The Rejected Stone.

 As the religious leaders listened to his teachings, watched the many miracles he performed, watched how as he entered Jerusalem he was crowned king; they thought he was a threat to them. Jesus clearly applied this parable to them, as he emphasised throughout his ministry on earth that the outcasts of society could enter his kingdom, if they became obedient to his will and turn from their evil ways.

Matthew 21:33-45. "There was a certain landowner" Jesus said that planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And  he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying. They will respect my son. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir, come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance. "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

"Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?"

"They said to him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vindressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

The Stone to which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:22,23)

Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. "And whoever falls, on this stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."

Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that he  was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes because they took Him for a prophet.

So God has chosen a people from the world to be trained and educated by Christ. The vineyard of the Lord of Host is the house of Israel. Isaiah 5:1,2,7.  Upon these people God had bestowed great privileges, blessing them abundantly. In this parable the landowner here represented is God, the vineyard is Israel; the vinedressers are the religious leaders; the servants are the prophets (including John the Baptist); and the son is Jesus. the vinedressers have attempted to usurp authority of the ovner and make the property their own. This is rebellion against God; However to do this they kill God's Son whose name was Jesus, the one who told his followers that the leaders would kill him. In rejecting Jesus they rejected God. (Acts 4:11,12)