The Stone Rejected by the Builders

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Short Summary
The discourse explores the prophecy of the cornerstone from Old Testament scriptures such as Isaiah 28 and Psalm 118, highlighting how Jesus Christ fulfilled these prophecies as the rejected stone that became the chief cornerstone of the spiritual temple. It emphasizes the rejection of Jesus by the religious leaders of Israel, the establishment of the Church as a temple of living stones with Christ as its foundation, and the role of grace throughout salvation history culminating in the ultimate recognition of Christ by all. The teaching underscores the continuity between Old Testament prophecy, Jesus’ ministry, and the apostolic understanding of the Church’s spiritual foundation.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on “The Stone Rejected by the Builders”

Theme and Origin of the Title:
– The discourse centers on the prophecy of the cornerstone, drawn from Psalm 118, specifically the verse:
*“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner”* (Psalm 118:22 KJV).
– This cornerstone prophecy is foundational to Christian faith, identifying Jesus Christ as the rejected stone who becomes the chief cornerstone of God’s spiritual temple.

Jesus’ Resurrection and Scriptural Fulfillment:
– After His resurrection, Jesus walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, explaining how the Old Testament Scriptures (Moses and all the prophets) foretold His death and resurrection (Luke 24:27).
– The disciples expressed amazement that their hearts “burned within us while he talked with us and opened the Scriptures” (Luke 24:32 paraphrase).
– This Old Testament prophecy prepared Israel for the Messiah’s coming, as also shown by the people’s expectation (Luke 3:15) and John the Baptist’s questioning of his own identity (John 1:19-21).

Messianic Expectations in Israel:
– Herod’s decree to kill all male children under two (Matthew 2:16) reflects the high anticipation of the Messiah.
– The chief priests and scribes identified Bethlehem as the Messiah’s birthplace, citing Micah 5:2 (Matthew 2:4-5).
– Jesus’ parents fled to Egypt to protect Him, fulfilling prophecy and preserving the Messiah.

Early Church and the Cornerstone Prophecy:
– After Pentecost, Peter and John healed a lame man, were imprisoned, and before the Sanhedrin Peter boldly declared Jesus as the cornerstone prophecy fulfillment:
*“He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else…”* (Acts 4:10-12).
– This event set a pattern of confident, factual preaching by the apostles despite persecution.

Old Testament Foundations of the Cornerstone Prophecy:
– Key Old Testament passages include Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118.
– Isaiah 28:16:
*“Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation stone… a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation…”*
This “cornerstone” (Hebrew ‘pinna’) is linked to Zion, the symbolic dwelling of God and future kingdom seat (Jeremiah 8:19; Zechariah 8).
– The cornerstone is “tried” and “precious,” offering a sure foundation for faith, contrasting with deceitful rulers (Isaiah 28 context).

Psalm 118 – Praise and Prophecy:
– Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving psalm, emphasizing God’s lovingkindness (Hebrew *chesed*).
– Notable verses include:
– Verse 1: *“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His loving kindness endures forever.”*
– Verse 22: *“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”*
– Verses 15-16 praise the “right hand of the Lord,” symbolizing God’s power and salvation.
– This psalm was sung on significant occasions: Ark placements, temple dedications (1 Chronicles 16:34; 2 Chronicles 5,7), and temple rebuilding after exile (Ezra 3:10-11).

Jesus’ Use of Psalm 118 in the Parable of the Wicked Tenants:
– In Matthew 21:33-46, Jesus told the parable of tenants who killed the landowner’s servants and son.
– He applied Psalm 118:22-23 to Himself:
*“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”*
– Jesus identified the religious leaders as the “builders” who rejected Him, the son of God and rightful heir.
– He prophesied that the kingdom would be taken from them and given to a “nation bearing fruit” (Matthew 21:43), referring to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 7-9 Prophecies Related to the Stone:
– Isaiah 7:14 prophesies the virgin birth: *“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”*
– Isaiah 8:14 describes the stone as a “sanctuary, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” to Israel.
– Isaiah 9:6-7 foretells the Messiah’s divine titles and eternal government.
– Jesus is the “stone of stumbling” that Israel rejected, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy (John 1:11).

