Messiah to be Rejected by the Rulers.
Psalm 118:22.
"The Stone which the builders refused is become the Head Stone of the Corner"
(Psalm 118:22). The Psalmist intimated that the Messiah would be rejected by the builders of the Jewish world, i.e., their rulers, princes, ecclesiastics, etc., and the prophet Isaiah concurred with the Messiah's analogy to being a Stone, saying, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a Tried Stone, a Precious Corner Stone, a Sure Foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste"
(Isaiah 28:16). In support of His Messiaship, Jesus cited Psalm 118 in application to Himself, when questioned by the chief priests and Pharisees about:
(1) His allowing the multitudes to triumphantly escort Him into Jerusalem as the "Son of David" (Matthew 21:9) and
(2) His Authority for casting the moneychangers out of the Temple, i.e., "My house shall be called the House of Prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves"
(Matthew 21:13), only days before the Almighty allowed them to succeed in having the Romans crucify Him.
"42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the Head of the Corner: this is the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken [i.e., Salvation]: but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder [i.e., damnation]"
(Matthew 21:42-44). Again, the Messiah would be rejected by the very rulers of Israel, who are supposed to be His champions.