Which Old Testament prophecies connect with Jesus as the cornerstone in Matthew 21:44? Matthew 21:44 in Focus “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.” Core Old Testament Cornerstone Prophecies • Psalm 118:22-23 – “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” • Isaiah 8:13-15 – “He will be a sanctuary, but to both houses of Israel He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense… many will stumble, fall, and be broken.” • Isaiah 28:16 – “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not be in haste.” • Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45 – “A stone was cut out, but not by human hands… it struck the statue and crushed it… the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth… the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.” • Zechariah 3:8-9 – “I am going to bring My servant, the Branch… and I will engrave an inscription on the stone… and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.” • Zechariah 10:4 – “From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow.” How Each Passage Connects to Jesus in Matthew 21 • Psalm 118 supplies the exact quotation Jesus used (vv. 42-44); the builders’ rejection pictures Israel’s leaders rejecting their Messiah. • Isaiah 8 explains the “stone” breaking those who trip over it—exactly what Jesus warns in v. 44. • Isaiah 28 presents the same stone as a secure refuge for believers, contrasting mercy with judgment. • Daniel 2 shows the stone crushing opposing kingdoms, mirroring the crushing language in Matthew 21:44 and announcing an everlasting kingdom. • Zechariah 3:8-9 ties the engraved stone to the removal of sin “in a single day,” fulfilled at the cross. • Zechariah 10:4 identifies the cornerstone as coming from Judah, aligning with Jesus’ lineage. New Testament Echoes That Confirm the Link • Acts 4:11 – Peter cites Psalm 118:22 and calls Jesus “the cornerstone.” • Romans 9:32-33 – Paul merges Isaiah 8 and 28 to explain Israel’s stumbling. • 1 Peter 2:6-8 – Peter weaves Isaiah 28, Psalm 118, and Isaiah 8 together, showing Jesus as both sanctuary and stumbling stone. Takeaway Every major “stone” prophecy—whether highlighting acceptance, stumbling, or crushing—finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Embrace Him as the secure cornerstone rather than stumbling over Him in unbelief. |
    |