Matthew 21:33-46
Summary for Matt 21:33-46: 21:33-46 a In this story Jesus draws on Isa 5:1-7 b. The people of Israel who rejected God’s Messiah forfeited the privilege of being God’s people. The Christian community, comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, has now been called to be the people of God (cp. Rom 9:4-8 c; 11:1-12 d).Summary for Matt 21:34-35: 21:34-35 e sent his servants: The prophets had spoken God’s word to Israel. The tenant farmers represented the leaders of Israel, whom Jesus held responsible for the deaths of God’s prophets (23:29-37 f).
21:37 g Finally: God’s revelation climaxed in Jesus (see 13:16-17 h; Heb 1:1-2 i).
21:40 j When the owner of the vineyard returns refers to the Lord’s coming in judgment (see 16:27 k; 24:1-36 l).
21:41 m The Jewish religious leaders pronounced their own condemnation.
21:42 n The cornerstone was either the first stone of the foundation or the capstone (as of an arch), the last to be laid. The very stone that the builders rejected as unworthy of use was, in fact, the most important. Jesus was referring to his own role in the Kingdom of God (21:43 o) and to the religious leaders’ rejection of him.
21:43 p taken away from you: Either the privilege of being God’s chosen nation no longer belonged to the Jews, or the religious leaders had lost the privilege of being leaders of God’s people (see Rom 9–11 q).
• The Christian community is a nation that will produce the proper fruit—that is, a life of trust and obedience that demonstrates the inauguration of the Kingdom (see Matt 3:8 r; 7:15-20 s; 12:33 t; 13:8 u, 26 v).
21:44 w Though in a short while the Messiah’s opponents would gain a brief victory, they would ultimately be broken and the stone would crush them because the cross became the gateway to Jesus’ vindication and triumph (see also Dan 2:34-35 x, 44-45 y).
21:45 z This explanation fits with Matthew’s theme of God’s judgment on the Jewish leaders who misled the people of Israel (see 23:13-15 aa).
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