And lastly, Peter in his first epistle performs a masterful exposition of the passage. Jesus is a “living stone” to whom we have come as “living stones,” stones that are being built into a spiritual house which is the Church. He assures believers by quoting Isaiah 28:16, noting that those who believe in God’s “chief cornerstone” will never be ashamed for such a faith. Then he notes those who rejected Christ, quoting Psalm 118:22 (the stone the builders rejected) and Isaiah 8:14 (to the disobedient Jesus was a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense). As we said, this is a masterful exposition of the “Jesus the Rock” theme, especially for a fisherman. But, of course, he was taught by The Master!
Jesus quoted Psalm 118 after relating “the parable of the wicked vinedressers.” You may remember that Jesus used parables generally to reveal truth to believers but to keep it from those who were blind. In the case of this parable, told to the leaders, told about the leaders, was not lost on the leaders; they understood He was talking about them (21:45-46). It is also significant that Jesus used Psalm 118 in the days leading up to Passover. In the Seder it was traditional to read the Hillel Psalms of which 118 is one. And further, there was a point in connection with the “cup of redemption” that this specific passage was read. When the leaders celebrated the Seder later that week they would not be able to escape the impact of the passage, especially as they condemned Jesus and as He hung on the cross.
Did the Jews see this passage as Messianic? We will refer you to John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible and his commentary on this passage (you can find it here: https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=gill&b=19&c=118). The Jews had various interpretations, which included a few who saw it as Messianic.
Here is what I consider important. Matthew does not use the familiar words, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet. Instead Jesus makes the claim for Himself. He makes it in a specific context (the parable) to specific culprits (the leaders). Psalm 118:22 is a passage that is made abundantly clear when you see it in Jesus; apart from Jesus we might understand the Jews not being sure of its meaning. It speaks of the chief cornerstone (the most fundamental stone at the start of a building, fits Messiah quite well) and of that same person being the stone the builders rejected. It is, yet again, a passage that speaks of the sufferings and the glories of Messiah. And significantly, it tells us His suffering was connected to the builders of the Nation.
Before we leave this amazing Psalm, let us note 118:23-24. We are talking about the rejection of Jesus, the Son of God, the Lord of Hosts, Yeshua Meshiach. We are told this was the LORD’s doing, as Peter said on Pentecost: Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death (Ac. 2:23); and as Isaiah said: smitten by God, and afflicted … the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all … yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief (53:4,6,10).
How could God do this? It was the most supreme expression of His love and His grace to mankind. Thus, Psalm 118 goes on: It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Meditate on this. We love to sing the little ditty “This is the day, this is the day,” at the beginning of each day we live, as if we are the fulfillment of Psalm 118:24. Let us rejoice in our days. But none of our days even begin to compare with the day the Stone the builders rejected became the Chief Cornerstone. Our best day ever is the day of salvation, the day we trusted Christ, confessing Him as Lord (2 Cor. 6:2). Let us rejoice in every day we live as a day to grow in salvation, to overcome sin through our faith in Christ.
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