Matthew 21:33-22:14

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:43–44, NKJV)

The chief priests and Pharisees did not realize what was happening until it was too late. Their hearts were hard, their necks were stiff, and they would soon be cut off. Jesus told them a parable about a landowner who planted a vineyard and leased it out to sharecroppers. When harvest time came, he sent servants to collect his portion of the fruit, but they beat and killed the servants sent to them. So the landowner sent his only son, thinking that they would respect him. But the sharecroppers killed him so they could seize his inheritance. Jesus then asked them, “What will the owner do when he comes to his vineyard?”

They responded, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

They answered correctly, but they did not realize that the parable was about them. They pronounced the judgment not knowing that they were judging themselves! They had been the keepers of the vineyard that God had planted. But they refused to give Him His share of the fruit. They had killed the prophets sent to them, and they were about to kill God’s Son. They wanted the vineyard for themselves, but soon it would be taken away from them. Their city would be destroyed, the temple burned, and they would be scattered throughout the world. Jesus came as the Rock and Chief Cornerstone, but the builders rejected Him. They could have fallen on Him and been broken of their pride, hypocrisy, envy, and self-will. Instead, they stiffened their necks and hardened their hearts. Now the Rock would fall on them and grind them to powder!

We must all be careful how we hear. The one who has will be given more, but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. It is possible to deceive ourselves. We must fall upon Christ and be broken of our sins. That is the only way to be saved and to inherit the kingdom. That is why Christ was born over two thousand years ago. He is the Chief Cornerstone. Most of the builders rejected Him, but we must make sure that we receive Him. We must be broken of our sinful habits and ask Him to bind us up and use us for His glory. Are you willing?