Are you serious? Jesus taught in Matthew 21:42-46: “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.”
Because of disobedience, God’s glory and exclusive favor was removed from ethnic Israel and given to a wider community of followers of Christ, containing both Jews and Gentiles. God’s whole purpose with man extends out beyond the borders of Israel and stretches out to the whole world.
A careful analysis of this passage undoubtedly reveals the person and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is here described as “this Stone.” The reading succinctly outlines the contrast between God’s dealings with His elect and that of the wicked. It is Him alone who breaks the stubborn will of man in salvation and brings him into perfect union with an offended God. For those who reject God’s only provision for sin, they meet Him as judge and are crushed.
This discourse showed these unbelieving religious Jews that because of their wanton rejection of Himself, Christ would extend His mercy to the Gentiles. The Stone here is unquestionably Christ, and evidently how one sees Him determines one’s ultimate and final eternal destiny. This nation, which is carefully identified with the kingdom of God, is the Church. This is clearly seen in the Lord’s wording. It would be a nation that brings forth the spiritual fruits of kingdom of God. Admittance into this nation is conditional upon one’s approach to, and acceptance of, this figurative stone in the reading. Christ said, “whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
The near exclusive favor that natural Israel had formerly enjoyed would now be graciously widened to include the previously darkened Gentile people. How could any Christian miss the spiritual import of this teaching? The kingdom has been taken from Israel as a nation and given to another nation. Who is that nation? It is the largely Gentile New Testament Church comprised of all believers (both Jew and Gentile).
