Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Tonight’s Study, Session 24: The Cornerstone
Introduction: In the ancient world, stones were used for building altars, homes, palaces, and temples. When “cornerstone” is mentioned in the Bible, it refers to a particularly important stone that held two rows of stones together in a corner, one that stabilized the structure at the foundation, or a stone that formed the keystone over an arch or at the top of a roof parapet.* In order to hold the structure together, the cornerstone had to be perfectly fitted for the task, both strong and well-shaped. A flawed or poorly cut stone would compromise the building’s integrity. *A barrier that is an upward extension of a wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway, or other structure.
Jesus is the Cornerstone to which we are joined as living stones. Together we form a spiritual house in which God can dwell. As the foundation stone on which God is building His kingdom, Jesus is strong enough to hold everything together. He is also the fitting conclusion to all God’s work. Jesus is the Cornerstone on whom we can base our life.
The key Scripture verse where the name Cornerstone is found is Luke 20:17.
Scriptural Context Where the Name Cornerstone is Found
Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!” 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’? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Luke 20:9-18)
Understanding the Name
When Jesus quoted the passage from Psalm 118:22 (The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone), referring to the stone the builders rejected, He was pointing to His rejection by the Jewish nation and its leaders. Despite their rejection, God’s purposes could not be thwarted. In fact, the Master Builder would make Jesus through His death and resurrection, the Cornerstone on which He would build His church. The New Testament portrays the whole community of believers as a holy temple in which God dwells.
Promises From God’s Word About Jesus, The Cornerstone
Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1)
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. (Isaiah 28:16)
What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 9:30-33)
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ
(I Corinthians 3:11)
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)
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 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,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
(I Peter 2:4–10)
To those who reject Jesus and His saving message, He will not be a cornerstone but a stone of stumbling, because rejection of God’s chosen one inevitably brings judgment. This is why Jesus’ comments about “the stone the builders rejected” immediately follows the parable of the vineyard owner. The parable of the Vineyard Owner clearly points to the vineyard owner’s son as Jesus Christ, who was rejected by the vinedressers and ultimately killed by them. Many today face God’s judgment, and will not receive His forgiveness because they reject Jesus Christ. They stumble over Him and find Him as a rock of offense. To every human being, Jesus Christ is either the means of salvation if they believe, or the means of judgment if they reject the gospel.
He is like a stone in the road that causes a traveler to fall. Those who build their lives on Jesus and His teachings and have Him as the Cornerstone of their lives are likened to the man in Matthew 7:24-27 who built his house upon the rock. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27).
Our house (our lives) will stand and endure the storms and trials and tribulations of life because we have Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone and the sure foundation of our faith. He is strong enough to eternally stand as the precious Cornerstone.
Conclusion: Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, invites us to walk in faith with Him each day. His love for us is sure. His plan for us is precious. He opens wide His arms and offers us an invitation. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Don’t cast Him aside as some worthless stone. Don’t reject Him, as the builders of Solomon’s Temple discarded the chief cornerstone so many centuries ago. Follow Him joyfully in full assurance of faith – and learn for yourself the truth of these stunning words: “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6b).
Next Week, Session 25: Lord and Savior