“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that be- lieveth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedi- ent, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobe- dient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Pet. 2:6–8.)
The construction workers were laying the foundation upon which the house would be built. As they were selecting the stones for the foundation, they looked at one, rejected it; but it became the cornerstone, so important to the foundation of the house. However, before it could become the cornerstone, certain events had to transpire. There had to be a rejection of the stone.
Seven hundred years before Christ came into the world as the Babe of Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah foretold of those events: “Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, That rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, And with hell are we at agreement; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that be- lieveth shall not make haste.” (Isa. 28:14–16.)
From this passage, four things would have to happen before the cornerstone was laid: (1) Some would make a covenant with death. This was fulfilled when Judas agreed with the chief priests to betray the Lord for 30 pieces of silver (Matt. 26:14-16). (2) A group would make an agreement with hell or hades. After Jesus was crucified, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate to request that he make the sepulcher sure until the third day after Jesus had died. Pilate told them, “Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.” (Matt. 27:63-66.) (3) They would make lies their refuge. In the Lord’s trial, the chief priests and elders sought false witnesses against Jesus to put him to death (Matt. 26:59-61). (4) These same one who hide themselves be- hind falsehood. When it was reported to the chief priests that Jesus’s body was not in the tomb, they paid the soldiers to lie, saying that the disciples had stolen the body while they slept (Matt. 28:11-15). These four events transpired before the Reject- ed Stone became the Corner Stone.
Jesus told the parable about the wicked husbandmen who killed the landowner’s son. Jesus asked the chief priests and el- ders of the people what would the lord of the vineyard do to them? They said “He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which will render him the fruits in their seasons. ” (Matt. 21:33-41.) Then Jesus said, “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? There- fore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whom- soever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt. 21:42– 44.) When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables,“they perceived that he spake of them.” They wanted to take him then, but they feared the people. Jesus likened the son in the par- able who was killed to the stone which the builders rejected. The Jews knew that Jesus spoke of them. It was not hard for them to get the thrust of Jesus’ message.
If there be any doubt as to whom the stone rejected repre- sents, Peter made it plain to the council in Jerusalem: “Then Pe-
ter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8–12.) Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom they crucified was that stone set aside, but it became the head of the corner.
Peter’s inspired words at the beginning of this article tell us what it means to reject the Stone or Christ now. It is to be diso- bedient to Jesus’ words: “...but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is the head of the corner. So, to reject the words of the Lord, is to reject the Lord. Though the Jews rejected Jesus in the first century, many people, Jews and Gentiles reject him today by not obeying his word (John 12:48).What are some ways that people disallow or reject Jesus today?
When one denies or rejects the one church for which Jesus died, he is guilty of rejecting Jesus (Matt. 16:13-19).
When one rejects the necessity of baptism, one is rejecting Christ, because he commanded the act of baptism (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16).
When one turns his back on the Lord’s day assembly, he is rejecting Christ (Heb. 10:24-29).
When one corrupts the worship prescribed by the Lord by adding mechanical instruments to the worship, he rejects the Lord (John 4:23-24; Eph. 5:19; Rev. 22:18-19).
When on the first day of the week one fails to give as he has prospered, he is rejecting Jesus (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
When one fails to let his light shine by his good influence, he rejects Jesus (Matt. 5:14-16; 10:33).
Isaiah wrote, “Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhab- itants of Jerusalem.” (Isa. 8:13–14.) Instead of the Lord’s being a stumbling block to us, let him be our sanctuary (our sacred place) by sanctifying him, fearing him. Thus, obeying his word.