My dad is a carpenter. He’s built houses for longer than I’ve been alive, and I’ve picked up a few things from him. First, I’ve learned the importance of having a level foundation to build upon, and second, I’ve learned the importance of everything being plumb (straight). When not plumb, doors and windows get stuck, steps are thrown off, and it’s a headache to try to rectify later in the build.
Today, most houses are built with wooden frames, sheetrock, etc., but in ancient Israel and the surrounding areas, most houses were built with stones. In fact, there is some speculation that the Greek word tekton, what we’ve translated as “carpenter” regarding Jesus’ profession, could more closely be translated as “craftsman”, “worker” or even “mason.” Whatever Jesus’ true profession, with the understanding that buildings were made from stone, it makes sense that Jesus was referred to as “the cornerstone” in multiple passages. Peter, in Acts 4:11, refers to Psalms 118:22:
“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.”
And he quotes it directly in 1 Peter 2:6-8:
“For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”
You may or may not know what a cornerstone is, but for the sake of clarity, it is exactly as it sounds: a stone in the corner of a building. The cornerstone is the first stone that is laid after the foundation, and it is the stone that all the other stones are lined up with to ensure the building is plumb. It plays an extremely important role in the building of these ancient structures, and without it, they are unsteady and could be quite uneven. With all this background, let’s look at Ephesians 2:11-22.
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
There are quite a few references to building here. The first one I want to focus on is in verse 14. Before the foundation is even laid, the build site needs to be prepared. That may mean demolishing any pre-existing structures to make room for the new build. In verse 14, Jesus is doing just that: he’s tearing down the “walls of hostility” between us. To Paul’s audience, the Ephesians, that meant the walls between the Israelites and Gentiles. To us, it could mean the walls of hostility between political parties, denominations, cultures, and socio-economic standing—pretty much whatever walls we put up to divide us. Jesus demolishes those walls to make room for something much better. I like to think of Jesus going all Wreck-it-Ralph on those walls; he sees walls of hostility between people and says, “I’m going to wreck it!” Jesus replaces our identities as “strangers” and “aliens” with “citizens” and “household members.” Importantly, in his work of reconciling us to God, he also reconciles with each other.
The next mention of building practices comes up in verse 20. He states that our household is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. For this house to be level, we need to be built upon those that came before us. We learn from the prophets of the Old Testament, as well as the apostles in the New Testament. Both have been sent by God to speak to his people.
Paul agrees with Peter here and sees Christ’s role as the cornerstone of this house. He is the one that all the other stones (us) look to in order to make sure we are straight. He is the first stone laid, and the stone from which we are all directed. We are joined together with him to be a holy temple, a dwelling place for God.
One extremely important part of this process that can be easily overlooked comes up in verse 22. It states that we are “being built together…by the Spirit.” It is the Holy Spirit who lays the stones down, adding each person to the holy temple, making us plumb with Christ. It’s not by our efforts that we line up with Jesus, but rather the Holy Spirit’s work in us. It’s also his work in us that unites us (individual stones) to become one holy house. It brings us full circle back to 2:8-10.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Because of God’s grace towards us, let us remember who we were before Christ (separated, alienated, hopeless, hostile [vs. 12 & 14]) and how he has changed all that. Let us allow Jesus to break down our walls of hostility and allow the Holy Spirit to build us up together with Christ. After all, he is the Great Builder.
“(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)”
Hebrews 3:4