The Capstone

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLEMENT CONCERNING CHRIST

THE CAPSTONE

Ps 118:22-24

22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

NIV

This is a most famous portion of scripture which has been quoted numerous times. The idea of the capstone or the corner stone as many other translations use has several meanings. Whether we see this as a corner stone or a capstone makes somewhat a difference as to what it means.

Matt 21:42-44

42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 

NIV

Again in the fulfillment scripture Jesus uses the term which has been translated both cornerstone and capstone. So which do we consider? The cornerstone was a stone that was cut we great care to be as exact as possible to being square. This was the first stone laid and used to set the whole of the foundation of the building so that the whole would be square. This would then mean Christ is the foundation of our life, which of course he is. Our whole life is based on Jesus. If the Father had not sent his Son to be the ultimate sacrifice we would have no life, our life, our building would not be square. That would mean it would be crooked or corrupted. We have been told on the day we are taken from this world we will exchange the corruptible for the incorruptible. Without Jesus we cannot be incorruptible. He is the cornerstone of our life. All our life is based on Jesus. If he is to be considered the capstone then another view of him would be seen. The capstone of a building was the last stone placed on the pinnacle of the building. This defined the title of the building, the meaning of the building. The name of the building could have been engraved in either the corner stone or the capstone. Because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the temple of God, we have Christ both as our corner stone and our capstone.  He defines who we are as a building. We have been told we are living stones being built into the temple of God. Each of us is being placed within the building set from the cornerstone. Yet he also is at the pinnacle of our lives. Those who do not know Christ or have accepted his as Lord and Savior do not have him as a cornerstone, as a basis for life. They have no focus based on God. Our lives are not only centered on the cornerstone, Christ, but also have him at the headship of our lives. We do not know for sure if God designed it this way, that the Jews would reject him as their cornerstone so that he was offered to us, the gentiles. It would seem that was the plan of God.  Jesus makes that pretty clear. The cornerstone has been taken from Israel and given to us, those of us who produce fruit. But he also wants Israel to come to him, to accept Christ. Whether they do is yet to be seen. Still we can praise his name because we have not rejected him as our cornerstone or capstone.