Paul’s and Peter’s New Testament Interpretations:
– Romans 9:32-33 cites Isaiah 28:16, describing Jesus as the “stone of stumbling and rock of offense,” with promise that believers “will not be disappointed.”
– 1 Peter 2:4-10 describes Jesus as a “living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious to God” and calls believers “living stones” built into a spiritual house (the Church).
– Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16 and Psalm 118:22 to emphasize Jesus as the “precious cornerstone.”
– Believers are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” called to proclaim God’s excellencies (1 Peter 2:9).

Zechariah 4 Prophecy – The Top Stone:
– Zechariah 4:7 mentions Zerubbabel bringing forth the “top stone” with “shouts of grace, grace.”
– The top stone (capstone) is the crowning stone of a building, symbolizing the completion and perfection of God’s temple.
– Zerubbabel’s laying and completing the temple foundation is a type of Christ’s work in building the spiritual temple (the Church).
– The phrase “shouts of grace” signifies God’s unmerited favor completing the salvation plan.

Paul’s Teaching on the Church as the Temple Built on Christ:
– Ephesians 2:19-22 describes believers as fellow citizens and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.
– Ephesians 4:11-16 explains the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in building up the body of Christ into unity and maturity.
– The Church is a spiritual temple with living stones (believers) fitted perfectly together, growing into a holy temple in the Lord.

Summary of the Cornerstone Symbolism:
– The cornerstone is the first stone laid, setting the building’s angles and foundation.
– Jesus as the chief cornerstone is the foundation of the Church and the spiritual temple.
– The “builders” (religious leaders) rejected Him, failing to recognize their time of visitation (Luke 19:44).
– Believers are “living stones” shaped and polished by God’s word and love, fit together in unity.

Practical and Spiritual Applications:
– Understanding these prophecies strengthens faith in Jesus as Messiah and Savior.
– The Church’s foundation is Christ’s truth and resurrection, not human leaders.
– Believers are called to live in unity, love, and spiritual maturity under Christ, the head.
– The ultimate fulfillment will be the completion of the spiritual temple, with Jesus as the crowning capstone.
– This will usher in final grace and salvation for all mankind (Titus 2:11; Romans 5:19-21).

Closing Reflections:
– The discourse ends with praise for God’s enduring lovingkindness (Psalm 118:1,29) and hopeful anticipation of the full recognition of Christ as the chief cornerstone.
– The rejected stone has become the marvellous foundation of God’s spiritual house — a source of grace for the Church and the world.

—

Key Bible Verses Cited:

– Psalm 118:22-23:
*“The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”*

– Isaiah 28:16:
*“Behold, I lay in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.”*

– Matthew 21:42-44:
Jesus quotes Psalm 118 and declares the kingdom will be given to a nation bearing fruit.

– Isaiah 7:14:
*“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”*

– Isaiah 8:14:
*“He shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense.”*

– Isaiah 9:6-7:
*“For unto us a child is born…and the government shall be upon his shoulder…The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”*

– John 1:11:
*“He came to his own, and his own received him not.”*

– Romans 9:32-33:
*“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offense, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”*

– 1 Peter 2:4-10:
Describes Jesus as living stone and believers as living stones built into a spiritual house.

– Zechariah 4:7:
*“Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.”*

– Ephesians 2:19-22:
Believers are built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ as chief cornerstone.

– Ephesians 4:11-16:
The Church grows and builds itself up in love under Christ.

– Titus 2:11:
*“For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men.”*

—

This comprehensive summary highlights the theological depth and scriptural backing of the cornerstone prophecy, relating it to Jesus Christ, the Church, and God’s redemptive plan.

Transcript

The title for our discussion this afternoon is the stone Rejected by the Builders, and this comes from the 118th Psalm. The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.

