The Chief Cornerstone

Acts 4:11 This is the ‘STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.’

The testimony of Peter and John continued before the leaders.  They took the leaders back to the scriptures, which the leaders knew.  Psalms 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. (23) This was the LORD’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.  In no uncertain terms, the disciples made it clear to the leaders that they were fulfilling the scriptures by rejecting Jesus. 

Later, as John wrote his gospel, he was recounting this incident of how His own people rejected Jesus.  Jesus came to His own but His own did not receive Him.  John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. (11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Just as John did, so did Peter, as he recounts this incident in his epistle.  The Jews were appointed to receive God’s blessing by receiving His Son but they were being disobedient to God’s word. I Peter 2:6-8 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME.” (7) Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,” (8) and “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

This was the prophecy of Isaiah.  He was despised and rejected by men. Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

He was the stone on whom everyone should trust and build their lives, but people have rejected Him. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

As Peter and John brought this matter to the leaders, of Jesus is the stone rejected by the builders, the leaders would have been reminded of the conversation that they had had with Jesus. Matthew 21:42-45 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD’S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’ ? (43) “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. (44) And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (45) Now when the chief priests and  Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.

Even at this stage, these leaders could have repented and surrendered their lives to God, but that was not to be. They continued in their obstinate ways of rejecting God. 

The leaders needed to know that what they were doing was a deliberate act of not submitting to God. Ezekiel 2:6-7 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (7) You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

This task of presenting to the people, categorically, that they are rejecting God, is for us to do as His church. Ezekiel 3:18-19 When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. (19) Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.

With Jesus as the chief cornerstone, God has intended for His church to be built together into a holy temple of God, a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:20-22 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We come to Him and there we find our abode in Jesus.  I Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19086pDVFwOY1gWIf9ZTtM3La9Wwf8xIv/view?usp=share_link