Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus asked the chief priests and the elders of Jerusalem, “Did you 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 marvelous 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 in chapter twenty-one and verse forty-five of his book, Matthew shares how the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem, “perceived that he spoke of them” where we read:
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables,
they perceived that he spoke of them.
The verse reads, “And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “the chief priests” or “the high priests who were comprised in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs” “and Pharisees” which means “a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “had heard” or “were endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, perceived and understood” “his parables” which refers to “Jesus' earthly stories with heavenly meanings”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” “listened to and understood” Jesus' “parables”.
The verse goes on to say, “... they perceived that he spoke of them.” Matthew continued with the words, “they perceived” which means “the chief priests and elders understood, knew, learned and were aware” “that he spoke” which means “that Jesus was talking, expressing and speaking” “of them” or “about the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem”. Matthew wrote how the “religious leaders” understood Jesus was talking about them in His “parables”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how these “religious leaders” understood Jesus was talking about them in His stories. The stories which included the “vineyard”, the “husbandmen”, the “householder”, the “servants” and the chief cornerstone were all directed toward the people who were overseeing God's Kingdom on earth. God desires every person to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and anyone who impedes others from relating to Him shall be removed and replaced with those who will lead people to Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Matthew tells what happened, “when they sought to lay hands on him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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