Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 21:43

"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." — Matthew 21:43 (ASV)

Jesus explains further the meaning of the parable. Up to this time the Jewish religious leaders were the principal means by which God exercised his reign over his people. But the leaders failed so badly in handling God’s “vineyard” and rejecting God’s Son that God was planning to give the responsibility to another people who would produce the kingdom’s fruit (cf. 7:16–20). Strictly speaking, this verse does not speak of transferring the locus of the people of God from Jews to Gentiles, though it may hint at this; instead, it speaks of the ending of the role the Jewish religious leaders played in mediating God’s authority.

A “capstone,” if too low, could be tripped over by an unwary person, sending him over the parapet; if too insecurely fastened, leaning against it could dislodge it and send it crashing onto the head of some passerby. Jesus probably alludes to both Isa 8:14–15 and Da 2:35. This despised stone (v.42) is not only chosen by God and promoted to the premier place, it is also dangerous.