Cornerstone

The Cornerstone.

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The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:22-24

I have learned through the study of Scripture, and other men of God who have studied the Scriptures that the cornerstone was the stone that determined the size and the shape of a building. The bigger the cornerstone the bigger the building; and if the stone was rectangular  then the building would be rectangular. That means the cornerstone is the most important part of beginning a building.

How important is the Psalms in prophecy, especially concerning the Messiah? Well to ease our minds about this question let’s see what Jesus said,

“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.”  Luke 24:44

So Jesus said that the Psalms, along with the books of the Law, and the prophets were prophetic and must be fulfilled.

Concerning the text for this study it is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17. It is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:11, and the First Epistle of Peter in chapter 2 verse 7.

There is much to learn from the study of Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, and I believe that the most important thing to know is that He is only one who can save us from our sins. We cannot just lay Him aside and forget about Him. He presented Himself to His own people, and they rejected Him, thus He was convicted of the crime of blasphemy, and other false accusations, found guilty and crucified on a Roman cross,

Remember, if the cornerstone sets the size and the shape of the building, then Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, determines the size, shape, and completion of the Church He is building.

There is coming a day when a final soul will call on the name of the Lord for salvation, they will be saved; and there will be no more. That day has not come – Thank You Lord. So today is the day of salvation. Your last chance for salvation might be today.

As the rejected cornerstone He was killed on a cruel Roman cross, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that tomb, alive forever more. When we put faith and trust in Him, turning from our sin, He saves us.

Fall on Him. Hear what Jesus said,

“What is this then that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?’  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’     Luke 20:17

 

The Rejected Cornerstone

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“‘Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, ‘They will reverence my son.’ But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.’ And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
They say unto Him, ‘He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.’
Jesus saith unto them, ‘Did ye never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?’ Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard His parables, they perceived that He spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitude, because they took Him for a prophet.” Matthew 21:33-46  (KJB)

Jesus is that Cornerstone rejected by His own people.  It has been said that in the building with large stones that the cornerstone’s shape and size determines the shape and size of the building.

The religious establishment of Jesus’s day was Judaism but they rejected the Cornerstone, therefore it passed to the Gentiles, the Church; which is the Body of Christ; and He is still building that building.

Yes! Jesus Christ is that Cornerstone on which if you fall you will be broken; but if He falls on you will be ground to powder.

Believe Him.

Day 51 – The Cornerstone

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It has been said, that in the building of a building with stone that a “cornerstone” is needed.  The size of the cornerstone determines the size of the building, the shape of the building and so forth.  So without a cornerstone there is not much direction.

My reading this morning was Isaiah 21 – 34.  In reading these verses there is much “Woe” presented to nations; Israel, and Judah included, but to them, also very much hope.

In chapter 28 God speaking through the prophet shows how the leadership has fallen.  Where they had been known for their beauty they were seen as a “fading flower” (vv. 1, 4), and the day was coming when the LORD of hosts would “be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty…” (v. 5).  The present leadership to whom Isaiah was speaking were drunken with wine and strong drink, making faulty judgment, and hating the word of the LORD.

The word of the LORD was not hidden to them.  The prophet had made it known to them over and over again “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little there a little…” (v. 13) where it seems they had grown tired of hearing it.  That did not stop the prophet.  He kept on preaching.  Go get ‘um Isaiah.  Go get ‘um preacher.

We need to understand; God’s Word does not promote us, our comfort, our peace, even our salvation.  The center, the promotion of the Word of God is God, His glory, His salvation.  I do not want to burst your bubble…  wait a minute – Yes I do.  This world is not about you.  This Word of God is not about you – it is not about us.  It is about Him, and He tells us,

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.'” Isaiah 28:16 (KJV)

These words are referenced in the New Testament describing the person of Jesus Christ (Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 3:11-13; 1 Peter 2:6; Matthew 21:42-44).  This is truly a “precious corner stone”.

There are a couple of final verses I will leave with you today;

“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for My mouth it hath commanded, and His Spirit it hath gathered them.  And He hath cast the lot for them, and His hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.” 34:16-17

Though these words are spoken for the previous few verses; they are also true for the whole of God’s written Word.  Particularly, “…No one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate…”  God’s Word will come to pass just as He has said,  not one word will fail.

Jesus is the Corner stone.  He is coming.  He will reign.

-Tim A. Blankenship