Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
Contents
What is a cornerstone?
According to Dictionary.com a cornerstone is
- “a stone uniting two masonry walls at an intersection”
- “a stone representing the nominal starting place in the construction of a monumental building, usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.
Cambridge online dictionary gives an additional definition of how we use cornerstones in everyday language:
- “something of great importance that everything else depends on”
Why is the cornerstone so important?
In ancient times, the cornerstone was the first stone laid on the foundation of a building. It was the most carefully designed stone in the whole building.
Cornerstone
- carries the whole weight of the building
- needs to be just right in its horizontal and vertical angles
- is the standard for all the other stones in the building
Cornerstone in the Old Testament
The Jews in the time of Jesus were very familiar with the symbolic meaning of stone and cornerstone in the Old Testament. Many times in the Old Testament God is telling that He is laying a stone in Jerusalem which will be the cornerstone of all and that the stone will be rejected by the very people who were supposed to use it.
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
Psalm 118:22
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
There are other similar passages too as we can see below.
In the Book of Daniel chapter 2, Daniel is interpreting a dream that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, has seen. In the dream, a stone cut out from a mountain by no human hand represents God’s kingdom that destroys four major worldly kingdoms into small chaff that is carried away by the wind. The stone that was cut out from a mountain divinely without a human hand now becomes a great mountain filling the whole earth.
Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45
You saw until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them. The stone that struck the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.
In Daniel 2 the mountain is God or at least God’s Kingdom because the stone that is divinely cut from a mountain establishes an eternal kingdom that will destroy all worldly kingdoms and eventually becomes a great mountain itself.
When interpreted together with Daniel 7, Daniel 2 is surely a Messianic chapter and one where the two powers in heaven concept of the Old Testament can be seen.
In Isaiah 8 below, the reference to the stone is not just a Messianic hint anymore but God is saying that He becomes both a sanctuary and a stone of offense.
Isaiah 8:11-15
For Yahweh spoke this to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, “Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized. Yahweh of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread. He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare. Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.”
In Genesis 49:24 Jacob is referring to God as “Shepherd, the Stone of Israel”.
Genesis 49:24
But his bow remained strong.
The arms of his hands were made strong,
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,
(from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
In Job 38 the cornerstone that God has laid on the foundation of the earth can be seen as both a building block of creation and, in the light of the New Testament, Christ.
Job 38:4-6
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Declare, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measures, if you know?
Or who stretched the line on it?
What were its foundations fastened on?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
Zechariah 10 tells us that the cornerstone will come from God. See, how Zechariah uses the name Yahweh of Armies as in Isaiah 8 above.
Zechariah 10:3-4
My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats;
For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
From him will come the cornerstone,
from him the nail,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
Cornerstone in the New Testament
Christ Himself and the authors of the New Testament link Jesus as being the cornerstone mentioned in the Old Testament. He is the foundation and cornerstone of a spiritual house that is being built of believers and Christ together.
Let’s take a look at how the New Testament connects Jesus as the chief cornerstone of the Old Testament.
Matthew 21:42-44
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.”
1 Corinthians 1:22-23
For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks
Romans 9:33
even as it is written,
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and a rock of offense;
and no one who believes in him will be disappointed.”
Acts 4:11-12
He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
What does it mean that Jesus is our cornerstone?
Jesus is our cornerstone at least in four different ways that are highlighted below.
Jesus is the most important thing in the whole creation and in the life of each human being. In Him, all things hold together (1), just like in a true cornerstone.
Colossians 1:16-17
For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God like all people are. In Him, the whole fullness of God dwells bodily. Our image of God is far from the whole fullness of God, therefore we need to align ourselves according to Him (2).
Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Colossians 2:9-10
For in him all the fullness of the Deity dwells bodily, and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power.
Christ is the head of the body, the Church (3). The Church needs to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The believers are a royal priesthood called for good works and to fulfill the great commission.
Colossians 1:18-20
He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
Jesus came to speak the truth and the truth divides. So, the cornerstone becomes a stumbling stone (4) and a rock of offense. This happens not only to people but to societies, as we see happening today.
Luke 2:34–35
and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
John 9:39
Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
1 Peter 2:4-8
coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious:
He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone,”and,
“a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.”
For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
To conclude
Mark 12:10-11
Haven’t you even read this Scripture:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
was made the head of the corner.
This was from the Lord.
It is marvelous in our eyes’?