Rock and Stone


Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. -Matthew 16:18 NLT

Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see.' -Matthew 21:42 NLT


I find these two verses in Matthew fascinating. The idea of papal authority has its roots in the first verse. It sees the foundation of the church as one rooted in the man Cephas - who Jesus renamed Peter (which means rock). Some understand this verse differently and think Jesus is simply responding to Peter confession - You are the Messiah.

Yet just a few chapters later Matthew records Jesus teaching that the foundation of the church would be the rejected stone - namely Jesus. This makes so much more sense to me. Mark, Luke, Paul and Peter himself also testify to this in their writings. The church universal is built on the person and character of Jesus. And no power will conquer it.

You are the cornerstone Lord Jesus. On the foundation of your life we can lay the living stones of our lives.


... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on words in the bible.

1 comment:

I love to get comments and usually respond. So come back to see my reply.
You can click here to see my comment policy.