Well, our subject today is really the prophecy of the cornerstone or the head of the corner as here translated in the King James Version and the Rvic. Old Testament prophecies like this one provide us with the basis for our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, and of course, no one knew this better than Jesus himself. Likely on the afternoon of his resurrection as a spirit being after appearing to Mary Magdalene and to the women coming from the sepulcher and to Peter alone, Jesus walked with two disciples on the road between Jerusalem and Emmaus, and Luke explains for us then, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

The walk to Emmaus had such a tremendous impact on those two disciples that they later commented with these familiar and precious did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us, by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?

Can you imagine how the disciples felt on that walk and how encouraged they must have been to understand that the death of our Lord just a few days earlier and his subsequent resurrection that very morning were fully predicted and confirmed by the Scriptures? The Scriptures, of course, at that time were what we know as the Old Testament. There was no New Testament written yet now it was apparent that the prophecies of the Old Testament had readied those in Israel for the Messiah. As recorded for us in Luke 3:15, the people were in expectation, and in John 1:19 21, where John the Baptist was asked if he were the Christ who art thou?

The coming of this Messiah was so anticipated that Herod ordered the execution of all the children in the land under the age of two upon learning of Jesus birth, and even the chief priests and scribes had accurately identified from these prophecies where the Messiah was to be born. Matthew 2, 4, 5 reads, gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born, and they said to him, in Bethlehem of Judea. For this is what has been written by the prophet.

And of course we know that that prophet was Micah, and that quote would be from Micah 5, 2. Well, isn’t it incredible that Israel’s civil and religious rulers of that day knew generally where and approximately when Jesus was going to be born? Jesus was practically there, right under their noses, so to speak, even as they were looking for the Messiah foretold by the Old Testament. Prophecies. No wonder then, that his parents, Jesus parents Mary and Joseph, heeded the angel’s advice and hid in Egypt until her was dead.

Well, if we fast forward 33 years from Jesus birth to the first test and persecution of the Church after Pentecost, we find the account of Peter and John, who healed a lame man outside the temple. They were imprisoned for this kind act, for healing a lame man, and were brought before the Sanhedrin, the council of religious rulers of Israel, and Peter at this time chose to quote none other than the cornerstone prophecy. Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead by this name, this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone.

And there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

This text records a powerful event in the history of the early Church. The authority with which Peter eloquently and convincingly charged the religious rulers set the pattern for the future. Peter and John were influential role models for their brethren, but they were not vindictive, nor were they mean spirited in their words. They were factual and confident of the full Gospel and of the resurrection of the rejected Messiah, the Savior of the world. The amazed council, the Sanhedrin noted these two men as having been with Jesus.

Christians find it faith strengthening that Jesus and his apostles have illuminated the beautiful meanings of the Old Testament cornerstone prophecies, and as a result of their inspired understanding of God’s Word and their application of it in circumstances, as we have seen, they provided us with better insight into the plans of God and specifically how to better understand the Christian head and body. The prophecies, as we shall see, will also help put into perspective key truths about the temple or house of God, Christ as the chief foundation of the Church, and Israel’s blindness at the first advent. I’d like to outline our approach in this lesson for you. We’re first going to consider the passages of Scripture that contain the prophecy, as well as some other ones that are related.

And the cornerstone prophecy is both found in Isaiah 28 and Psalm 118. Isaiah 28 is a chapter full of imagery and symbols, and the cornerstone is here mentioned in verse 14 as part of a larger prophetic passage. Psalm 118, like many other Psalms, is largely a song of praise, but with a few prophetic verses. The principles of the cornerstone prophecy are then supported by related prophecies in Isaiah chapter 7 through 9. In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter summarizes these Old Testament prophecies and some others into the picture of the temple of living stones.

