The Stone the Builders Rejected
First introduced in the Old Testament, the stone that the builders rejected is later taken up in the teachings of Jesus and further developed by the apostles in the New Testament. Rooted in the practices of ancient construction, this metaphor conveys deep truths about God’s plan of redemption, the person and work of Jesus, and how humanity responds to God’s chosen way of salvation. This article will examine the scriptural background of the rejected stone, its realization in Jesus, and the lasting insights it provides for Christian faith and living.
The Old Testament Background: Psalm 118
The metaphor of the rejected stone originates in Psalm 118, a psalm of thanksgiving and victory. The passage reads: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23). The psalmist celebrates deliverance from enemies and attributes this salvation to God’s intervention. The “stone” in this context is likely a reference to Israel itself or to the Davidic king, who, though despised and opposed by powerful nations or individuals, is chosen and exalted by God.
In the ancient Near East, the cornerstone was the most important stone in a building’s foundation. It was carefully selected, precisely cut, and set in place to ensure the stability and alignment of the entire structure. If a stone was deemed unsuitable by the builders, it would be cast aside. The psalmist’s image is thus one of reversal: the stone dismissed as unworthy becomes the most crucial element of the building, a work that evokes wonder and praise.
The Stone in Jewish Tradition
Jewish tradition recognized the messianic overtone of Psalm 118. The stone motif became associated with God’s chosen servant, the Messiah, who would be rejected by many but ultimately vindicated and exalted. The Targum (an ancient Aramaic paraphrase of the Hebrew Bible) interprets the stone as the coming king from the house of David. This expectation set the stage for the New Testament’s application of the metaphor to Jesus.
Jesus and the Rejected Stone: The Synoptic Gospels
Jesus himself appropriates the image of the rejected stone in his teaching, most notably in the parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19). In this parable, a landowner leases his vineyard to tenants who refuse to give him his due and mistreat or kill his servants. Finally, the landowner sends his son, whom the tenants also kill, hoping to seize his inheritance. Jesus concludes the parable by quoting Psalm 118:22-23: “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (Matthew 21:42).
The parable is a pointed indictment of the religious leaders of Israel, who, like the tenants, have rejected God’s messengers and are about to reject and kill God’s Son. The rejected stone is identified with Jesus himself. Though despised and rejected by the religious establishment, he is chosen by God as the foundation of a new spiritual establishment. Jesus’ use of the psalm highlights both the culpability of those who reject him and the sovereignty of God in bringing about salvation through what appears to be defeat.
The Apostolic Witness: Acts and the Epistles
The early church quickly recognized the significance of the rejected stone motif for understanding the person and work of Jesus. In Acts 4, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addresses the Sanhedrin after the healing of a lame man. He boldly proclaims, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12).
Peter’s application is clear: Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders (the religious leaders), but God has made him the cornerstone of salvation. The exclusivity of this claim is striking - salvation is found in no one else. The rejected stone is not one option among many but the only foundation upon which true spiritual life can be built.
Paul also employs the stone imagery in his letters. In Ephesians 2:19-22, he writes, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” Here, Jesus as the cornerstone unites Jews and Gentiles into one new people, the church, which is the dwelling place of God by the Spirit.
Peter, in his first epistle, further develops the theme: “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame’” (1 Peter 2:4-6). Peter combines references from Psalm 118, Isaiah 28:16, and Isaiah 8:14 to show that Jesus is both the foundation of faith and a stone of stumbling for those who reject him.
The Lesson of the Rejected Stone
What is the lesson of the rejected stone? At its heart, the metaphor teaches that God’s ways often mystify human expectations. The builders–those with authority, knowledge, and power–evaluate the stone and deem it unworthy. Yet God, in sovereign wisdom, chooses what is rejected to accomplish his purposes. This theme of reversal runs throughout Scripture: God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).
The rejected stone also serves as a warning. To reject Jesus is to reject the only foundation for life and salvation. As Peter warns, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:7-8). The same stone that is the foundation for believers becomes a stumbling block for those who refuse to believe.
Yet the metaphor is also one of hope and assurance. For those who trust in Jesus, the rejected stone is “chosen and precious.” Believers are incorporated into a new spiritual house, built on the unshakable foundation of Christ. The promise is sure: “Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).
The Stone and the Mission of the Church
The image of the rejected stone has profound implications for the mission and identity of the church. As those who are “living stones” built upon Christ, believers are called to reflect the character of the cornerstone. This means embracing humility, suffering, and even rejection, knowing that God’s approval matters more than human acceptance. The church is to be a community that welcomes the outcast and the overlooked, embodying the reversal at the heart of the gospel.
The church is entrusted with proclaiming the message of the cornerstone to the world. The exclusivity of salvation in Jesus is not a cause for pride but for urgent witness. As Peter declared before the Sanhedrin, “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12). The rejected stone is the only hope for a world in need of redemption.
The Rejected Stone in Eschatological Perspective
The metaphor of the stone also has an eschatological dimension. In Daniel 2, the prophet interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a statue representing successive kingdoms. A stone “cut out by no human hand” strikes the statue, shattering it, and becomes a great mountain filling the whole earth (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). This stone represents the kingdom of God, inaugurated by Jesus and destined to triumph over all earthly and spiritual powers.
Jesus alludes to this in Matthew 21:44: “And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” The rejected stone is not only the foundation of salvation but also the agent of judgment. The ultimate destiny of every person and every nation hinges on their response to the cornerstone.
Conclusion - The Stone the Builders Rejected
The stone that the builders rejected is a central biblical image that finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It teaches that God’s chosen means of salvation is often despised and dismissed by the world, yet it is the only true foundation for life. The lesson of the rejected stone is both a warning and an invitation: to reject Jesus is to stumble and fall, but to trust in him is to be built into a spiritual house that will never be shaken. The church, built on the cornerstone, is called to embody the humility, resilience, and hope of the rejected stone, bearing witness to the marvelous work that God has accomplished in Christ–a work that is, indeed, marvelous in our eyes.