Matthew 21:42……Ready

Matthew 21:42……Ready

21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read  in the Scriptures:  “‘The stone (Some see a play on word “Stone” for the Hebrew word “Eben”  pronounced “Son”) the builders (Possibly the same as the Tenant Farmers)  rejected (Any uniformed or odd shaped stones that didn’t fit the pattern was rejected) has become the capstone the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes’ (This passage that Jesus quotes immediately preceded the passage that the people proclaimed during His triumphal entrance into Jerusalm-21:9). (For Complete Expository See Book) 

Extended Sermons

“Teaches how Jesus is to be the Foundational Cornerstone of our lives  – our faith, our hope, our values, our decisions” →  Building on Christ as the Cornerstone of our life’s will show up in our marriage, our relationships, our home, our careers, our work, our thoughts, our actions, our ambitions. Accepting Jesus as the cornerstone means acknowledging His Lordship over every aspect of our lives. It means surrendering our desires and ambitions to His will. When we make Jesus the foundation of our lives, we can have confidence that we are in good company, standing on His grace and mercy. When we build our lives on the solid foundation of Jesus will we find stability amidst the storms and uncertainties of life. When we build our lives on Jesus and His teachings, we find a solid foundation that keeps us strong even when everything else feels unstable or confusing. When building our lives on Jesus as the Cornerstone keeps the storms of this world from knocking us off, you will be immovable.

“Teaches worship will praise the power and wisdom in which God orchestrates His purposes and plans throughout our lives.” → Embracing true worship means recognizing and celebrating how God’s wisdom and power weaves through every circumstance of our life, even those we cannot understand, shaping our lives according to His sovereign will. As we entrust ourselves to Him, our adoration becomes an expression of trust in His perfect plan—a plan that stands firm no matter the chaos or uncertainty around us. How often do we recognize the importance and need to give thanks to God? That if it wasn’t for God we wouldn’t be where we are today. That the random events in our lives are not just happenstance, but the work of God. Recognizing that our lives are shaped by divine guidance, we can see meaning and purpose even in the moments that seem ordinary or unexpected, trusting that God is orchestrating every detail for our good. This understanding calls us to deeper faith and gratitude, knowing that the circumstances we face and the paths we walk are woven together by His loving hand. As we move forward, we are encouraged to seek His wisdom and remain steadfast, confident that God’s presence is the foundation of our journey and source of our strength.

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how we can know the bible in and out and but if we don’t live it out, we miss the point entirely.

Warns against choosing which scriptures we want to obey and which  ones we don’t, just because it’s not to our liking.

Teaches whatever is going on in our world, whatever pains, whatever persecutions, whatever sufferings, whatever rebellion, whatever apostasies. Though they may seem huge, know that Jesus is still King & Lord.

Encourages believers even when life seems out of control. Even when the wickedness of the world seems to have won, know that divine providence will prevail! They won’t be able to thwart to purpose of God.

Gives comfort and encouragement that with Jesus as our rock and foundation He does not move or change while everything else around us does.

Encourages those who struggle with rejection because of their faith in Christ, it is not you who they are rejecting, but Jesus Himself. (Trust in God’s ultimate plan even when people reject you and overlook you.)

Teaches as we make Jesus the cornerstone of our lives will we remain strong and unshakable in the face of every trouble we encounter! (Know that Christ and His truth is always stronger than our hardships!)

Teaches how we can to lean on Jesus, giving Him all our pressures and stress we’re going through.

Calls for recognizing the power, wisdom, and work of God in all things, even in the things we don’t understand.

Displays the splendor of God’s Sovereignty, that even through man’s autonomy and sinful defiance, God is still going to get His will done. (Plot all you want, do you want, fret all you want, plan all you want, God’s will, will be done!)

This metaphor within Psalm 118 expresses a common theme throughout the Old Testament of how God often overlooks the strong and selects the weak to accomplish His purposes. This theme was expressed in countless ways: God chose the aged Abraham and Sarah to give birth to His people (Genesis 12:1-6; Hebrews 11:8-12); His promise flowed through Jacob instead of his older brother (Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:13); God used stammering Moses to speak on His behalf before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:10); God summoned the enslaved children of Israel to be His nation (Deuteronomy 4:20; 5:6); He called skittish Gideon to lead His people against the Midianites (Judges 6:11-16); God chose the young, inexperienced, and perhaps illegitimate David to be the King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:7). Overarching all these illustrations is God choosing humans over the angels to rule over His creation (see commentary on Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2).

The quote is an architectural practice that Stonemasons would use in selecting the right stones to be used in constructing a building. Commentators are divided on what is actually meant by the word “Cornerstone”. Is Jesus talking about the Keystone in a buildings foundation. Or is He talking about a stone that would support roof and align the walls. Or possibly the last stone placed in a archway that is dropped in to hold the weight of other curved stones. In the days before steel beams, stones were the construction material of choice to strengthen structures. Builders inspected stones to determine their best use. Some stones were rejected and deemed unusable for construction while other stones were highly prized for their capability. The biggest and strongest stones were selected to be used in the foundation of the building. The cornerstone of a building, in addition to being part of the foundation and therefore supporting the superstructure. It also finalizes its shape, for, being placed at the corner formed by the junction of two primary walls, it determines the lay of the walls and cross-walls throughout. All the other stones must adjust themselves to this cornerstone. Such is the relation of Christ to His church.

In context the quoted passage is in reference to a song (hymn) of praise that though Israel would be rejected and defeated by the nations around them, God will miraculously intervene and deliver Israel over their enemies. (Some understand it as David referring to himself though rejected by Israel’s leaders will be vindicated by God) (See Ps. 118:1-24)