Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’” Matthew 21:23 NABRE
Jesus tells a parable about a vineyard owner who rents his vineyard to tenets who brutalize and kill those sent to collect payment, including the vineyard owner’s son. God is the vineyard owner and Jesus is the son. To be clear about His meaning Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 which reflects the joy which Israel will experience at the final redemption, when Israel will return to its former glory, reviving its noble traditions and institutions. Scholars indicate several ways the psalm is understood. It is a psalm written by David, perhaps about Himself, rejected by his family and left to watch the sheep, he eventually becomes the cornerstone of the of the royal dynasty, from who the Messiah is to come. It is also seen as Israel, a nation that brings order and a monotheistic view, making it the cornerstone of the world, saving all nations.
Jesus is declaring He is the cornerstone to a new kingdom, the kingdom of God, available to all people. Jesus brings together the Hebrew people and the Gentiles, declaring that God is the God of all and that anyone who chooses God can enter the kingdom of God. We understand God sending Jesus to be the cornerstone of a new movement, deconstructing the temple system, declaring direct access to God, knowledge of God, and prayer. Hearing Jesus’ call Himself the cornerstone has made the religious leaders irate, they eventually declare Jesus blasphemous. Jesus knows connecting to such an important passage is problem creating, and He does it anyway. Sometimes what is right is also most difficult.
Do you challenge yourself to do the difficult? Do you see Jesus as the cornerstone?
Hearing Jesus' call Himself the cornerstone makes the religious leaders irate, declaring Jesus blasphemous. Jesus knows connecting to such an important message is problem creating, and He does it anyway. Sometimes what is right is also most difficult. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #cornerstone #Christ #Matthew #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways