rejected (Mt 21:33-46)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Psalm 145; Matthew 21:33-46


"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits."
(Matthew 21:43)


Jesus turns up the intensity some more with a second parable told against the chief priests in the temple. They are the tenants working in the master's vineyard who beat and kill first the master's servants sent to get his fruit, and then the master's son.

Jesus quotes from Psalm 118 (from the section which the crowds quoted when he came into Jerusalem on a donkey - in fact, "save us, we pray" [ESV, v. 25] is Hosanna in Hebrew): "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." This psalm was viewed as a messianic text, or at least pointing to a victorious, vindicated king who enters the Jerusalem. Jesus is referring to their rejection of him, like the tenants killing the master's son, and to his ultimate vindication and victory.

"Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits" (v. 43). As we heard in the parables back in chapter 13, there will be a harvest. The master will have his harvest. These priests have shown both their rejection of John the Baptist, who declared to the Saducees (the chief priests) "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (ch. 3), and of Jesus.

By receiving Jesus as the King, by honoring him as the Son, and by following him, we can and will bear good fruit for his kingdom. In this way we build our lives on the rock, the cornerstone, rather then rejecting it and being broken by it.

Read, or re-read, or pray through meditatively, Psalm 145 with this great and good King in mind...