The Chief Cornerstone
For it stands in Scripture:
See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,
The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone, and
A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over.
They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this. 1 Peter 2:6-8 CSB
From the text, Peter uses three Old Testament passages to further illustrate Jesus Christ as the center of the individual believer’s life and the church. First, the words of the prophet Isaiah, seen in Isaiah 28:16, “‘Therefore the Lord God said: ‘Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.’” A cornerstone was the first stone placed in building a home. It determined the structure of the building. Second, the words of a psalmist (believed to be King David), in Psalm 118:22, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” There are some translations that interpret this verse in particular as “capstone,” which is the final stone placed on a building. Jesus Christ, being the cornerstone and the capstone, means that from beginning to the end, the believer and the church is built on the Savior, Jesus Christ. Third, the words of Isaiah again in Isaiah 8:14, “He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, he will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” As we know, not everyone accepts Christ as their Savior. “But for the unbelieving,” refers to those who reject Christ will continue to “stumble” and “trip.” They refuse to build their lives on the Chief Cornerstone. This happens because “they disobey the word.” Yet, God the Father chose this rejected Stone and set Him as the Cornerstone, the One who we build upon. Christ is what will hold us together during times of struggle and difficulty. He is our foundation. I’ll close with the words of David in Psalm 18:1-2 and may this be our prayer in times of difficulty, “I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
