Mat 21:42-44 | TNotes | STEP | 21:42 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 ) and to the religious leaders’ rejection of him.

a21:42►

b21:43►

c21:43►

dRom 9–11►

eMatt 3:8►

f7:15-20►

g12:33►

h13:8►

i26►

j21:44►

kDan 2:34-35►

l44-45►

‏ Matthew 21:42-44

21:42 ^a 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 ^b) and to the religious leaders’ rejection of him.
21:43 ^c 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 ^d).

• 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 ^e; 7:15-20 ^f; 12:33 ^g; 13:8 ^h, 26 ⁱ).
21:44 ^j 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 ^k, 44-45 ^l).