Matthew 21:42-46: the Corner Stone will be a Stumbling Block

“The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone,” Jesus quoting Psalm 118 in Matthew 21:42

Jesus condemns the cold heart, the soul so overgrown with self and selfishness that it would blaspheme the source of hope, the heart so evil that it would see the Prince of Peace and call him the Lord of Flies.  (Max Lucado, The Angels Were Silent, p. 78)

Israel’s cumulative unfaithfulness over the generations had left them in a position before God where there was ‘no healing’ [see 2 Chronicles 36:16].   (M.J. Selman, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, p. 194)

In between parables illustrating Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Lord, Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:22-23.   But He begins with the phrase, “Did you never read in the Scriptures…?” (v.42)  This is a direct slam on the Pharisees.

The Pharisees were the experts of their day on the Scriptures; they knew the Old Testament inside and out and believed God owed them salvation for that reason.  To ask this question to the Pharisees would be like asking Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay, “Have you ever thrown a baseball before?” Except that the Pharisees had hearts not in line with what their heads knew.  Jesus points out that the builders who rejected the corner stone (v. 42) are the Pharisees.

 

The stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone (v.42).  A corner stone is the first stone put into place when a building is constructed; the entire structure is built based on the precise placement of the corner stone.    This imagery of Jesus being the corner stone of the new covenant between God and His people is used throughout the New Testament, including Acts 4:11, Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Peter 2:4-10 (notice the temple metaphors Peter uses).  

This passage and the surrounding parables here in Matthew 21-22 teach that the kingdom of God will be (was) taken away from the Jews and be given to a people producing the fruit of it (v.43).   Let’s take a look again at the truths Paul gives us in Romans 9 and 11 how Israel has fallen out of favor from her privileged place in the covenant with God.    

As Gentiles (non-Jews), we have obtained righteousness by faith (Romans 9:30) while Israel pursued a works righteousness (9:32) and thus stumbled over the stumbling stone.  Some of Israel’s dead “branches were broken off” (11:17).  Gentiles are branches of a wild olive tree and have been grafted into the cultivated olive tree (11:17).   

Some have used these truths as an excuse for anti-Semitic behavior and have done great evil.  However, Paul warns that we should “not be arrogant toward the branches” (9:18); rather we should “not be conceited but fear” (9:20).   “For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare” us, as grafted-in branches from the wild olive tree (9:21).

“A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (11:25); “salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make [the Jews] jealous” (11:11).  I believe Jesus was referring to this jealousy when He rebuked the priests for not even feeling “remorse” that the tax-gatherers and harlots believed and they did not (Matthew 21:32).    God is not finished yet with Israel for the day is coming when all of Israel will believe (Isaiah 45:25; Ezekiel 20:40).  

Until that day, the Corner Stone will be a stumbling block and he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust (v.44).  At about this point in Matthew’s narrative, the eyes of the Pharisees open.   Just a few verses earlier they had indicted themselves without realizing it (21:41), but now they know He was speaking about them (v.45).  The Pharisees sought to seize Him (v.46) but back down…for now.  Instead of fearing the chief corner stone, they feared the multitudes (v.46).    

The multitudes merely held Him to be a prophet (v. 46).   May we, however, recognize Him as God’s Son, the Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.   May we know that the Lord has thrown open the gates of salvation for all who would call upon His name!   May we rejoice in this and declare that it is marvelous in our eyes (v.42)!

Matthew 21:28-41: Parable of the Landowner Part II: Who Exactly Does Jesus Think He is? God?

"[Next] he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'”  Jesus, speaking of the landowner, Matthew 21:37

“Now what does this parable tell us about Jesus’ self-understanding?  It tells us that Jesus thought of himself as God’s only, beloved son, distinct from all the prophets, God’s final messenger, and even the heir to Israel.  He did not think of himself as merely another human prophet.” 

(William Lane Craig, from his article, “Who Is The Real Jesus: The Jesus Of The Bible Or The Jesus Of The Koran?”)

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse.”  

