After telling the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus questioned the Jewish leaders about the rejected stone. Matthew 21: 42 Then Jesus asked them, “Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures? ‘The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see.[1]
This is a direct quote from Psalm 118:22-23. This Psalm was known as a “Hallel Psalm,” and pilgrims sang it as they went to Jerusalem for the feasts. Much of Jesus’ audience was in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and would be familiar with it. In fact, people had just used part of this Psalm to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem a few days before.
Psalm 118: 25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord![2] The Hebrew word that is translated into the English, “save us” is Hosanna. The people used this familiar Psalm to acknowledge who Jesus was as He entered Jerusalem the previous Sunday.[3] Of course, this irritated the Jewish leadership.
The Stone Becomes the Sacrifice
Now, Jesus used this Psalm to point out that He knew the Jewish leadership was rejecting Him, for this group would have Jesus crucified on Friday. Psalm 118 continues in its foretelling of Jesus. Psalm 118: 27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar![4]
Worshippers always made sacrifices at the Temple during the feasts. But the Feast of Passover would be different on this year. For Jesus, the Light of the World, would be bound and led to the cross, where He became the once-and-done sacrifice for our sins. Then, on the third day, a week after the people shouted Hosanna, or save me, Jesus rose from the dead.
The Rejected Stone Becomes the Cornerstone
Jesus became the cornerstone of the Christian church. There is no longer a physical temple, but the believers have become living stones in a spiritual temple.
1 Peter 2: 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[5]
As we trust in Jesus, He forgives our sins and removes our guilt and shame. Believers have the promise of spending eternity with our Savior. To learn more about the rejected stone, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/parable-of-the-tenants
[1,5] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
[2,4] The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
[3] https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-hosanna-mean.html