Mr. Al-Kadhi claims that Jesus (pbuh) spoke of the kingdom of God being taken away from the Jews and given to the rejected stone (which he interprets as being the descendants of Ishmael). He gives Matthew 21:33-46 as a reference. He then states that prophethood was transferred away from the nation of the Jews.

That is incorrect. (Corrupting the word with his pen might be the less polite but more accurate description of it.)

The verse reads, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?". This doesn't say or mean anything like "the kingdom of God being given to the rejected stone". What was Mr. Al-Kadhi thinking about when he made this statement?

"Prophethood being transferred away from the Jews"? Where does one read that from within those verses? It has already been shown in section 6.8 that the covenant and prophethood did not extend to Ishmael and his descendants.

In this parable, the householder represents God the Father, and the son is the Lord Jesus Christ. The husbandmen are a picture of Israel. "The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" - that is, taken from the non-believing Jews and given to the Church (made up or Jews originally). To Christian believers, Peter wrote, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9),

"Whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken" relates to Christ's first coming. He is the Rock on which the church is built (1 Corinthians 3:11). To fall on that Stone is to come to Christ for salvation in this day of grace. "But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder" refers to those who reject Christ and that Stone falls later in the judgement about which Daniel prophesied (Daniel 2:34,44-45). Revelation chapter 19 also shows when Jesus comes with great power and great glory to defeat his enemies at his second coming.

"Where does the text state the "son" shall come back to life but the other dead servants shall not?" These words are not part of the parable. Why? Ask Jesus. I don't want to speculate incorrectly.

Mr. Al-Kadhi states, "Jesus (pbuh) is speaking to the Jews as a racial entity. The men standing before him did not kill, beat, and stone the previous prophets, rather their forefathers did". How does he know anything about these men? He doesn't even know their names, but thinks he can know what they've done in their lifetime? Does Mr. Al-Kadhi even forget that these men were probably the ones cheering when they saw Jesus hanging on the cross?

According to Matthew 21:45, the Jews knew that Jesus was talking about them ... that's why they tried to arrest Jesus but feared what the crowd might do (verse 46). Let me tell you, these Jews really got upset with what Jesus said about them.

Mr. Al-Kadhi then states, "some have misunderstood this verse to refer to Jesus (pbuh) as the rejected stone. This can be seen to be a misinterpretation by simply reading the above verse carefully". Does Mr. Al-Kadhi even take his own advice on reading verses carefully?

What is the imagery depicted by the cornerstone? Answer: the stone laid at the corner where two walls meet and connecting them.

Who is the rejected stone?

The reference is to Jesus. Many scriptural verses show this:

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" (Psalms 118:22).

[His humiliation: he is the stone which the builders refused; he is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, Daniel (2:34). This stone was rejected by the builders, by the rulers and the people of the Jews (Acts 4:8,10,11). They refused to own him as the Messiah. They denied him in the presence of Pilate (Acts 3:13) when they said, we have no king but Caesar.

His exaltation: he is advanced to the highest degree both of honour and usefulness, to be above all, and all in all. He is the chief-corner-stone in the foundation, in whom Jew and Gentile are united, that they may be built up one holy house. He is the chief top-stone in the corner, in who the building is completed, and who must in all things have the pre-eminence, as the author and finisher of our faith - Bethany Commentary of the Old Testament, copyright 1985, p. 1154].

Both houses ... Israel and Judah. The very stone (Jesus) would have been a sanctuary for those who believe but would have become a fatal stumbling block for unbelievers.

Jesus was tested by the devil (Luke 4:1-13) and by men (Luke 20:1-38). Jesus is the precious stone (1 Peter 2:7). Jesus is the foundation of the church (1 Corinthians 3:11).

The building up of Jesus' church; having laid the foundation (v 16), he will raise the structure, as builders do, by line and plummet, (Zechariah 4:10). Righteousness shall be the line and judgement the plummet. The church, being formed on Christ, shall be formed and reformed by the scripture.

"... built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus HIMSELF as the CORNERSTONE. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:20-21).

"Come to him, a living STONE, though REJECTED by mortals yet chosen precious in God's sight ... for it stands in scripture, See I am laying in Zion a stone, a CORNERSTONE chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame" (1 Peter 2:4-6).

The disciples and the prophets are talking about Jesus. Jesus is the rejected stone.

The Rebuttal to "What Did Jesus Really Say?"
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