The Cornerstone Hated & Loved

In the parable of the wicked tenants, Jesus described how He would be rejected and murdered by the rulers of Israel, out of covetousness for His kingdom. He warned, in the parable, how God would destroy the leaders of Israel and give the kingdom to others who were obedient.

The response of His listeners that day was, God forbid!

Most of them said so in a mocking attitude, because they had a fool proof plan to get rid of Jesus, one that would absolve them of any moral guiltiness, and thus they thought they would escape the judgment Jesus told them of.

Their plan was to deny that Jesus was the blessed son, and to have a legal court adjudicate it, The parable, therefore, could never apply to them, or so they thought.

The high priest demanded to know whether Jesus was Messiah, God's Son, and when Jesus stated on His oath that He is, they all condemned Him to death for blasphemy.

They actually thought that their wicked leaders, evil court, and unjust judgment would nullify God's wrath against them for killing the Holy One of Israel!

Jesus responded to their scoffing by quoting David's prophecy that the builders would reject Christ as the stone, but He would be made the cornerstone anyway by God's power.

Thus, Jesus' parable and promise of their judgment wasn't anything new, for Messiah's rejection and exaltation had already been promised.

It turned out that they were not really "the builders" at all, because their building without Christ was demolished, while God built a spiritual temple of His people upon the Lord Jesus as the precious cornerstone!

They rejected Him as such, because they would not submit to His righteousness and truth.