A beautiful summary and a practical application for the prophecy of the Church. Now there’s another Old Testament prophecy that’s related to this one. We find that in Zechariah 4 and we’ll get a special blessing from its consideration today. Well, and as we know, throughout his writings, the Apostle Paul makes many references, direct and indirect, to these prophecies, and these will bring home to us the importance of Jehovah’s forethought and his special provision for those brought into covenant relationship to him by following his Son. Let’s first consider Isaiah 28.

In this chapter the Lord speaks of deceitful rulers of Jerusalem who deal in lies and who have made a covenant with death. Isaiah 28:16 reads, Therefore thus says the Lord, behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make haste. Well, the Hebrew Whoops, sorry. The Hebrew word for corner, Strong’s 6438 Pinna means angle and is used elsewhere in Scripture to define the right angle of a corner, something like a 90 degree angle, such as the four corners of the brazen altar here shown from Exodus 27:2.

Hinna is also translated chief in the King James when describing the leaders of the tribes of Israel, such as in Judges 22. Now, in the context of the traditional building process that would have been in place in days of old, especially in building with stone, there is usually first a foundation stone that is set that lays the angles and positions for the rest of the building. This is strong 68 Eben, and this is commonly known as Eben pinna or the cornerstone.

The prophecy in Isaiah correlates with the cornerstone or correlates the cornerstone with Zion, as you noted in those scriptures in Zechariah 8, Thus saith the Lord, I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain Jerusalem, the symbolic seat of God’s dwelling with natural Israel and the seat of the future kingdom government is built upon Mount Zion. Zion is also the symbolic dwelling place of God in the Old Testament Scripture, such as Jeremiah 8:19, and it is often a picture of spiritual Israel. While this cornerstone passage in Isaiah 28 is highly prophetic to both natural Israel and spiritual Israel. Further examination is required to understand its prophetic meaning. The New Testament here provides great assistance for us.

For instance, Isaiah 28:16 is partly quoted in Romans 9 and it’s fully quoted in 1 Peter 2:6, both of which we’ll read a bit later, and the sense of the apostle’s interpretation of Isaiah 28:16’s shall not make haste is shall not be ashamed or not be disappointed, and that means that these that believe in this stone would not be ashamed or disappointed in that belief. In other words, the faith would be rewarded. Thus the cornerstone tried and tested would then provide a sure foundation for faith in truthful contrast to the lies of the deceitful rulers that are identified in this Isaiah 28 prophecy let’s move on to Psalm 118.

The 118th Psalm has been an important one to the nation of Israel throughout their history and to Christians as well. It is mostly a psalm of praise, but it is also part proverb and it is even part prophecy. It contains a very encouraging message, a pleasant recounting of past deliverance and of hope and confidence in the future blessing of the Lord Jehovah oft quoted citations from this psalm include, this is the day which the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it. Verse 24 and the Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. Verse 14.

See also Exodus 15:2. This is also the same language that’s used in the song of Moses.

The predominant theme of this beautiful psalm is the mercy or lovingkindness of the Lord Jehovah, which is the English translation of the precious word chesed in the Hebrew.

The reader will note that the first verse of Psalm 118, which reads, Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his loving kindness is everlasting, is a common opening to psalms of thanksgiving, such as Psalms 106, Psalm 107, and Psalm 136 and Psalm 118 not only starts with this verse, but it also ends with this verse in verse 29 the very same words. These exact same words are also found in David’s prayer of Thanksgiving from 1st Chronicles 16:34 when David brought the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, and he placed it in a tent, King Solomon offered Jehovah with very similar words at the placement of the ark inside the newly built temple, and then again later at the temple’s dedication, and those are recorded for us in Second Chronicles five and as well Chapter seven. So chapters five and Chapter seven. Now, also, and appropriately, these same words were sung by Israel at the placement of the first stone at the rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian captivity.

And this is recorded for us in Ezra 3, 10 and 11. Seems like a fairly common, simple phrase, but it is very oft repeated and for very important occasions. The history of Israel. The careful Bible student will recognize that other verses in Psalm 118 also make a subtle reference to the Messiah. Verses 15 and 16 read as follows.