(C.S. Lewis from his book, Mere Christianity)

As I write this it is Easter Week.  All over the world Christians are remembering and celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.   Therefore I believe another look at this parable is warranted; Jesus gives us some strong clues as to who He is.   “Christology” is the study of who Christ is; there is deep Christology in this parable.

Jesus teaches this parable about the landowner in the temple to the crowd and chief priests and elders; He is primarily teaching about the unfaithfulness of Israel.   Even though a parable teaches only one primary truth, Jesus says some things about Himself that cannot be glossed over.  In this parable the owner of a vineyard sends his slaves to collect the harvest.  But those who rented the vineyard kill the first and second group of slaves sent by the owner (vv. 33-36).    

Next the landowner sends his son thinking, they will respect my son (v.37).  But the vine-growers, wanting the son’s inheritance, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him (v.39).  There is something unique about the son in this parable.  First, he is different from the slaves; he is “the” son.  Second, he is the heir of the owner of the vineyard.   In New Testament times the oldest son receives all the inheritance; he carries on the family name.   He is unique among any other child, family member or any hired hand.   Jesus equates Himself with the son in this parable.

All by itself, this is not conclusive evidence from the New Testament about the deity of Christ.   But when taken with other Scriptures, this parable is a vibrant clue that Jesus saw Himself as more than a prophet or a good, moral teacher.

There are more clues in Mark 14:62.  Jesus is on trial before the very ones to whom He is speaking here in this parable in Matthew 21.   Jesus is asked by the high priest, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”  To which Jesus answers “I am” and then quotes from Daniel 7 about the Messiah with which His audience was very familiar: “and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."  His accusers then cry “blasphemy!” and say He is worthy of death (Mark 14:64), consistent with the charge and punishment found in Leviticus 24:16.   Here you have both Jesus claiming to be God and His accusers recognizing His claim to be God. 

Furthermore, this is from Mark’s gospel.   That is important because Bible critics say that Jesus’ claims to be God were an addition of the early church; Christ never claimed to be God.  However, even the most strident critics of the Bible peg Mark’s gospel as the first one written.  Therefore it is more convincing to use Mark’s gospel to show that even with a “primitive Christology,” Christ claims to be God.  Myth or creative writing is not responsible for the deity of Christ.  For the same reasons it is good to use Mark’s version of Matthew’s parable of the landowner (Mark 12:1-9).

There are more clues: Jesus identified Himself using God’s name (John 8:58).   He received worship (John 20:28); He forgave sin (Matthew 9:2-3).   Yet the best clue for believing Christ is God is that He predicted (John 2:19) and did raised Himself from the dead (Luke 24:6).   Let’s kneel and worship Him as God, especially on Easter Sunday.  And every day.   

Matthew 21:28-41: Parable of the Landowner: What Does Jesus Teach About Israel?

“Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” Jesus in Matthew 21:40

“Because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger –they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.   They have turned their back to me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction.  But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it.”  The LORD from Jeremiah 32:32-33

“I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’; they will say, ‘You are my God!’”  Hosea 2:23

Jesus is in the temple teaching the people but He has been cornered by the chief priests and elders, who seek to destroy Him (Luke 19:47).   However, the crowds are hanging on every word as Jesus teaches in parables.   One of the parables is about an owner of a vineyard who went on a journey (v. 33).  This parable teaches on two topics worth discussing: 1) what does Jesus teach on Israel? 2) what does Jesus teach about Himself?  Here we will discuss the first topic.

Jesus continues:  And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce.  And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another and stoned a third.   When the owner sent a larger group of slaves in response, the vine-growers did the same thing (vv. 33-34). 

Most of the time Jesus uses fictional events in order to make a point in His parables.   But here Jesus is speaking of actual historical events, with the owner symbolizing God and the vine-growers symbolizing Israel.  The actual events of which Jesus is speaking can be traced throughout the Old Testament.  One passage in particular is from 2 Chronicles.

