Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.’” Matthew 21:42
Read Matthew 21.
I picture the scene when the two disciples went to the stranger’s house, untied the donkey, and started off. All they were to say if asked was, “The Lord needs it.” I can imagine their voice cracked with nervousness, almost like a teenage boy whose voice is changing. But, there was no resistance. The master had no problem with his very best donkey, who had never been ridden before, being used by the Lord Himself. Some might say that Jesus encouraged his disciples to steal, but doesn’t it all belong to the Lord anyway? He was only borrowing what was already His.
On the foal of a donkey, Jesus road into Jerusalem in a kingly processional. This was identical to the processional when David had anointed his son, Solomon, as king, and he rode into town triumphantly on a donkey to claim his rightful role as king. Similarly, Jesus entered the town, riding as a King, and hailed by the masses who laid their coats and palm branches on the roadway, kind of like rolling out the red carpet. They waved palm branches and shouted praises to Him! “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Soon, they would be turning against Jesus just as passionately as they were praising Him today.
I can imagine the excitement. Just days ago, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead! His fame had spread rapidly at that point. However, many of the people expected Jesus to be a triumphant King who would lead them victoriously against the tyrannical rule of the Romans. Many of these followers did not understand what all of this meant, and they would be disillusioned in a matter of days. Soon, they would be turning against Jesus just as passionately as they were praising Him today.
Jesus was disgusted by the utter disrespect for the Lord’s house, and He was livid!
The very first act of Jesus as He entered the city was to do some cleaning of the temple. As this was the week of Passover, people would be traveling into town from all over the nation to participate in the Passover festivities in Jerusalem. However, many vendors used this as an opportunity to take advantage of and cheat people, right in the middle of the Lord’s house! They were selling animals for sacrifices as well as changing currency for the out-of-towners. Jesus was disgusted by the utter disrespect for the Lord’s house, and He was livid! He went into a tirade and began turning over their tables and driving these vendors out of the temple. He was not going to tolerate such disregard for the sacredness and reverence that was expected in the temple. Jesus declared that “My house shall be called a House of Prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
My house shall be called a House of Prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves!
Immediately, the blind and the lame began filling the temple, and Jesus healed everyone. The leaders became indignant as they heard the children even declaring the praises of Christ. I can imagine they were afraid that the children were being brainwashed, but Jesus declared that Scripture says, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.” Matthew 21:16 NIV
The next day, as Jesus was traveling with His disciples, he noticed a fig tree that had no fruit, but He was hungry. I always found His reaction to be curious to me. Jesus cursed the tree and declared that it will never bear fruit again. However, He was using this as a teaching moment for His disciples. He only had days to finish getting them ready for their new role in building the church, and faith was one of the lessons they needed to learn. Jesus taught them that they would be able to do even greater things than this. They would be able to move mountains if they have faith. Whatever they ask in faith will be done. No doubts were to encumber their prayers!
Jesus taught them that they would be able to do even greater things than this.
Jesus had another opportunity to outsmart the religious “big wigs,” and I love it again! He always knows how to get their goats! They demanded that He reveal His source of power and authority, and He says He will only answer if they can name the source of John the Baptist’s authority. He turned their trap back on them! They would be in trouble regardless of how they answered, so all they could say is, “We don’t know.” Can you imagine? Therefore, Jesus refused to answer their questions. Foiled again!
The Father does not value such pretense and disobedience.
Jesus then told a story that would really make the Pharisees angry. This was about them! He told the story of a man with two sons. He asked one son to go into the field to work, but the son said he would not. But, then he ended up doing it. The second son, however, promised to go into the field and work, but he didn’t go. Who was the obedient one? Was it the one who said all the right things but did squat? Or, is it the one who backed up his respect with action. The Pharisees were all talk, just like second son, but the Father does not value such pretense and disobedience.
The first son represents all the ones who may surprise us someday when they make it into heaven. They may not look the part, but they are the ones who eventually do obey God. Jesus said that the prostitutes and the tax collectors would make it into heaven before the Pharisees did. How revolutionary! May that speak volumes to us about those in whom God delights!
Jesus said that the prostitutes and the tax collectors would make it into heaven before the Pharisees did.
Jesus concluded by telling another parable about a wealthy landowner who leased his land and wine-press to a group of tenant farmers to tend the vineyard. Later, when it was time for the landowner to claim his portion of the crops as payment, every single servant he sent to collect was beaten by the farmers and left for dead. The landowner then decided that if he were to send his only son to collect his share, they would surely respect his son! However, they beat his son to death, thinking that they would claim the vineyard for themselves.
He proclaimed that the Kingdom would be taken away from them and given to those who will actually bear fruit.
Jesus then proclaimed that the “stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” In other words, while the religious leaders were rejecting Jesus, He was actually the foundation to the Kingdom of Heaven. He proclaimed that the Kingdom would be taken away from them and given to those who will actually bear fruit. When they realized that Jesus was talking specifically about them, they were determined to arrest Him. Their time was coming!
