How can Isaiah 8:15 deepen our understanding of Jesus as the cornerstone? The Stone That Trips and the Rock That Saves “Many will stumble over it; they will fall and be broken; they will be snared and captured.” (Isaiah 8:15) Tracing the Image Through Scripture • Isaiah first pictures the LORD Himself as a rock set in Judah—steady, immovable, but also something people can crash into (Isaiah 8:13-14). • Isaiah later clarifies the image: “See, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.” (Isaiah 28:16) • The New Testament identifies this stone with Jesus: • Matthew 21:42 – Jesus quotes Psalm 118:22 and applies it to Himself. • Romans 9:32-33 – Paul blends Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 to explain Israel’s unbelief. • 1 Peter 2:6-8 – Peter cites both Isaiah texts and adds, “They stumble because they disobey the word.” Cornerstone or Stumbling Stone—Same Person, Different Responses • A cornerstone anchors a building; every other stone aligns to it (Ephesians 2:20). • Yet that same stone can lie in the very path of the rebellious, exposing their unbelief by causing them to trip (Isaiah 8:15). • Jesus forces a decision: – Those who trust Him find stability, identity, and unity. – Those who reject Him find themselves offended, destabilized, and ultimately judged. How Isaiah 8:15 Deepens Our View of Jesus • It reminds us that salvation and judgment converge in Christ. He offers refuge, yet His very presence unmasks unbelief. • It shows that stumbling is not accidental but moral; people “are snared” because they refuse God’s appointed Stone (1 Peter 2:8). • It underscores the urgency of aligning to the Cornerstone now, before the fall becomes final. Living in the Light of the Cornerstone • Build every conviction, habit, and hope on Jesus’ words (Matthew 7:24-25). • Expect division when Christ is proclaimed; the same gospel that rescues will also expose (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). • Stay humble: the line between standing and stumbling is faith. “Whoever believes in Him will never be put to shame.” (Isaiah 28:16) |
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