The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. The right hand of the Lord is exalted. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. Throughout Scripture, Jehovah’s right hand is a symbol of preference and a symbol of his majestic power.

It is a place of safety and salvation for those who seek him, and we’ve got many Scripture references from that, from Genesis 48, 7, Exodus 15, 6, Psalm 17, 7 and Psalm 26 in the New Testament, as well as the words of David in Psalm 110. 1. The right hand of Jehovah is the place where Jesus Christ was exalted after his ascension into heaven. That’s recorded for us in Acts 2.

And it’s often that we think of the right hand or the arm of the Jehovah is representing the works of God through the Logos in the Old Testament. Well, now Jesus himself quotes from Psalm 118 during the last week of his human life, and this is found in all three synoptic gospels in Matthew 21, in Mark 12, and in Luke 20, and let’s set the scene here. Jesus has just ridden into Jerusalem.

He’s cleansed the temple and he’s healed the blind and the lame. The religious rulers have become impatient and found him preaching the Gospel in the temple, and they question his authority to preach and to heal. Jesus used this opportunity to give one of his last parables, this time not specifically for his disciples, but for these religious rulers. This is the parable of the tenants or the parable of the wicked husbandman, and in this parable, the landowner’s servants and then his son are killed by the wicked tenants who manage the landowner’s vineyard.

After he tells this parable, Jesus then asks the religious rulers what the landowner will do to those tenants, and they answer that the landowner will miserably destroy those wicked men and let out his vineyard to other tenants that will provide him with fruits in their seasons. Well, at this point in his earthly ministry, Jesus finds it expedient to Partially interpret this parable, or the spiritually hard of hearing, by quoting Psalm 118, 22, 23, right after he recounts the parable. Did you never read in the Scriptures the stone which the builders rejected? The same has become the head of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Jesus, as the preacher of the kingdom of God, was this stone. He was rejected by the builders who were the religious rulers of that day, the very same men who were questioning his authority to heal and to preach the kingdom. It is clear from the Gospel accounts that the religious rulers knew that Jesus was talking about them. These builders were the caretakers of the kingdom of God, pictured by the vineyard. The vineyard would then be given to a new set of tenants or caretakers, as Jesus describes them, a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

The builders, the religious rulers of Israel, did not accept Jesus, the son of God, who is pictured by the son of the landowner in the parable, and although it’s not explained in the scripture, in this passage, we understand from Luke 11:47, 48 that the servants that were killed in this parable were the prophets, and therefore we conclude that the landowner could be none other than Jehovah God.

Well, as you see in this particular passage from Matthew 21:42, 43, and also in the Luke account of the parable of the wicked tenants, he also brings into play another prophecy from the Old Testament, and these are found in Isaiah chapter seven through nine, and obviously we won’t read all of them, but we’re going to pull some excerpts out from these three chapters in Matthew 21:44. Right after Jesus said these words here, he says, whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken. Well, what does it mean to fall on a rock?

Does that bring any sort of imagery into your mind? I think for most of it, it most likely, most of us, it most likely means to trip or to stumble or fall on that rock, and let’s look at Isaiah, chapter 8, verse 14.

And he shall be for a sanctuary, but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel. Do you see the similarity here? To whomever would fall on this stone and be broken, the cornerstone would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. Let’s dig in a little more into these Isaiah passages, and it’s helpful to understand the context of what’s going on at the time of Isaiah 7, 8 and 9, and it was near the end of the Israel, the ten tribe, kingdoms, empire.

And of course it was getting close to the persecution of and in fact the Assyrian persecution of Israel and specifically of Judah was also going on at this time. This Assyrian persecution was a direct punishment of the Lord upon Israel and upon Judah for their failure to heed the word of the Lord as preached by the prophets. A clue to understanding this prophecy Here in Isaiah 8:14 comes from a sign that was given by God to Ahaz, the king of Judah in the previous chapter. Isaiah 7:14 says, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

While there was a partial literal fulfillment of this scripture recorded in the early verses of Isaiah chapter 8, we know that this prophecy is really a grand picture of Jesus, and this prophecy continues with more Grandeur in chapter 9, verses 6 and 7. This is Isaiah 9, 6, 7. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or of peace on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness.

