Matthew 21:33-46 “The ‘Builders’ Reject the Chief Cornerstone”

Vs. 33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.

Alistair Begg “The other kind of parable is much closer to being an allegorical story. On the surface they seem to be fairly harmless, but they have a sting in the tail, a punch line that creeps up on you and hits you when you are least expecting it.”

The landowner—God, The vineyard—Israel, The tenant farmers—the Jewish religious leaders, The landowner’s servants—the prophets and priests who remained faithful to God and preached to Israel, The son—Jesus, and The other tenants—the Gentiles

Isaiah 5:1-6 Please Turn In Your Bibles

Nazareth in the 1800’s

Nazareth Village

Jesus is the Light of the World!

Vs "Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.”

Matthew 3:8 “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance…”

Vs "Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.”

Hebrews 1:1-3 Please Turn In Your Bibles

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Vs “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."

2 Samuel 12 So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan; As the L ORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity. Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! Thus says the L ORD God of Israel…”

Isaiah 63:9-10 “In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit…”

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Romans 8:12-14 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Vs. 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?

Psalm 118:19-27 Please Turn In Your Bibles

Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign L ORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.”

Acts 4:8-12 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Vs. 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”

Deuteronomy 14:2 “You have been set apart as holy to the L ORD your God, and He has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be His own special treasure.”

Vs. 44 "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

Isaiah 8:13-15 “…He will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem He will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.”

IVP Bible Background A later rabbi warned: “If a pot falls on a rock, woe to the pot; if a rock falls on the pot, woe to the pot—either way, woe to the pot!”

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” “He is offering mercy now, but promising judgment later, we should not wait to decide”