The first appearance in Scripture of the phrase “the chief cornerstone” is in verse 22 of Psalm 118, a psalm of praise to God for His everlasting mercy. It is quoted and applied to Christ in the New Testament gospels (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17); Acts 4:11-12; and epistles (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6, 7); where He is compared to a stone because He is the divine foundation in the spiritual building of the church.
This is the gate of the LORD, through which the righteous shall enter. I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
-Psalm 118:22-23
While the entire Psalm may be understood of Jesus Christ, the above passage is particularly cited and applied in the passages below, expressing the rejection of the Messiah by the Jewish builders, priests, and scribes.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? -Matthew 21:42
“Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" -Mark 12:10-11
Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’? -Luke 20:17
“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:11-12
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. -Ephesians 2:19-22
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” -1 Peter 2:6-7
Him the Jewish builders refused; their political ones, their rulers, that believed not on Him; the princes of this world, that rose up against Him and crucified Him; even those who were the support of their civil state, and the maintainers of it: but more especially their ecclesiastical builders, the chief priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, who built the people, or directed them to build on their carnal privileges, the traditions of the elders, and their own legal righteousness. These refused to receive Jesus as the Messiah, and to believe in Him; they refused to own and honour Him as King of Zion; they refused His doctrines and ordinances; they refused to hear Him preach, or suffer others to hear Him; they refused to make use of Him in the spiritual building, either to preach Him themselves, or allow others to do it; they rejected Him with contempt; they set Him at naught, and preferred a thief and a robber to Him.
Christ is often in Scripture compared to a stone, and is called the stone of Israel1; is said to be a stone of stumbling to some, and a precious tried stone to others: is represented as a stone cut out of the mountain without hands2… and is fitly compared to one, for His usefulness in the spiritual building the church, where He is as both the foundation and corner stone, and for His strength and duration.
Christ is the sure, firm, and everlasting foundation, which God has laid in Zion, and the only one of any avail; nor can any other be laid to any purpose; and if He is neglected, and laid aside, in the ministration of the word, the building which men endeavour to rear, or exhort unto, will come to nothing. Whoever build on Him are safe, and on nothing else: Christ is the foundation, on which the church, and every believer, are built, and therefore will abide; for the gates of hell cannot prevail against them.
The covenant of grace is immoveable, being established in Him; its mercies are sure, and its promises yea and amen: the salvation of immortal souls is certain, resting upon Him; the faith and hope of the saints fail not, being directed to, and settled on Him.
The house not made with hands, which is in heaven, is an eternal one; and the city, which has foundations, is a continuing one3, because of the concern that Christ has in it; and though He is of such eminent use and importance in the building, yet, as such, the "builders rejected" Him: by the builders are meant, the Jewish rulers, both political and ecclesiastical, especially the latter, who pretended to instruct, and build up the people in knowledge and understanding; but in a very bad way did they do it, and upon a very sandy foundation, upon their fleshly privileges, their moral righteousness, and the observance of the ceremonial law, and the traditions of the elders. The Jews used to call their doctors and their scholars "builders"...
These rejected the Messiah, refused to receive, and acknowledge Him as such: they disallowed and disapproved of Him, as base and vile, and the most contemptible of mortals, and set Him at naught, and had Him in the utmost scorn and derision. And so He is rejected by some who bear the characters of builders among Christians: as when His proper deity, and eternal sonship are denied, and He is treated as a mere creature; when His satisfaction and atoning sacrifice are either wholly rejected, or little regarded, lessened, and depreciated, and repentance and good works are put in the room of them; when His imputed righteousness is opposed, and laid aside, and the righteousness of men preferred unto it, and cried up as the matter of justification in the sight of God; when His efficacious grace is represented as unnecessary to regeneration, conversion, and sanctification, and to the performance of good works; and when He is left out of public ministrations, as the way of life and salvation, as the fountain of all grace, and foundation of all happiness, and human power, free will, and moral righteousness are put in His room. But notwithstanding the former and present rejection, and ill treatment of Him, he is
become the chief cornerstone: He is the corner stone in the building which knits and cements it together, angels and men, Jews and Gentiles; Old and New Testament saints; saints above, and saints below, and in all ages and places, all meet, and are united together in this corner stone; which also strengthens and supports the building, and holds it together, and is the ornament and beauty of it.
He is the chief corner stone; He is higher than the kings of the earth; He is superior to angels, and the chiefest among ten thousands of His saints; He is exalted above all creatures, angels, and men, who, by the Jewish builders, was despised and rejected, and scarce allowed to be worthy the name of a man.
Adapted from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible, Dr. John Gill, D.D., (1697-1771), Public Domain
Genesis 49:24
Daniel 2:34
Hebrews 13:14
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. -2 Peter 3:18