Happy Tuesday! Today we will finish the parable we began yesterday. Enjoy your day.

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 21:37-46 NLT
“³⁷ “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’ ³⁸ “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!’ ³⁹ So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

⁴⁰ “When the owner of the vineyard returns,”Jesus asked, “what do you think he will do to those farmers?” ⁴¹ The religious leaders replied, “He 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.” ⁴² 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.’[Psalm 118:22-23]

⁴³ I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.[Luke 20:18]” ⁴⁵ When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. ⁴⁶ They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.”

REFLECTION
Throughout the book of Matthew, we have seen the religious leaders (leading priests and Pharisees) actively pursuing Jesus to disrupt the mission God sent him to accomplish. The leaders were aware of all the miracles that were being performed, the lives that were being changed and the scriptures Jesus used to support the parables and sermons he would give, yet they were seeing and could not see, hearing but could not hear. However, on this particular day, they not only heard but they understood exactly what Jesus was saying,  “The religious leaders replied to Jesus, “He 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.” (v.41)” Yet, instead of repenting and asking for forgiveness their hearts became hardened and angry to the point they wanted to arrest Jesus.

Brothers and sisters, don’t let your hearts be hardened like the religious leaders. Jesus has made a way for all of us to be reconciled to the Father. Trust and believe in Him, accept Christ Jesus as the Lord of your life. Allow Him to be your cornerstone, your sure foundation.

PRAYER
Father God, thank you for loving us enough to send your Son (the perfect sacrifice) to die on the cross for our sins. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to become your children. Lord, we repent and ask for forgiveness for the things we have done in our past. Lord, forgive us for the things we have done today that have offended you. Lord, we need you. Lord, we want to follow you. Lord, when we hear let us listen to your voice and remain attuned to what you are calling us to do. Lord, as we see you move, help us to recognize what you are doing and follow along with your plan. Lord, on those days when we are wandering around in the wilderness – wake us up and draw us closer to you. Lord, continue to change us and use us for your glory. Lord, heal our nation, improve race relations and equip the church to stand in the gap for all people. Lord, you saw no color or difference in class – you only saw love. Lord, help us to love like you. Lord, be with individuals and families who have lost loved ones. Lord, strengthen them during this difficult time of grief and loss. Lord, be with the families who have family members who are dying and give them peace. Lord, you are the one who comforts, so Lord we ask that you do your mighty work within their hearts and souls. Lord, we ask that you work in marriages and restore families. Recover the victims of human trafficking and return them to safe places. Lord, our world needs you to intervene. Lord, you know their needs. Lord, give us an opportunity to serve you, love others and help us to forgive. In the name of Jesus, amen.

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