Chief Cornerstone

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22

When I was growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, technology wasn’t a big part of our everyday lives (at least not until Atari showed up). We spent lots of time outside playing with toys and games. But when I was inside, one of my favorite things to do was build with Legos. They were simpler than what you see today. Most of the time, we used our imagination to build houses, buildings, vehicles, and whatever else we could come up with. Years later, when my son was growing up, he loved Legos too. A trip to the Lego store was a big deal, and at one point, we joked that he might even become a Lego Master Builder someday!

I never started with a cornerstone when building with Legos, but builders have used these stones since ancient times, dating back to Egyptian civilizations in stone masonry construction. Initially, builders used the cornerstone for alignment and load-bearing. Builders usually placed it at the intersection of two walls to form a right angle and establish the exact level. It was the first stone placed, and builders aligned every other stone with it to keep the building straight, square, and stable. It was typically the largest, strongest block meant to support the weight of the walls. 

As modern construction moved away from stone masonry to poured concrete, steel, and bricks in the 19th and 20th centuries, the cornerstone lost its structural role and became more of a ceremonial building block. Builders usually placed it ritually in the outer wall at a prominent corner to commemorate the building's dedication. Cornerstones at this time usually had the date when the building was built. 

Jesus was referred to as a cornerstone in numerous places in Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments. Because cornerstones were used in building in ancient times, calling Jesus the chief cornerstone was a comparison people of the day could understand. The prophet Isaiah made numerous references to and prophecies about Jesus hundreds of years before His birth. One of these is found 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.”

Jesus is the foundational standard. God is truth, and Jesus was God incarnate. He was born as both fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life, and set the exact measure for faith, morals, and life. He made alignment with God and His truth possible. We must order and adjust our lives to His teachings and example so our lives are built on God’s eternal, unchanging truth. 

Jesus also bore the world's weight. He came to save the world, yet His own people rejected Him. Psalm 118:22, our key verse today, describes Him as the stone the builders rejected. Jesus applied this passage to Himself in Matthew 21 during the final week of His earthly ministry. He not only carried the physical weight of the cross, but also willingly took on the weight of our sin. Through His suffering and death, He made a way for us to be forgiven and freed from the burden of sin, shame, and guilt. And Jesus doesn’t just offer us forgiveness; He invites us to bring our burdens to Him. He carries what we cannot carry on our own and offers rest for our souls.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, the early believers became the foundation of the new church, with Jesus as the cornerstone. This was not a physical building, but a community of believers who shared the good news of Jesus. Even when persecution ensued, these believers scattered, taking Jesus' message with them. For over 2000 years, the church has prevailed with Jesus as the head. 

This raises an important question: What are we building our lives on? We often attempt to build our lives on success, money, achievements, popularity, relationships, or what people think about us. This only leaves us longing for more. These things can change. But Jesus doesn’t. With Jesus as our cornerstone, He becomes the source of our identity, choices, relationships, and direction. He draws us near, gives us access to the Father, and makes us part of His family and kingdom. 

Jesus isn't meant to be only a part of our lives on Sundays when we attend church. He is meant to be the cornerstone—the One everything else is built around. We must take the steps needed to make Him that. 

Call to Action

Is there an area of your life where you've been building around something other than Jesus?

How would your life change if you made Jesus the cornerstone?

What burdens do you need to turn over to Jesus?

Digging Deeper

Check out these additional verses: Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:20, and 1 Peter 2:4–5.

Prayer

Jesus, thank You for being the cornerstone of my faith and my life. You give me access to the Father and show me how my life should align with You. Thank You for carrying the burden of my sin and for meeting me in the struggles and burdens I face each day. Help me build my life on You rather than on things that can change, disappoint, or fail.

Copyright © 2026 Kyle Cravens