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The Stone The Builders Rejected Introduction: We know Jesus was rejected by His people. This despite His miracles, ability to read the minds of people, the various proofs given as to His deity, the scriptures foretelling of the coming Messiah. Yet He came to His own and they received Him not. Even His rejected was foretold in the Old Testament and was used in the New Testament as proof of Jesus being the Messiah, the Christ. Psalm 118.22-23 is repeated in Matthew 21.33-45; Mark 12.1-12; Luke 20.9-19; Acts 4.10; Romans 9.31-33, and 1 Peter 2.7-8. I) Psalm 118.22-23 A) This is a song of praise to God from David 1. David has been rejected by King Saul. 2. This did not stop David from being the next king of Israel, because God had selected him, a humble herdsman to serve as King. 3. Later on the Jews saw this as a wonderful thing God had done for David was a great king. B) Psalm 118 is speaking of Christ, here we have a type and an anti-type. 1. The Jews rejected Christ 2. God made the rejected Christ, the chief corner stone, the very foundation of the building, Isaiah 28.16. C) Why the rejection? 1. Saul's rejection of David a. Saul was jealous of David's popularity. While Saul had his thousands praising him, David has tens of thousands praising him. 1 Samuel 18.5-7 2. Saul had little regard for God's will. a. His offering of a sacrifice in 1 Samuel 13. b. Not utterly destroying the Amalikites in 1 Samuel 15. c. Later on he consulted a witch, 1 Samuel 28. d. He did not care that God had anointed David to be the next king of Israel. 3. David on the other hand had a deep respect for God. He spared Saul's life because God had made Saul King of Israel. D) Why was Jesus rejected? 1. Jewish concepts of the kingdom and Messiah a. They expected and demanded a political kingdom to overthrow Rome b. They wanted a great military leader to re-establish the physical kingdom of Israel. 2. Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom, John 18.36 a. Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God, that which is God's (spiritual). b. Jesus was a suffering servant instead of a military leader. II) New Testament Applications A) The evil servants, Matthew 21.33-46 1. They rejected the master's servants and then his son, thereby rejecting the authority of the master. 2. Through violence and rebellion they thought they could overcome the master's will 3. They saw the landowner, the master, as a rival to their authority and power. B) Reaction to the apostles, Acts 4.5-11 1. The Jewish leaders rejected the miracles and teachings of the apostles. 2. Jewish authorities persecuted the apostles, thereby, rejected the Christ. 3. They saw the apostles as rivals instead of seeing the spiritual blessings they saw their own material wealth in jeopardy. C) Romans 9.32-33 1. The Jews rejected the message of salvation of faith in Christ Jesus. 2. They tried to establish their own system of righteousness by the Law of Moses. 3. They saw Paul and salvation by faith in Jesus as rivals to the Law of Moses. D) God's use of the rejected stone, 1 Peter 2.6-8 1. Peter writes about the persecution they were facing and would face in the future. 2. Peter reminds the Christians of Psalm 118.22-23; God used the rejected stone for His purpose, Isaiah 28.16-20. 3. Jesus is the precious stone, no reasons to be ashamed, Romans 1.16. III) This Precious Stone Is Also A Stumbling Block To Some A) Those whose values are different from God's values: materialism, lust of the flesh, humanism, selfishness, etc. will have problems with the Christ. B) The conflict of values in three areas 1. Morality verses sensuality and licentiousness. 2. Heavenly hope verses worldliness and humanism 3. Spiritual kingdom verses the social gospel and millennialism. C) The rejected rock will crush those with evil values 1. The harvest application -- like a mill stone grinding grain, or crushing grapes. 2. We will either building our lives on Jesus or be crushed by Him. Conclusion: The new morality represents perverted values in the realm of morals. Social gospel represents perverted values in the area of the church's mission. Millennialism represents perverted values as the nature of the kingdom. Solutions: instilling Biblical values in our homes, schools, and church. Strong teaching on who Jesus is, His mission, His will. |