How does Psalm 118:22 foreshadow Christ as the cornerstone in the New Testament? Psalm 118:22—The Stone and the Story “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22) Why “Cornerstone” Matters • In ancient building, the cornerstone set the location, angle, and integrity of every other stone. • Remove or misplace it, and the whole structure collapses. • Israel sang this psalm after great deliverance (likely temple‐related), celebrating that what seemed insignificant to men became central to God’s plan. Foreshadowing Patterns Already in the Psalm • Rejected, then exalted—mirroring Messiah’s death and resurrection (vv. 22-24). • Public vindication—“This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes” (v. 23). • Universal call to rejoice—hinting that the cornerstone would unite more than Israel alone (vv. 24-26). New Testament Echoes Jesus and the apostles quote Psalm 118:22 repeatedly to identify Him as the foretold Stone: • Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17—Jesus applies the verse to Himself after telling the parable of the vineyard, predicting His rejection by Israel’s leaders. • Acts 4:11—Peter, filled with the Spirit, declares of the risen Christ: “He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” • 1 Peter 2:4-7—believers are “living stones,” yet Christ alone is the chosen, precious cornerstone; unbelievers stumble over Him. • Ephesians 2:19-22—Gentile and Jewish believers form one household, “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.” What the Fulfillment Reveals about Christ • He is chosen by God, though dismissed by human authorities. • His resurrection is the ultimate proof that the rejected Stone now anchors God’s eternal temple. • All salvation history aligns to Him; every doctrine, promise, and law finds its angle from His person and work. Implications for Believers Today • Security—our faith rests on an immovable foundation (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:11). • Unity—Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, are mortared together in Christ’s house (Galatians 3:28). • Bold witness—like Peter in Acts 4, we proclaim the only Name “by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). • Holy living—we are “being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22); every attitude and action must align with the Cornerstone’s plumb line. Living in Light of the Cornerstone • Measure your beliefs against Christ’s Word; adjust where you drift. • Identify with Him even when culture disapproves—rejection can precede exaltation. • Celebrate His marvelous work daily, echoing verse 24: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” |
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