Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 1.pdf/344



HE Jewish priests perceived that Jesus had spoken this parable against them. It described their conduct in destroying the truths of the word of God by their traditions; hence the Lord, in Matt. xxi. 43, where the same parable occurs, sums up the spirit of it in reference to them, by saying, "Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." The destroying of the wicked husbandmen, and letting the vineyard to others, shews that the church of God would depart from the Jews, who were faithless to the truth, and would be given to others who would render up the fruits thereof. This was positively the case, for the Jewish Church, at the coming of the Lord, in the flesh, came to its end and consummation—it passed through its judgment, and was succeeded by the Christian. The Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, was rejected by the Jewish priests, these builders of traditions and false doctrines. He is, therefore, denoted by the stone that was rejected by the builders, but which has become the head of the corner. It is then said, in reference to Jesus, as this chief corner stone, "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

In what sense, then, is Jesus the chief corner stone? He is the Truth itself: in all creation there is no other Truth! from Him the heaven of angels, the