From then on and forevermore, the scripture goes on to say, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Doesn’t this then cause us to reflect back upon the words of Isaiah 8:14 with a similar view? That indeed the stone of stumbling and rock of offense truly applies in a prophetic sense to Jesus Christ? Well, the apostle John describes how Jesus was not accepted as the fulfillment of this Isaiah 9 prophecy when he came in the flesh. John 1:11 says, he came to his own, and those who were his own did not receive him.

Jesus was definitely a rock of offense to the religious rulers of his day. They didn’t recognize him as the Son of God, nor as the Messiah that was long promised. They rejected him by ensuring his death on the cross, and he was a stumbling block to both houses of Israel, the natural house of Israel. The Jews stumbled at the name of Jesus, and they missed their opportunity to receive the chief blessings of the Abrahamic promise because they misunderstood that the teachings of the law and of Jesus were about faith and not works.

And speaking of Israel, Paul says they stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written. Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and rock of offense, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed. Romans 9:32,33 and thus the opportunity for the natural house to become the spiritual house was given. To whom?

To the Gentiles, the nations bringing forth fruit, the fruit of faith in Jesus Christ in the other prophetic house, the spiritual house as referenced in 1st Peter 2. 5. Many nominal Christians have also stumbled at Jesus misunderstanding the basic yet essential doctrine of the ransom in the blood of Christ. 1st Peter 1:18 21 we won’t read that, but while we’re in Peter, let’s look at Peter’s Temple of Living Stones from 1 Peter 2 this chapter of Peter’s first epistle further confirms that the Old Testament prophecies about the cornerstone are indeed directly related to Jesus. Peter’s words help us to understand why a stone is such an appropriate picture of our Lord Jesus Christ and the church.

In 1 Peter 2. 4 the apostle describes Jesus as a living stone but rejected by men. This last phrase reminds us not only of the stone’s rejection by the builders, but of that prophetic description of our Lord as a man seen from the nation of Israel’s perspective. Recall from the Beautiful and emotional 53rd chapter of Isaiah verse 3 He is despised and rejected of men he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

But note how in the same verse Peter describes the heavenly perspective of the living stone as chosen of God. Precious this verse reminds us of God’s words from Isaiah 28:16 a tried stone, a precious corner. In verse 5 of 1st Peter 2, Peter then makes a statement that helps complete the picture of what the builders were supposed to be building. He relates this picture of our Lord Jesus as the cornerstone to us as members of the church. When he says, you also as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ah, these builders, the religious rulers of Israel, who knew not the time of their visitation from Luke 9:40, 1944, should have recognized the Son of God, and they should have built their faith upon him. Finally, Peter puts his entire picture together in 1 Peter 2, 6, 8, and he quotes here directly from the Old Testament pictures of Christ that we’ve considered in Isaiah 28, Psalm 118 and Isaiah 8, for this is contained in Scripture. Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed. This precious value then, is for you who believe, for those who disbelieve the stone which the builders rejected, this became the very cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense. For they stumble because they are disobedient to the Word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Peter shows how key Old Testament promises made to Israel, the natural house, were really intended for the spiritual house of Livingstones, with Israel having the first opportunity to be able to recognize all the lessons that were taught in the law and the prophets that pointed to the true Messiah. Quoting partly from Exodus 19:5 and from Deuteronomy 7:6, Peter also says in verse 9, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Well, how blessed are we to be included in these promises, to be able to participate in and to be included as stones in the temple of Christ.

The fourth chapter of the Book of Zechariah records the prophet’s vision of a golden lampstand, which seems to be a beautiful prophetic view of the building of the church during the Gospel age. Several aspects of this prophecy relate to our subject. The first is found in chapter four, verse seven, where Zerubbabel will bring forth the top stone. Whoops. Yeah.

