Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Saturday, August 19, 2006 9:28:35 AM
Forgotten words refer to words of Jesus Christ that are ignored by many who profess His Name.
Consider these words from the one identified as the stone which the builders rejected, but has become the chief corner stone…
"Hear another parable. There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons."
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’? [quote from Psalm 118]
"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. [Matthew 21]
The parable of the vinedresser is one of those, which leaves no doubt as to its meaning, since Christ gives the explanation. "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it." From the parable the vinedressers are associated with the Old Covenant nation of Israel. Matthew 23 confirms:
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’" Christ again quotes from Psalm 118 referring to the new order that He came to institute in His kingdom.
Messiah was expected by many to conquer as King David and reign over an extended earthly kingdom. When the people wanted to make Him their king after He fed them, He withdrew from them. [John 6:15] They finally rejected Him because He preached a kingdom of peace and righteousness rather than a material, physical kingdom. His words to Pilate are clear, "My kingdom is not of this world." [John 18:36]