Matthew 21:42

Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Matthew 21:42 (KJV)

Context

Jesus speaks these words to the chief priests and elders in the temple, immediately after telling the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-41). In that parable, the vineyard owner’s servants are rejected and killed, and finally his son is cast out and slain. Jesus then asks what the owner will do to those husbandmen, and the leaders themselves answer that he will miserably destroy them. By quoting Psalm 118:22-23, Jesus turns their own judgment back on them: they are the builders who have rejected the Son.

Meaning

Jesus begins with a searching question: “Did ye never read in the scriptures?” The religious leaders were experts in the Law and the Prophets, yet they failed to see that the Scriptures pointed to Him. The “stone” is the Messiah, and the “builders” are the religious leaders who evaluated and rejected Him. In ancient building, the cornerstone was the first and most important stone, setting the alignment for the whole structure. Despite their rejection, God made Jesus the head of the corner—the central, foundational stone of His redemptive plan.

The phrase “this is the Lord’s doing” declares that Christ’s exaltation is entirely God’s work, not a human achievement. The leaders’ rejection did not thwart God’s purpose; it became the very means by which salvation was accomplished. The response “it is marvellous in our eyes” calls for wonder and awe at God’s surprising reversal. What seemed like defeat was actually victory, and what the builders discarded became the cornerstone of the spiritual building.

Biblical connections

The quotation comes from Psalm 118:22-23, a psalm of thanksgiving for deliverance that was often associated with the Messiah. Jesus applies it directly to Himself, identifying Himself as the rejected stone who becomes the cornerstone. The same imagery appears in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7, where the apostles and Peter use it to proclaim Christ’s resurrection and His role as the foundation of the church. These later uses confirm that the early church understood this verse as a prophecy of Christ’s rejection and exaltation.

Application

This verse calls every believer to acknowledge Jesus as the cornerstone of faith and to build life upon Him. Just as a building’s stability depends on its cornerstone, spiritual life is grounded in the person and teachings of Christ. The warning to the religious leaders remains relevant: it is possible to know the Scriptures and still miss the Messiah. The right response is not rejection but faith, and not self-reliance but wonder at God’s saving work.

Reflection

God often works through what the world discards. Jesus was rejected by those who should have recognized Him, yet God made Him the cornerstone of salvation. This truth invites humility and trust. When human wisdom dismisses Christ, divine wisdom exalts Him. The marvel of the Lord’s doing is that the rejected stone became the foundation of hope for all who believe.