“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.  He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.

Jesus tells them the kingdom of God will be taken away from them and given to people who will live by God’s will and not by the traditions of men.  He looks like a carpenter from Nazareth; He talks like a rebel, but He is on a mission from God, and those who do not have the things of God in their hearts are being cast aside.  These people were RELIGIOUS, yes, but God was far from them.

What is more important to us? – the trappings of religion or the ways of God – compassion, forgiveness, grace and love.