Matthew 21:42

The stone, etc.] Psalms 118:22; Acts 4:11. The 'stone,' of course, is Christ. The 'builders' are the Jews. The 'head of the corner' is the most important position in a building, so that Christ represents Himself as the foundation upon which the Kingdom of God was to be built up in spite of His rejection by the Jews.

In the Ps. the 'stone' is the Jewish nation, rejected and despised by the Gentiles during the captivity, but after the return restored to a place of honour among the nations of the earth. But on the principle that what is said of Israel applies especially to the Messiah, the rabbis interpreted the passage Messianically, e.g. Rabbi Salomo on Micah 5:1 said, 'It is the Messiah the Son of David, of whom it is written, The stone which the builders rejected,' etc.