In 2 Chronicles 36:14-16 we read that the people and the priests of Israel were engaged in idolatry.   Out of compassion the Lord “sent word to them again and again by His messengers.”  But Israel “continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of God arose against His people, until there was no remedy.”   God removed His divine hand of protection and Jerusalem, the temple and many people were destroyed.  Those who survived were led away into captivity to Babylon. 

Jesus continues His parable.   Next the landowner sends his son thinking, they will respect my son (v.37).  Instead the vine-growers, wanting the son’s inheritance, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him (v.39).    When Jesus asks what the owner will do to the vine-growers, the chief priests and elders say, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons” (v. 41).

Without realizing it, the chief priests and elders have just articulated the new covenant.  Even though salvation is from the Jews, Jesus says (John 4:22), the vineyard will be rented out to new tenants, the Gentiles.  With the resurrection of Jesus, salvation is now available to the Gentiles as well; a people who are producing fruit (Matthew 21:43). 

Paul uses a different analogy to communicate the same truth, that of an olive tree.  Branches were broken off of the cultivated olive tree so that branches from the wild olive tree may be grafted in (see Romans 11:17).  For the non-Jewish world, this is great news! But in case we Gentiles become complacent, Paul warns us in Romans 11:20-21: “Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of disbelief], He will not spare you either.”

I believe the Lord is not finished with the Jewish people.   However, their status as God’s chosen people has been taken from them and given to others.  Hopefully jealousy of the believing Gentiles will drive the Jews to their Messiah (Romans 11:11).  Paul continues and says the day is coming when all of Israel will receive her Messiah!  (Romans 11:26) 

Matthew 21:28-32: The Parable of the Two Sons

“The tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you,” Jesus in Matthew 21:31.

“It was deep! I liked the parts where some character was once this, but he ended up being that.  Like he’d be dissing Jesus, and then he ends up being a saint.  That was cool.”   (Musician Lil Wayne on reading the Bible for the first time while serving in prison last year, as reported by World Magazine, February 12, 2011.)

“Those who say that they believe in God and yet neither love nor fear him, do not in fact believe in him but in those who have taught them that God exists.  Those who believe that they believe in God, but without any passion in their heart, any anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, without an element of despair even in their consolation, believe only in the God-idea, not in God.” (Miguel de Unamuno, quoted by Philip Yancy in Reaching for the Invisible God)

It is Tuesday.   Jesus is teaching in the temple well aware of the cross and tomb that patiently wait for Him on Friday.  Still the people hang on every word (Luke 19:48).   The chief priests and scribes are trying to destroy Him (Luke 19:47).  Yet Jesus thwarts them when they question His authority (Matthew 21:23).  And He follows that up with a parable.

This parable of the Two Sons is found only in Matthew’s gospel.   Given Matthew’s tendency to lay out his gospel topically, its reasonable that Matthew would put this parable at this location.   This parable of the Two Sons keeps with the current themes of John the Baptist, Jesus’ teachings in parables and the faithlessness of the chief priests. 

In the parable when both sons are told by their father to “Go work today in the vineyard,” (v. 28), the first son said, “I will not,” but afterward he regretted it and went (v.29).   The second son answered, “I will, sir” but he did not go (v. 30).   Jesus then asks His challengers, “Which of the two did the will of his father?”  They said, “The first.” (v.31)

At this point, Jesus had them fully engaged.  And here He brings the hammer down in one of the most stunning rebukes this side of Nathan’s rebuke of David: “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you”(v.31).  Imagine hearing this being said to you if you are a chief priest and elder of the people!   After all, you are the gate keeper of the Law given to Moses at Mt. Sinai. The Oracles of God have been entrusted to you.  For this your salvation is guaranteed, right? Yet this upstart, this man of no formal education, has publicly rebuked us and questioned our right-standing with God!  Any desire the chief priests have to destroy Jesus is now only compounded.

Jesus explains: “For John came to you in the way of the righteous and you did not believe him” (v. 32). The chief priests came to John at the River Jordan (Matthew 3:6-7).  But they came for the wrong reasons.   They wanted to be part of the “next cool thing” in religion and they followed the crowd out into the desert.  They were even willing to receive John’s baptism.  Maybe they felt threatened by John and came to infiltrate his movement.  Either way, they did not come to John in order to repent and they did not believe him.  But many tax gatherers and prostitutes did believe John (v. 32).

