Summary
In this powerful close to Matthew 21, Jesus reveals Himself as both the cornerstone and the capstone—the essential piece that makes sense of all of God’s redemptive plan. Citing Psalm 118, Jesus confronts the religious leaders with the fact that they, the builders, have rejected the very stone upon which the law and prophets depend. Without Him, there is no foundation, no fulfillment, and no future.
Jesus declares that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and given to a people who bear its fruit—those who believe in and follow Christ. The warning is stark: to stumble on this stone is to be broken; to be crushed by it is to face judgment. Yet, for those who receive Christ, He becomes the key to understanding life, faith, and all of reality.
The religious leaders knew He was speaking of them, but fearing the crowd, they held back—for now. As hearers of this text, we are compelled to ask: Is Jesus truly our cornerstone and capstone? Is He central to our lives, or merely an accessory? For those who receive Him, the blessings of the kingdom are theirs—justification, forgiveness, peace, hope, and the gift of the Spirit. But for those who reject Him, there is only ruin.
Christ must be central, not only in our theology but in our obedience. Let every area of our lives be brought under His reign. Let us not reject the stone the Lord Himself has made marvelous in our eyes.
