First Epistle of Peter
HEBREW BIBLE REFERENCES TO CHRIST AS STONE
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:6 (KJV)
This verse is a free quotation of Isaiah 28:16. It is interesting to note the way the apostle appeals to Scripture to clinch his arguments. This is always a good thing to do. Let us never make any statements that we cannot prove from the Word. All the apostles, as well as the Lord Jesus, quote the Scriptures as absolutely authoritative. At the time of Christ's temptation, He defeated Satan by quoting from the Old Testament Scriptures. We can overcome Satan and man in the same way.
The word "scripture" is an interesting one. It simply means "the writings." It especially refers to the Old Testament writings when so used in the New Testament, but of course, can now be used of the whole Bible. Peter takes the writings of Paul and includes them in the Scriptures in 2 Peter 3:16.
"Behold I lay in Sion"
"Sion" or "Zion", as it is in the Hebrew; means "a mound" or "high place", and usually refers to the temple site in Jerusalem, sometimes to Jerusalem itself, and sometimes to the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb. 12:22). This whole portion here is figurative, so Sion must be taken as the site of the Lord's spiritual house or temple. It is the Lord Himself who has laid the-foundation. "Behold, I lay in Sion."
Our verse does not mention the stone as a foundation, but we do have it in Isaiah 28:16. There He is both the foundation and the cornerstone. If the Lord has laid the foundation, we need not worry if we are resting on it. We are as safe as the foundation. Christ is God's foundation laid for us, and only on Him can we build (1 Cor. 3:11,12).
"a chief corner stone"
Christ is not only the foundation, but also the chief corner stone. The corner stone in the temple building is the most important. Most of the weight was on the corners, and the corner stone fastened the two walls together. It is Christ on whom we rest, and it is He who knits the people of God together. The chief corner stone would mark Him out as the most important in the whole building. In fact, without Him, the whole building would quickly crumble. Now the question is this: is He the chiefest of all in our hearts? Is He everything to us? More than husband, wife, children, position, fame, wealth or anything else? Can we say with the bride in the Song of Solomon 5:10, "The chiefest among ten thousand?"
"elect, precious"
The word "elect" here is the same as "chosen" in verse four. No other could be "the chief corner stone." We could scan heaven and earth, but none other could be found who could die to pay for man's sins. All others were sinners, and had sins of their own to account for, but Christ had none of His own, and so could pay for ours. None other could be found either on which this spiritual temple could be built.
"On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand."
This is the second time Peter calls Christ precious. Once in verse 4 and then again in our next verse 7, we have it; three times in all. When Peter was writing this, it was perhaps 30 years after Christ had ascended to heaven. After all these years, Christ was perhaps more precious to him than ever before. We too, should be able to truly sing, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before."
"and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded"
Here once more, Peter emphasizes the fact that faith in Him is most important. "Without faith it is impossible to please Him." The only ones that are not confounded, are those who believe on Him. To believe on Him or in Him is more than to believe about Him. One might believe much about Him and be lost forever, but to believe on Him, means to trust and obey Him, and this certainly leads to salvation.
"shall not be confounded"
In Romans 9:33 the same expression, with the same Greek word, is translated "ashamed." We will never be put to shame if we trust and obey Him. Let us not trust and obey Him only for salvation, but for everything in our life. Christians do a lot of needless worrying, and this mars their life. Let us put confidence in our Father, like a little child trusts and obeys his parents. Though sadly there are far too many children in this country and the world who need help, still, many little children in America are blessed and do not worry about breakfast tomorrow morning or something to wear. They are blessed with a mother and father in whom they have confidence those things will be provided.
Some might wonder why in Isaiah 28:16 we read, "He that believeth shall not make haste" and yet here it is translated "confounded" or "ashamed." To make haste is a Jewish expression for fleeing in panic or shame. You trust in something only to find it untrustworthy, and must make a shameful, hasty retreat. However, this will never be so if we put our trust in Him.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:7 (KJV)
In this verse we have a contast between those that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who do not believe. To those that believe, Christ is precious, but those who do not believe, refuse Him and despise Him.
"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious "
The expression "he is" is not in the original, but not wrongly inserted in my Authorized Version, because the word "precious" refers back to "the living stone" of verse 4 and 6. As we believe in Him, He becomes precious to us. Before we were saved He was nothing to us. But now, how we love Him. Thousands have been ready to die for Him, rather than deny Him. They have gone to the stake, or to the lions, or to the rack. Many were singing hymns of praise to His name, while the torturous flames were licking at their feet. To thousands, perhaps millions today, He is more precious than life itself. The stronger our faith, the closer will be our fellowship and the more precious He will become to us.
"but unto them which be disobedient"
"Disobedient" would perhaps be better translated is often a matter of the Lord Jesus, yet refuse to Here unbelief is akin to subject to their rightful hate Him. Their hatred is "unbelieving." Unbelief, however, will. One may believe much about the trust and obey Him with his soul. rebellion. It is a refusal to be Lord. Then as they reject Him, they often very bitter.
