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Matthew 21 · a question people ask

"God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit" (21:43). Who is you, and what nation?

In the text

Jesus says it straight after the stone: "Did you never read in the Scriptures" (21:42), then "Therefore I tell you" (21:43). Of the Gospels, only Matthew has these words. Jesus doesn't name the nation. Matthew tells who heard: "When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them" (21:45). Matthew says no more, and Jesus doesn't explain nation. These notes don't either, and they apply the words to no people, nation or church today.

The verses

“Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes’? “Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.”
Matthew 21:42-45 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 21

Matthew 21: Your King comes to you

In Matthew, those Jesus is speaking to answer his questions on both parables: "The first" (21:31), and "He will miserably destroy those miserable men" (21:41). And changed his mind (21:29) and repent (21:32) are one Greek verb, each with afterward.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions