TEXT:

‘Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?”’ (Matthew 21:42).

After Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, He faced intense questioning by the chief priests, elders and scribes, who demanded to know whose authority He was acting under.

In response, Jesus taught the parable of the wicked vinedressers, who refused to give the owner of the vineyard any proceeds from the harvests and ended up murdering his son. When Jesus said the owner would take revenge on the vinedressers and give the vineyard to someone else, the people replied, “Certainly not!”

Then Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23, the Old Testament prophecy which is our text and this is the focus of Today’s Teaching. There are three points I want to highlight.

1. Revelation – ‘Have you never read in the scriptures?’

Psalm 118 was well known to the Jews, for they recited it verbatim at least six times a year, during holy festivals. For all their reciting, they did not realise it was prophetic and Jesus was the fulfilment of it.

The Bible is more than an historical record, because it reveals the future. The Apostle John was told to, ‘Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this’ (Revelation 1:19).

Too many Christians struggle with the Old Testament, wondering if it is the Word of God. They think it does not reflect the God of the New Testament, but Jesus had absolute confidence in the Old Testament scriptures.

• He taught it as the truth – ‘Your Word is truth’ (John 17:17)

Jesus referred to Biblical events as fact that many think are just fictional illustrations. He taught about Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Solomon’s wisdom, Jonah and the whale, and several of the prophets.

• He used it to fight against temptation – ‘Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:3-4)

Jesus resisted the devil by saying, “It is written!” He really meant, “This is God’s way and that’s the way I am going to go!” We can do the same and such action will become the way of escape God promised for us, so we can overcome temptation too.¹

• He explained to His disciples what God’s Word really meant

He spoke in parables to the crowds but explained what they meant to His disciples. The Sermon on the Mount is a classic example of Jesus taking Old Testament scriptures (which the Jews had devalued over time), and making them clearly understood.

Do not be embarrassed by the Bible’s dogmatic stand on moral issues, or apologise for its forthrightness. Preach it as it is, the Word of God!

• He showed His disciples the Old Testament patterns and prophecies that referred to Himself – ‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me’ (John 5:39)

To the two discouraged disciples walking along the road to Emmaus, Jesus showed them the scriptures that predicted Messiah’s death, burial and resurrection.² They did not realise that it was Messiah who was talking to them!

It’s relatively easy for us to see Jesus in the gospels, but the early Christians only had the Old Testament. Can you see Jesus there?

2. Rejection – ‘Which the builders rejected’

The Bible prophecy, ‘He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him’ (Isaiah 53:3) referred to Jesus, as Philip made clear to the Ethiopian Chancellor who was reading from the same chapter.³

When we read about the wonderful things Jesus did, why wouldn’t anyone want Him in their life? He is truthful, faithful, powerful and righteous, a friend who will stay closer to you than a brother.

We leave Jesus out of our building plans at our peril.⁴ Acceptance of His teaching becomes a rock foundation, but rejection means it’s just sand. We all know which building will stand the test of time.

Soon it will be Easter and we will remember when Pilate asked the baying crowd what they wanted to do with Jesus.⁵ “Away with Him!” they screamed, and have reaped the consequences of that rejection ever since. Don’t make the same mistake as they did, accept Him as your Saviour and Lord.

3. Position – ‘Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing’

Most buildings have four cornerstones but only one is the chief. It’s laid first and all the others have to line up with it. Jesus is more than the chief cornerstone; He is the foundation stone and the capstone. He is the Alpha and Omega of my faith, the first and the last. He started my new life, He shapes it and will finish it.⁶ He does this both individually and collectively.

Finally, where will you end up in relation to the chief cornerstone? ‘And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder’ (Matthew 21:44).

If you fall on it in humility, you will be saved, but if it falls on you in judgment, there is no hope.

Don’t be like the foolish man who builds his house on the sand and ignores the words of Jesus. Fall on the rock for mercy, then build on the rock for security, and Jesus will see you safely through every storm of life, however severe it may be!

Endnotes:

¹ 1 Corinthians 10:13              ² Luke 24:13-27           ³ Acts 8:26-40              Matthew 7:24-27

⁵ John 19:14-15                       ⁶ Philippians 1:6