Will bring forth the top stone with shouts of grace. Grace. Now we know that a top stone is the finishing or last stone of a building marking its completion. The top stone of a pyramid is also known as a capstone is not only the last stone that’s placed on the building, but it is also the reference, the proportionate model for the entire building, the exact pattern after which the pyramid is designed in terms of comparison to a cornerstone, which is typically the first stone that’s laid for a building’s foundation. The capstone provides the exact location, angles and dimensions for the foundation cornerstones and for the rest of the pyramid.

It is in effect the chief cornerstone of the pyramid, the first stone made and the last one placed, its crowning achievement and glory.

The next notable aspect of the prophecy from Zechariah 4 is found in verse 9, which notes that the first stone was laid by Zerubbabel, and the word of the Lord confirms that Zerubbabel will finish it. The House we know from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah that Zerubbabel was a governor of Judah who returned back from the Babylonian captivity. He and his fellow leaders literally laid the first stone in rebuilding the house of God, the temple at Jerusalem. This prophecy is a confirmation of that.

The rebuilding of the temple was an act of the Spirit of Jehovah. Recall the phrase that our Lord quoted. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23. In reading the prophecy as a whole, it’s not hard to see Zerubbabel as a type of Jesus Christ.

The house is a type of the spiritual temple of God, and the shape of that temple is a pyramid, with Jesus as the top stone, the chief cornerstone, and when we combine this imagery with the confirming scriptures from Peter and the ones that we’ll shortly consider from the Apostle Paul, this temple’s foundation is the apostles themselves, built on the sure foundation of Christ. That first stone, the saints, the individual living stones, are cut and polished in the quarry of the Gospel age experience and fitted quietly and perfectly together without tools, are growing into a holy temple of the Lord for their place underneath the pattern of the chief cornerstone.

I’m sure that you recognize this image. There’s another one over here.

You’ll note the careful choice of small complete pyramids throughout the chart, and these picture those who had a relationship with God, who in effect were able to have had an atonement with God to be able to directly work with him, and you’ll see Adam at the beginning in green, and then you see Noah, and then you see our Lord, etc. Well, Jesus in most of these cases is represented as a spirit being in the gold pyramids, and he’s first represented in green as a perfect man, then he’s resurrected as a perfect spirit being. Then he ascends to the divine nature.

He watches over the church in the Gospel age, and he returns as reaper, Lord and king, and then is united with the church as the glorified Christ, head and body, and finally as the head of all things. On the far right with the large pyramid, you’ll note the incomplete pyramids during the Gospel age on this chart represent the little flock at the top, first in the nominal church system, and then separated out during the harvest, and those are in the center of the Gospel age and over to the harvest side. Those are also represented in gold. Well, the final blessing that we’re going to Consider from Zechariah 4 comes from the simple shouting of grace, grace found in verse seven.

And these are the thoughts that appeal to us based on what the context this prophecy suggests. So can you imagine when the actual temple of God is completed and the final stone is put in place on top of the completed church? In this passage, the shouts of grace, grace. Indicate a double gift of blessing and point to Jehovah, the author of the plan of salvation, as the true source of. Of completing the building of the house.

And it will signify the fulfillment of the grace that’s been given to each member of the Church, the realization of their high calling, their redemption. It will also usher in a new stage for grace, the grace made available to the whole world through the Christ, head and body, the great deliverer. Paul’s letter to the Romans helps us understand this a little bit better.

For as by one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience, many will be made righteous. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. You see the contrast of sin abounding in the present evil world, and yet this glimmer of grace given to the Church to be followers of Jesus Christ during that age, and then after that reign of sin is over and death is destroyed, grace can reign through righteousness for the whole world. It’s a beautiful picture.

Well, grace abounds here. Excuse me. This will be the ultimate fulfillment of Titus 2:11. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. What a blessing for us to understand this.

