This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.”—Matthew 21:42, 43.

(a) What did Jesus mean by his prophetic words recorded at Matthew 21:42, 43?

To show that Jewry likewise lost that privilege, Jesus Christ said to the Jewish chief priests and older men of influence: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matt. 21:23-43)

The end that came on ancient Jewry and Jerusalem for failing Jehovah God must come on Christendom. (Matt. 21:33-45)

Thus far Matthew had arranged his material according to his theme and effectiveness, but for his last ten chapters Mt 19-28 he follows the chronological arrangement.

The last eight chapters Mt 21-28 of his Gospel Matthew devotes almost entirely to just eight days of Jesus’ earthly sojourn.

21:33-46 679

21:42, 43 563

He warned that the city of Jerusalem and the entire nation would lose their favored status before God. (Matthew 21:23, 33-45; 22:1-7)

Eventually, their forgetfulness of Jehovah’s commands resulted in their being rejected by him.—Matthew 21:42, 43.

Although natural Israel was no longer God’s chosen people, these Jewish copyists were totally dedicated to the accurate preservation of God’s Word. (Matthew 21:42-44; 23:37, 38)

Matthew 21:28-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19; Isaiah 5:1-7.

Notably since the year 1922, anointed brothers of Jesus Christ, “the Son of David,” have been proclaiming earth wide that God’s Kingdom is at hand and that the champions of Satan’s oppressive rule face execution by God’s appointed Judge, Jesus Christ.​—Matthew 21:15, 42-44; Revelation 19:11, 19-21.

Witnessing all of this, one cannot help but repeat the words of Matthew 21:42: “From Jehovah this has come to be, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

It was into Jerusalem that Jesus rode on an ass to present himself as King to the Jews. (Matthew 21:1-11, Mt 21:42–22:13; John 7:14)

Next, he tells a parable about the cultivators who murdered the heir of the vineyard, and lets his foes know that he realizes what is in their minds.​—Matt. 21:1-46.

Because of “accepting glory from one another” they failed to exercise faith in the promised Messiah and lost out on the blessings of becoming part of God’s kingdom. (John 5:44; 12:43; Matt. 21:42, 43)

As for anyone upon whom it falls, it will pulverize him.”​—Matt. 21:33-44.

As for anyone upon whom it falls, it will pulverize him.”​—Matt. 21:42-44; see also Romans 9:32, 33.

It was customary for crowds to gather at the temple in Jerusalem, and Jesus did not miss the opportunity to teach there. (Matt. 21:23–23:39)

He aimed directly at these unfaithful religious leaders when speaking his parables of the two sons, the wicked cultivators and the marriage feast. (Matt. 21:23–22:14)

As such it had replaced the nation of Israel in God’s favor.​—Compare Matthew 21:33-43.

He applied to himself the prophecy of Psalm 118:22, saying: “The stone that the builders rejected is the one that has become the chief cornerstone.”—Matt. 21:42-44.

A rich meal is carefully prepared in the many parabolic illustrations Jesus used at Matthew chapters thirteen, twenty-one and twenty-two.

Matthew chapter 21 tells us that after Jesus cast the money changers out of the temple “the boys . . . were crying out in the temple,” quoting from Psalm 118 and saying, “Save, we pray, the Son of David!”

Because of their failing to bring forth the fruits of righteousness, Jesus said to them: “This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.”—Matt. 21:42, 43.

In fact, Jesus identifies himself as the rock or cornerstone that the builders rejected. (Matt. 21:42)

“Did you not read what was spoken to you by God?” and so forth.—Matt. 4:4; 21:42; 22:31.

Then he applied the lesson of it, saying to them: “The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matt. 21:33-43)

Having so abused the slaves of the great Vineyard Owner, Jehovah God, it is not surprising that they maliciously killed his Son, even as Jesus showed in one of his illustrations.—Matt. 21:33-46.

And a few days before such Israelites put Jesus Christ to death for the sake of their man-made traditions, he told them that they had rejected the promised descendant of King David, whom Jehovah God had anointed and sent, and then he added: “This is why I say to you, The kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.” (Matt. 15:1-9; 21:42, 43)

In fact, repeatedly we read of Jesus’ being the chief cornerstone but nowhere of Peter’s occupying a preferred position among the other apostolic foundations.—See Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:8-12; 1 Peter 2:4-8.