“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” — Psalm 118:22, KJV
The Bible repeatedly uses the picture of a cornerstone to describe Jesus Christ. In ancient construction, the cornerstone was one of the most important stones in a building. It helped establish the direction, alignment, and stability of the structure. In the same way, Jesus is the foundation upon which our faith and our lives are to be built.
1. The Cornerstone Was Foretold
Long before Jesus came into the world, the Old Testament spoke of a special stone God Himself would provide.
Isaiah wrote:
“Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” — Isaiah 28:16
Notice the descriptions:
A tried stone — proven and dependable.
A precious cornerstone — of immeasurable value.
A sure foundation — trustworthy and secure.
Jesus is not one possible foundation among many. Scripture presents Him as the foundation God has chosen.
2. The Builders Rejected the Stone
Psalm 118:22 says:
“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
Jesus later applied this passage to Himself.
In Matthew 21:42 He asked:
“Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?”
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day saw themselves as spiritual builders, yet many of them rejected the very One God had chosen.
This reminds us of an important truth: human rejection does not cancel God’s purpose.
Jesus was rejected, mocked, crucified, and buried, but God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him.
What people cast aside, God made the Chief Cornerstone.
3. Jesus Is the Chief Cornerstone
Paul writes:
“Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” — Ephesians 2:20
The word chief emphasizes His supreme importance.
The church is not ultimately built upon:
traditions,
personalities,
denominations,
programs,
buildings,
or human wisdom.
Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone.
Paul explains that believers are:
“built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” — Ephesians 2:20
Everything must line up with Christ.
Our teaching must line up with Him.
Our worship must center on Him.
Our character must increasingly resemble Him.
Our hope must rest in Him.
4. The Cornerstone Holds the Building Together
Paul continues:
“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” — Ephesians 2:21
A cornerstone helped determine whether the rest of a building was properly aligned.
Spiritually, Jesus is the One by whom everything in our lives must be measured.
We may ask:
Does my thinking line up with Christ?
Do my words line up with Christ?
Do my relationships reflect Christ?
Are my priorities consistent with His teaching?
Christianity is not merely believing certain facts about Jesus. It is building our entire life around Him.
5. Christ Is a Living Stone
Peter develops the picture further:
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.” — 1 Peter 2:4
Jesus is not a dead monument from history.
He is the living Stone.
He died, but He rose again.
And Peter says believers also become:
“lively stones… built up a spiritual house.” — 1 Peter 2:5
This is a beautiful picture of the church.
Christ is the Cornerstone, and every believer becomes part of the spiritual house God is building.
Each stone has a place.
Each believer has value.
Each believer has a purpose.
But every stone must remain connected to the Cornerstone.
6. The Cornerstone Is Precious to Those Who Believe
Peter quotes Isaiah:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” — 1 Peter 2:6
Then he adds:
“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious.” — 1 Peter 2:7
That phrase deserves reflection:
“He is precious.”
Jesus becomes increasingly precious to the believer because in Him we find:
forgiveness, grace, mercy, peace, eternal life, hope, strength, companionship, and reconciliation with God.
The longer we walk with Christ, the more we discover that He is not simply part of our faith.
He is the center of it.
7. The Same Stone Can Be Rejected
Peter also describes Christ as:
“a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.” — 1 Peter 2:8
The same Jesus who becomes a secure foundation to one person may become a stumbling stone to another.
Why?
Because Jesus confronts human pride.
He calls us to repent.
He tells us we cannot save ourselves.
He calls us to surrender.
He declares that He is the way to the Father.
For those willing to trust Him, He becomes a secure foundation.
For those determined to remain independent of God, He becomes a stone over which they stumble.
8. Building Your Life on the Cornerstone
Jesus used another building illustration at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.
He said that the person who hears His words and obeys them is:
“like a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” — Matthew 7:24
The storm came.
The rain fell.
The floods rose.
The winds blew.
Yet the house stood.
Why?
Jesus said:
“for it was founded upon a rock.” — Matthew 7:25
Being built upon Christ does not mean storms will never come.
It means the storms do not have the final word.
Faith does not remove every difficulty.
It gives us a foundation beneath our feet when difficulty comes.
9. Is Christ the Cornerstone of My Life?
It is possible to call Jesus Lord while still building much of our life upon other foundations.
We may build upon:
money, reputation, possessions, health, success, relationships, politics, accomplishments, or our own abilities.
Many of these things can be blessings, but none of them can bear the full weight of a human life.
Eventually every earthly foundation is tested.
Christ alone remains secure.
Paul wrote:
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 3:11
That is the heart of the message.
Jesus is not merely part of the building.
Jesus is the foundation of the building.
Questions for Reflection
What does the image of a cornerstone teach us about Jesus?
Why did many religious leaders reject Christ?
What does it mean personally to build your life upon Jesus?
Are there areas of your life that are not fully aligned with Christ?
Why does Peter call Jesus “precious”?
What storms have shown you the importance of a solid spiritual foundation?
How can you make Christ more central in your daily decisions?
Personal Application
A helpful prayer to ask each day is:
“Lord Jesus, if anything in my life is out of alignment with You, show me and help me change it.”
The Christian life is a continual process of allowing the Master Builder to shape us and bring us into alignment with Christ.
Closing Thought
The world offers many foundations, but they shift with circumstances.
Jesus does not.
People change.
Circumstances change.
Health changes.
Finances change.
Nations change.
But:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8
When Christ is our Chief Cornerstone, we have something beneath our lives that cannot be shaken.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the Chief Cornerstone, chosen by God and precious. Help me to build my life upon You. When my thoughts, desires, or choices become misaligned, bring me back into line with Your truth. When storms come, remind me that my foundation is secure. Shape me into the person You desire me to be, and let my life become part of the spiritual house You are building. May everything I am rest firmly upon You. Amen.
