The Cornerstone and Capstone

1 Peter 2:4-8 4* ¶ As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- 5* you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6* For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7* Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," 8* and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.

“From the original position and function of the cornerstone arose figures of speech in many languages referring to cornerstones or foundation stones of character, faith, liberty, or other excellences. Early buildings … were laid out with astronomical precision in relation to points of the compass, with emphasis on corners. Cornerstones symbolized "seeds" from which buildings would germinate and rise.” from Encylcopedia Brittanica

“Cornerstones and capstones are the most important stones in a building. The cornerstones of a foundation join the walls together and the capstone (a.k.a. keystone) is the crown of the building upon which the master builder might place his signature. If these should fail, the whole structure is doomed to fall. Christ is the capstone because He is the glory, the crown, and the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. He is the signature of the merciful God and the cornerstone of the Church in which Jews and Gentiles are joined together as a habitation for God. [Eph 2:19-22] Jesus is the stone which the builders (meaning the Jewish leaders and the mob before Pilate) rejected but which has now become the honored chief cornerstone. [Psa 118:22; see also Zec 10:4; Mt 21:42-43; Mk 12:10; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7]”

Stones: are symbols of strength, changelessness, eternity, permanence, resolution, durability, immortality, harmony, cohesion, indestructibility, age, and the wisdom of the ages.

Matthew 21:42 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'?

1 Cor 10:4 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4* and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Isaiah 28:16 16* So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

The Bible often uses rocks as symbols of the unchangeable and eternal nature of God. [1 Sam 2:2; 2 Sam 22:3; Is 17:10; Ps 28:1, 31:2-3, 89:26, 95:1; Mt 16:18; Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 10:4] Jacob referred to God as the "Shepherd, the Rock of Israel," . [Gen 49:24]

The most famous stones in the Bible are those upon which God wrote the Ten Commandments. [1 Ki 8:9; Ex 24:12, 31:18, 34:4; Deu 4:13, 5:22, 9:9-11, 10:1-3]

Rocks or heaps of rocks were often set up as reminders of special events or covenants. [1 Sam 20:19] [Gen 31:46-48] [1 Sam 7:12] (Ebenezer means 'Stone of Help.')

Rocks were also used as landmarks. [2 Sam 20:8; 1 Ki 1:9; Josh 15:6, 18:17] Families were compared to buildings and their children were considered the stones of the ancestral home. God compared the creation of the world with the building of a house. Christ is most likely the cornerstone of the world-house. [Job 38:6]

“The Lord God lay a stone in Zion, a tried and precious cornerstone, for a sure foundation. this cornerstone is Jesus in whom Christians may put their trust and build upon so that in the Last Day they will not be disappointed.” [Isa 28:16; 1 Cor 3:12-13] from : http://ww2.netnitco.net

“The stone laid in Zion is precious, like a secure sanctuary to those who believe, but to unbelievers, He is "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense....a trap and a snare" [1 Pet 2:6-8; Isa 8:14; Zech 10:4; Eph 2:20] Paul writes that the stumbling stone is the pursuit of righteousness through the Law apart from faith. [Rom 9:30-33] Since no one can keep the Law perfectly, righteousness can only be obtained through faith in the mercy of God and the sacrifice of His Son.” from : http://ww2.netnitco.net

“Jesus warns the Jewish leaders that the faith of righteousness will be evidenced by its fruits, saying, "The kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." [Mt 21:43-44; Lk 20:17-18] from : http://ww2.netnitco.net

“Christ is called a Stone, to teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the foundation on which they are built. He is precious in the excellence of his nature, the dignity of his office, and the glory of his services. “ from MHCC

Conclusion 1 Cor 3: 10* By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11* ¶ For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12* If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13* his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15* If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. 16* ¶ Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.