43 “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.” (Matthew 21:43–46 (ESV)
Following His initial question to the religious leaders (Matt. 21:40-42), Jesus brings the full weight of the parables’ application to bear. It was a statement of judgment, blessing and promised truth.
The judgment was the chief priests and the elders would lost the kingdom of God (Matt. 21:23). They would experience the reality of the Lord’s judgment. Their self-righteousness would be seen for what it was; filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
The blessing was the Lord would give the kingdom to a people producing fruits of true conversion (Gal. 5:16-26). These kingdom citizens would not only be Jews but also Gentiles. In other words, the Lord would create the church (Eph. 2:11-22).
The promise was the kingdom would not be moved or overthrown by the self-righteousness of a man-made works-based salvation. The kingdom would be a like a gigantic stone.
“Christ is “a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over” to unbelievers (Isa. 8:14; 1 Pet. 2:9). And the prophet Daniel pictured him as a great stone “cut from a mountain by no human hand,” which falls on the kingdoms of the world and crushes them (Dan. 2:44–45). Whether a ceramic vessel “falls on” a rock, or the rock “falls” on the vessel, the result is the same. The saying suggests that both enmity and apathy are wrong responses to Christ, and those guilty of either are in danger of judgment,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Matthew recorded the enmity of the religious leaders towards Jesus. They understood He was speaking about them. Their wanted to arrest Jesus. Being cowards, they refrained because they were afraid of the people who regarded Jesus a prophet of God.
“In fulfillment of Psalm 118:22, the rejected Son is the “cornerstone” — the stone at the corner that joins two walls together. By combining the prophecies of Isaiah 8:14 and Daniel 2:34, 44, Jesus claims to be, as the founder of God’s kingdom on earth, the Lord over all earthly kingdoms. As the “stone,” He will crush all opposition to the kingdom of God. (Matt. 21:42–44),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Psalm 2 (ESV) – “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
Soli deo Gloria!
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