"the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner"
This is a quotation from Psalm 118:22. There is a story told, whether fiction or fact is not known, that certainly illustrates our verse. In the building of Solomon's temple, all the stones were quarried to exact size in the quarry and set in place in the temple without the sound of a tool. A stone was sent up that the builders could find no place for. They cast it to one side where it became covered with trash and weeds. Finally the day came when they sent down the message to the quarry, "Send up the head stone of the corner." The reply came up, "We sent that stone up long ago," and sure enough, the stone that they could find no place for, which they had cast to one side as of no purpose, became the head stone of the corner. Whether truth or legend, it wonderfully illustrates the rejection and exaltation of our Lord Jesus. Five times this verse from Psalm 118, is quoted in the New Testamen, and always applied to the Lord Jesus.
"disallowed"
The word "disallowed" has the meaning of "tested and rejected." The builders would refer to the Jewish leaders. They, like the builders of the temple, should have known the head stone of the corner, when it came to them. But they did not. We read in Isaiah 53:3, "He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." The pharisees, the doctors of the law, the priests, yea the high priest himself, the most learned in religious affairs, put Him on trial, and rejected Him. The high priest says, "What think ye?" They cry out, "He is worthy of death." So in their envy and hatred, they rejected Him, and they led Him away and crucified Him.
Many are rejecting Him in the same way today. An old preacher once told of visiting a man, trying to bring Christ to him. The man bitterly resisted, apparently not wanting Christ or His salvation. The old preacher finally said to him. "My, you are just like those Jews that crucified Christ." This seemed to aggravate the man a great deal. He said, "I am not, those Jews crucified Christ, I would not do that." The preacher replied, "I'm not sure of that. They said, 'Away with Him, crucify Him.' You too are saying, 'Away with Him, I don't want Him', and if you had been in that crowd on that day, you too, may have cried out, 'Crucify Him."'
There are many like that today. You bring Christ to them and they reject Him just like the builders rejected "the head stone of the corner." Not only common men, but many leaders today, both secular and even religious, are refusing Him in the same way. Some will accept Him as an ideal man, but as the Son of God and the Saviour of sinners; Oh, no.
"the same is made the head of the corner"
The rejected one is made the head stone or the cap stone. This pictures His glory, Man gave Him a scarlet robe in mockery; God gives Him royal robes of splendor. Man gave Him a crown of thorns; God gave Him a crown of glory. Man gave Him a reed for a sceptre; God gives Him the sceptre of all power. Man bowed the knee before Him in ridicule, but every knee shall bow to Him in sincerity. In mocking they said, "Hail, King of the Jews." In truth He is and shall be "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." Man gave Him a cross; but God has given Him a throne. "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth" (Ps. 72:8). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name" (Phil. 2:9, read also verses 10 and 11).
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:8 (KJV)
This verse, a quotation from Isaiah 8:14, speaks further of the unbelieving, and the judgment that awaits them for their rejection of the Lord Jesus.
"And a stone of stumbling"
This speaks cf a stone in the path to bump oneself against. Much of Palestine is a country with great rocks in it. Sometimes, the path circles around between these great rocks. The picture is of a man trying to travel such a path in the dark, and often bumping himself against a rock.
"and a rock of offense"
A rock to trip over. The traveler not only bumps himself, but also hits rocks that cause him to trip and fall, and so consequently he get pretty well banged up before he completes his journey.
One who rejects the Lord Jesus is continually running into Him and it always hurts. On a train in England, four American service men were having a hilarious time drinking, swearing and speaking filthy. A young man across the aisle from them took out his Bible and began to read so all could hear. This visibly affected them. Finally, one of them blurted out; "Why can't that Jesus Christ leave a fellow alone? Wherever you go you run into Him, even here in England. At home I ran a taxi and about once a week I would pick up a man that loaded me down with literature about Jesus Christ. Why in the world can't He leave a fellow alone?" Once more he bumped into the obstacle stone and it hurt. Without doubt, this more or less is the experience of all who reject the Lord Jesus.
If bumps in this life were all, it perhaps would not be too serious, but this is not all. Finally they go tumbling, stumbling down into hell, where they will face the eternal judgment of a spurned and hated God.
"even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:"
The word here used for disobedient is very strong. It speaks of one who obstinately refuses to do what he should. One who has his mind set and will not be persuaded. It is the willful Christ rejector.
"whereunto they also were appointed."
Such are appointed unto judgment. Some have taught from this that some are predestined to be last. This does not say so. It just states that those who reject our Lord Jesus will have a rough time here, and an angry God to meet in the judgment. If they reject the Lord Jesus now, He will certainly reject them when they stand face to face with Him. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).