The Apostle Paul also provides additional helpful perspective on the cornerstone prophecies throughout his writings, and he writes extensively of the importance of the body of Christ growing together under Christ, demonstrating the spirit of Christ in love for one another, and building upon this concept of Peter’s temple of living stones. The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:19 22 says, now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. We note the apostles words here specifically identifying Jesus as chief cornerstone and Peter called our Lord. This in the account that we read from Acts 4 very early on in our lesson.

Well, if we reflect back onto Psalm 118, verse 22 in Matthew 21:42, we have that phrase head of the corner. Well, the word for head there is Strong’s 7218 rosh, and it means most important or chief, and it’s used as we know, as head of the corner or as chief cornerstone. So we think that this particular application of chief cornerstone that Peter uses and Paul just used in Ephesians 2 is particularly appropriate for identifying the role that Jesus will play. In other words, the first stone of the building, the chief’s cornerstone, is the one that the builders rejected. It also means that there’s no other foundation for those other cornerstones that are mentioned in Paul’s words in Ephesians 2, and that Jesus is really the true foundation for this.

And of course, we got into a study of Peter and we looked at Matthew 16, where Jesus calls Peter a rock or a stone, and then says, upon this I will build my church. We understand that not building upon the rock of Peter to be the church. I mean, in a sense, yes, but principle, the meaning is the truth that Peter proclaimed that Jesus had died on behalf of, or was, you know, was going to die on behalf of all. Sorry, let me rephrase it. He said that you are, you are the Messiah or you are the Christ.

That’s that foundation. That’s the truth. Well, as we have considered the picture of the spiritual temple, the household of God with Jesus as the chief cornerstone, is really the pattern for the founding fathers of that temple, for the apostles and for that home of the church.

We read from Ephesians 4, and this is verses 11, starting with verse 11, and he gave some as apostles and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ, and going on speaking the truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ, from whom the whole body being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Well, what a glorious picture for us to consider, to understand, to appreciate, and to put in practice on a daily basis with our brethren, and if we think about this picture of the temple, the literal temple that Solomon built as the Lord’s house, if you recall, the stones came together without a sound.

Each stone was cut and finished at the quarry first. Kings 6, 7. When the spiritual temple is complete, each stone will be honed, shaped and polished to come together to be perfectly fit, to be perfectly built up under that top stone of Jesus. Throughout his life and into his death, Jesus provided the pattern for the symbolic temple pictured in the New Testament. He gave us the way he is both our pattern.

He’s our foundation, he’s our cornerstone, he’s our head. He’s the top crowning capstone. We grow together upon him as our rock. Psalm 40, verse 2 and up into him as our head.

The living stones that are pictured in the pyramid, modeled completely together after the top stone, grow up into him and are built up in love. Brethren, we praise God that we’ve been enlightened and that we’ve been included in this precious temple. That we are prepared by the Lord, the truth of the Word of God and prepared by our brethren to be a perfect fit. When you think about all of this wonder in how the apostles understood the Old Testament prophecies and put them together the way that they did, and you think about the way the builders looked upon our Lord not recognizing him as the Son of God.

It’s no wonder that the so called builders in the cornerstone prophecy worried more about maintaining their positions of influence more than they worried about preparing their hearts.

They didn’t recognize the express image of the heavenly Father in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They preferred darkness instead of light, and they refused to acknowledge the one who would become the chief cornerstone of the temple, the Son of God. They fail to see that the salvation promised in the Scripture is not found in any other name under heaven. Acts 4:10, 12 as we read before, but for you, for those of us who are now blessed to see this pattern in Old Testament prophecies, because of the words of our Lord and because of the instructions of the apostle, we hear grace, grace, grace for us and grace for the world.

We look forward to Jesus Christ being recognized by all and being blessed by all in the work to come, and perhaps we will hear that blessed song of Psalm 118 at the coming dedication of the spiritual temple. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for his loving kindness is everlasting. Psalm 118, verse 1 and 29. Hallelujah.

Amen. May the Lord add His blessing.

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