Cornerstone

Author: Joseph

Date: January 21, 2024

A lengthy parable is told by Yeshua regarding a landowner who rents out his vineyard. The vine-growers time after time refuse the messengers of the landowner and eventually kill the landowner’s son in an attempt to steal his inheritance. The parable is complete when the chief priests and elders answer Yeshua’s question as to what they think the landowner will do when he comes to the vineyard. They describe how the landowner will kill the vine-growers and rent his vineyard to others who will give what is rightly due to the landowner and care properly for his vineyard. The act of killing the landowner’s son did not cause the inheritance to be taken away from the landowner, rather it only removed the evil vine-growers. They not only lost their position in the landowner’s vineyard, but they also lost their lives.

Yeshua describes the landowner’s son as the rejected stone that became the chief cornerstone. It was the son’s rejection and death that allowed the vineyard to be established as it should have properly been taken care of. The evil vine-growers are removed and are replaced with those who serve diligently and loyally to the landowner. The newly established vineyard is built upon this cornerstone, that is, the death of the son of the landowner.

The judgment upon the vine-growers who rejected the messengers and killed the son of the vineyard is clear when Yeshua states, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing the fruit of it” (Matthew 21:43). The chief priests and elders of Israel were responsible for caring for God’s people, His vineyard, bearing the fruits of righteousness through their faith and obedience to God. But they did not conduct themselves in the manner they should have been. Instead, they sought to take the kingdom of God by force for themselves, becoming a hindrance for anyone else to bear good fruit because of their hypocrisy and greed. As evidenced by the temple having an open marketplace in it when Yeshua entered Jerusalem, the leaders of Israel were not even interested in bearing good fruit themselves. Rather, they abused their positions for personal gain and for favoritism among men. The kingdom of God would be given to others who pursued the will of God, just as the vineyard in the parable was given to those who would tend it well according to the landowner’s will.

"...the way it was supposed to be: following the will of God and bearing good fruit."

Yeshua, the cornerstone, would establish the kingdom of God the way it was supposed to be: following the will of God and bearing good fruit. And Yeshua warned the chief priests and elders saying, “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces…” (Matthew 21:44), meaning that if anyone opposes the cornerstone and falls upon it in an attempt to harm it, instead they will be broken to pieces. They themselves that wish to do harm to it will be broken by it. And similarly, “on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust” (Matthew 21:44). This meaning that whomever the cornerstone falls upon, in an act of judgment, they will be completely destroyed, unable to withstand the weight of their judgment. The cornerstone, Yeshua, cannot be opposed successfully and also cannot be resisted when enacting judgment upon whom He wishes. Those who wish to harm Him fail and those whom He judges are judged completely.

Upon hearing this from Yeshua, understanding that He was stating the kingdom of God would be taken from them, they sought to seize Him and kill him, but they feared the people because the people “considered Him to be a prophet” (Matthew 21:46). What a pathetic state to have been in. Unable to act righteously because of their own evil, having the kingdom of God taken away from them, and then also unable to even carry out their evil will because of their fear of men. They were truly evil leaders, deceived by their own desires.

As Yeshua stated, the kingdom of God was taken away from them and God did choose a new people to produce its fruit: those who believe in the Son and obey Him. Are you giving what rightfully belongs to God and bearing good fruit? Do you obey the will of God and seek to do, with diligence, what He asks of you? Can you provide the fruit in its season when He comes to collect it? Just as those from whom the kingdom of God was taken away from, many will claim to be working in the vineyard, but not doing the will of God, nor bearing the fruit that is due to Him. Reflect on who you are in the parable. Are you the vineyard worker who despises the Son and seeks to have the kingdom for himself? Or, are you the newly hired vineyard worker who gives to God what is rightfully His and pursues the fruit of righteousness?

Remember that whomever the cornerstone falls upon will be scattered like dust. Do not take lightly that God will bring judgment upon the servant who acts wickedly and does not do the will of the God and give what is due to Him.

Matthew 21:33-46

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org