Matthew 21:23-32; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8;
Matthew 21:33-22:14; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19;
Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
Matthew 21:42-46
“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’? [Psalm 118:22-23]
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they held Him to be a prophet.
Jesus makes this reference to Psalm 118 at the conclusion of the Parable of the Tenants (or Wicked Vinedressers), and it is clear to all that Jesus is speaking about the religious authorities — the Pharisees, the chief priests, the scribes, the elders — and their rejection of Him. They are the builders, and He is the rejected Stone. They are the wicked vinedressers, and He is the murdered Son. But do the religious authorities rethink their position? Do they take an honest look at themselves, at Jesus, at the Scriptures, and at the evidence? No. They just further harden their already hard hearts.
Jesus knows full well where He is headed. He knows that His words rankle the authorities. He knows He is not going to win them over. None of this is a surprise to Him. And He presses on, speaking the Truth — all in obedience to the Father.
So what are you going to do with this Stone today — not yesterday or tomorrow, but today? Are you going to push Him aside, looking for a better option? Or is He your Cornerstone?
See also: