The Chief Cornerstone

Psalm 118:1-29

Concealed in the middle of this Psalm is surprising factor in the way God will work out His amazing salvation plan. He has ordained that, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes’ (vv22,23). This is incredible: God’s plan for salvation will involve the ‘builders’ of the nation rejecting His chosen stone. But God’s plan will not be thwarted as this rejected stone will become the ‘chief cornerstone’!

In the Synoptic Gospels Jesus applied verses 22 & 23 to Himself. In telling a parable about a vineyard owner who rents out his vineyard to people who then kill the son and heir Jesus sent a clear message to His hearers that the fulfilment of this Psalm was near. Jesus’ parable clearly showed that the religious authorities were not acting in accordance with God’s ways. In quoting this Psalm the condemnation of the ‘builders’ was certainly clear to Jesus’ audience of scribes and chief priests who simply worked harder to find a way to kill Him (see Matthew 21:42-45; Mark 12:10-12; Luke 20:17-19)

Peter repeated the message to the religious leaders in Acts 4 when he explains that they (the builders) crucified Jesus (the rejected stone) but He became the chief cornerstone. And He is the only way to salvation (vv10-12)!

This use of Psalm 118:22 is expanded by Peter in his first letter. Describing Jesus as ‘a living stone which has been rejected’ (1 Peter 2:4) he describes us as ‘living stones being built into a spiritual house’ (v5). He quotes Psalm 118 in his argument and moves on to make some almost unbelievable statements about what our salvation means: it is multifaceted and involves us being ‘a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation and God’s own possession’ (v9). But at the heart of his argument is the necessity of the rejection of the Stone so that It (He) could become the Chief Cornerstone (vv6-8).

And Paul, too, elaborates upon this imagery when he describes Christ Jesus as the corner stone in whom the whole building fits together and grows into a holy temple, the very dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:20,21). The chief cornerstone of the Temple was massive. It supported the building but also set its shape and orientation. The rightness of the cornerstone determined the magnificence of the building.

And Our Chief Cornerstone was the stone which the builders rejected.

Further reading:     1 Peter 2:4-10       Ephesians 2:19-22

Worship Video:

To think about:
Meditate on the picture of a building built on the cornerstone of Jesus in which each of us is a living stone.    What elements of that picture encourage you?   What does it mean to you to be a ‘living stone’?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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