Matthew himself was one such tax gatherer.   For his life was radically changed by the call of Christ.   Before Christ’s call, Matthew was a traitor to his own Jewish people and extorted taxes from them on behalf of the occupying Roman army.  Yet when told by Jesus to “Follow Me,” he left everything behind and followed Him (Luke 5:28).   Matthew is a classic example of the first son in this parable; the chief priests and elders are so hard-hearted, so dense, they didn’t even feel remorse (v. 32) for their lack of belief and they didn’t realize they are the second son in this parable.

God is the God of second-chances; He is the God of failures, miscreants, traitors, tax-gatherers and prostitutes.  He is the God of those who repent, those who realize they have no hope outside of the mercy of God.   Yet God turns away those who play the religious game on their own terms by their own rules without any directives from God.  May we turn to God while it is still day (John 9:4).     May we dismiss the lie that our own efforts can reach the infinite holiness of God.

Matthew 21:23-27; Cross-Examining God

“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”  Jesus in Matthew 21:27

The created are asking the Creator about his credentials.  The pot is asking the Potter for his I.D.  No reference is made to the miracles.  No question is raised about his teaching.  They want to know about his ordination.  Did he come out of the right seminary?  Does he have the proper credentials?  Incredible.  Cross-examining God.  (Max Lucado, And the Angels Were Silent, p. 89)

“You can’t handle the truth!”  (Colonel Nathan R. Jessep in a “Few Good Men”)

It is Tuesday of Holy Week.  Jesus has returned to the temple.  He is “moving about the temple” (Mark 11:27) and “preaching the gospel” (Luke 20:1).   The people are “hanging upon His words” (Luke 19:48).   For a brief shining moment, all is well.  After the cleansing (see Matthew 21:12-13), the temple is now functioning as it should – the place where God says, “they shall be My people and I will be their God,” (Jeremiah 32:38). 

Then the darkness returns.

The chief priests and elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching (v. 23).  Their intent was to “destroy Him” (Luke 19:47). Perhaps some of the elders of the people were part of a hit squad.  The moment they found Jesus alone they would kill Him.   Perhaps the chief priests were listening to every word, trying to find a flaw in His teaching upon which they could pounce.   But Jesus was constantly teaching and the crowds were amazed for He taught “as one having authority, and not as their scribes,” (Matthew 7:29).

Since their efforts to destroy Jesus were unsuccessful (see Luke 19:48), they had to settle for trying to trap Him with a question: “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (v.23)

 

Jesus, as a master teacher, answers their question with a question of His own; He conditions His response on whether or not they can indentify John’s authority:  “The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” (v. 25).  Jesus was referencing the teaching of John, which involved baptism.   Matthew 3:5-6 says “Jerusalem was going out to [John], and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.”  And John was no friend of the religious leaders of Israel, calling them “a brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7).  

The chief priests were now between a rock and a hard place.  For if they answered Jesus’ question with, “from heaven,” Jesus will say to them, “they why did you not believe him?”  (v.25)  For John himself said of Jesus, “Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29).  If they said, ‘from men,’ then the people would stone them (Luke 20:6) “for they all hold John to be a prophet,” (v.26).  

Jesus has turned the tables in the temple once again; those that wanted to kill Jesus now feared being killed themselves.    Realizing their dilemma, they answered Jesus with stunning intellectual acumen, “We do not know.”  To which Jesus says, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things” (v.27).

Jesus certainly won this spar but it seems like He missed a perfect opportunity to preach the gospel to these religious leaders of Israel.  But Jesus is dealing with the withered fig tree.  The religious leaders of Israel had no fruit; they had no faith.  Except in themselves.   Now “the axe has been laid” and “the winnowing fork is in His hand” (Matthew 3:10,12).  Our God is an awesome God.   Friday looms large.   But Sunday is coming…