruit, Israel and Israel’s religious leaders (the chief priests, teachers of the law, elders, Pharisees, and Sadducees) not only frustrated God’s purpose; they also killed God’s faithful servants from Israel. These servants were God’s prophets and priests who remained faithful to Him and faithfully preached to Israel (see Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 7:25-26; Jeremiah 25:4-7; Matthew 23:29-39; Acts 7:52; Hebrews 11:36-38). Again and again in the Old Testament, God sent His faithful servants a message from God: “Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. . . . Do not provoke My anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.” (Jeremiah 25:5-6, NLT). However, Israel and their leaders would not listen or pay attention to rid themselves of hatred, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and evil of every kind and bear good fruit (Jeremiah 25:4, 7; see also Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 Peter 2:1). Finally, God sent His beloved Son (Jesus) as the Heir to the vineyard to collect the spiritual harvest (Mark 12:6-7; see also Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). However, Israel and their leaders killed Jesus. God is faithful, loving, gracious, patient, and compassionate but He will not tolerate our continually sin and wickedness (Exodus 34:6-7). Throughout the Holy Scriptures, God called His people to be holy (perfect, mature, and restored) (e.g., see Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 11:44-45; Matthew 5:48; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Peter 1:15-16), and God has graciously sent His Holy Spirit through faith in His Son (Jesus) to be holy (see Romans 8).

At the time of the grape harvest (harvest time), the landowner (God) sent one of His servants (Old Testament prophets or messengers) to collect some of the fruit from the vineyard (Mark 12:2; see also Matthew 21:34; Luke 20:10). However, the tenant farmers (religious leaders) grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed (Mark 12:3; see also Luke 20:10). Matthew’s Gospel adds that the tenant farmers grabbed the landowner’s servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another (Matthew 21:35). Again, the landowner (God) sent another servant (prophet or messenger), but the tenant farmers insulted the servant and beat him over the head (Mark 12:4; see also Matthew 21:36; Luke 20:11). The next servant God sent was killed (Mark 12:5). Other servants sent from the landowner were beaten, and others were killed (Mark 12:5; see also Luke 20:12).

In trying to reach Israel with His love and grace, the landowner (God) sent His dearly loved Son (Jesus) (Mark 12:6; see also Matthew 21:37; Luke 20:13). The landowner (God) sent His Son thinking, “surely they will respect My Son” (Hebrews 1:1-3). However, the tenant farmers (Israel’s religious leaders) said to one another, “Here comes the Heir to this estate. Let us kill Him and get the estate for ourselves” (Mark 12:7; see also Matthew 21:38; Luke 20:14). So, the tenant farmers (Israel’s religious leaders) grabbed the landowner’s Son (Jesus), murdered Him, and threw His body out of the vineyard (Mark 12:8; see also Matthew 21:39; Luke 20:15; Hebrews 13:12-13). The tenant farmers ignored God's gracious gift of His Son.

Then, Jesus told the listening crowd, “What do you suppose the landowner (God) of the vineyard will do?” (Mark 12:9; see also Matthew 21:40; Luke 20:15). Jesus said that the owner (God) will come and destroy those wicked and stubborn tenant farmers (Israel’s religious leaders) and lease the vineyard to others (Gentiles) (Mark 12:9; see also Luke 20:16). In Matthew’s Gospel, Israel’s religious leaders responded to Jesus’ question by saying, “He (God) will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give Him His share of the crop after each harvest” (Matthew 21:41, NLT). Jesus’ prediction of Israel’s coming destruction was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome (Mark 12:9).

Finally, Jesus reminded His listeners the statement from the Old Testament book of Psalm: “Did you not ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The Stone that the builders rejected has now become the Cornerstone (Capstone). This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see’” (Mark 12:10-11, NLT, quoting Psalm 118:22-23; see also Matthew 21:42; Luke 20:17). Luke’s Gospel also adds that Jesus said, “Everyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on” (Luke 20:18, NLT). Jesus referred to Himself as the Stone rejected by the builders. Although the religious leaders rejected Jesus, Jesus predicted He would become the Cornerstone of a new “building” called the church (Acts 4:11-12; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:4-7).

Matthew’s Gospel further added that Jesus informed the religious leaders:  “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation (Gentiles) that will produce the proper fruit” (Matthew 21:43; see also Galatians 5:22-23). In other words, God took the vineyard away from Israel and gave to the church, which is composed largely of Gentiles (1 Peter 2:9-10). The Apostle Paul turned to the Gentiles, when the Jews, for the most part, rejected Jesus and the Gospel message (e.g., see Acts 13:46; Acts 18:6). By the second century, the church was composed mainly of Gentile Christians. Although Jesus was rejected by many Jewish people, He became the saving Capstone or Cornerstone of a new building, the church (Acts 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:7; see also Isaiah 28:16). In His death and resurrection, Jesus became the chosen, precious, and life-giving Cornerstone and all who wholeheartedly believe in Jesus will be saved (1 Peter 2:4-5, 7-8; see also Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11-12; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 15:45).

Then, Israel’s religious leaders wanted immediately to arrest Jesus (Mark 12:12; see also Matthew 21:46; Luke 20:19). The religious leaders clearly knew Jesus was directing the parable directly at them (Mark 12:12; see also Matthew 21:45; Luke 20:19). Sadly, Israel’s religious leaders knew they were the wicked tenant farmers in His story deserving of God’s punishment (Mark 12:12; see also Matthew 21:45; Luke 20:19). Israel’s religious leaders not only frustrated Israel’s purpose but they also killed those who were trying to fulfill God’s original mission for Israel - “a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6; see also 1 Peter 2:9-10). However, Israel’s religious leaders were afraid to touch Jesus for fear of inciting a riot during Passover (Mark 12:12; see Matthew 21:46; Luke 20:19). Matthew’s Gospel added that the people considered Jesus to be a Prophet (Matthew 21:46). The religious leaders left Jesus and went away (Mark 12:12).

In this parable, Jesus described God’s entire dealing with Israel and Israel’s leaders in the Old Testament. God sent various servants (prophets and priests) to His people Israel. Then in the New Testament, God sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus’ represented God’s hope to turn Israel to love and obey Him. However, Israel and their leaders rejected Jesus as they had other servants of God. God will continue His vineyard through the church.

References

Life Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).

Ryrie Study Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002).

Loyd, Melton, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2015).

Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).