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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 131 : The chief cornerstone

Text: Matthew 21
13 October 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 13 OCTOBER 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 21

Topic: The chief cornerstone

42 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’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

Matthew 21:42-46

A PROPHECY CITED

22 The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.

Psalm 118:22-23

1. The Lord Jesus cited a prophecy from the Book of Psalms

2. The prophecy of the chief cornerstone

a) The foundation stone
b) The honoured and chosen chief cornerstone

3. The Lord had chosen the chief cornerstone

4. But the builders rejected the chief cornerstone

5. Nevertheless, the Lord’s divine prophecy would be fulfilled

APPLICATION OF THIS PROPHECY

1. The kingdom of God

a) This would be taken from Israel
b) It would be given to others
c) The kingdom of God was meant to bear fruit

2. Those who reject the chief cornerstone

a) They will fall
b) They will be destroyed
c) They would be ground to powder

THE PERCEPTION OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND PHARISEES

1. They understood

a) The parable of the wicked vinedressers
b) The prophecy of the chief cornerstone
c) They knew the Lord Jesus had spoken against them

2. Their response

a) They wanted to arrest the Lord Jesus
b) But they did not dare to arrest Him openly
c) They feared the multitudes

3. The regard of the multitudes

a) They regarded the Lord Jesus as a prophet
b) They would not allow the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest the Lord Jesus

LESSONS THAT WE MAY LEARN

1. Be sure we never choose the path of wickedness

2. Be sure that we have the highest regard for the Lord Jesus

3. Emulate the example of the Lord Jesus

a) Committed
b) Courageous
c) Consistent