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1Peter 2 and Matthew 21 The Chief Corner Stone
1Peter 2 and Matthew 21 The Chief Corner Stone
In Matthew 21, Jesus Challenged by chief priests and elders over authority (vs. 23-27). Jesus then tells the parable of the two sons – and then upbraids them (the chief priests and elders) for not believing and obeying the teaching of John the Baptist. Then, Jesus continues with them and tells the parable of the landowner and the wicked tenants.
Trying to summarize all this: the chief priests and elders had rejected John the Baptist and his message. They were thus like the disobedient son who said he would obey but then did not. Worse, they are like wicked tenants who have now rejected the very Son of God and face the coming judgment by God the ‘landowner’.
So, Jesus said unto them (the scribes and the chief priests who have rejected both John and Jesus: "Did you never read in the Scriptures [cp. Psa. 118:22, Isa. 28:14-16; 8:14-15), 'The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief cornerstone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?” (Matt. 21:42).
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, having been arrested by the rulers and elders of the people, Peter speaks to the Rulers and elders of the people: “8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 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. 11 "He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. 12 "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." Acts 4:8-12
This is the lesson he had learned from Jesus concerning those who reject Jesus. Such rejection of Jesus continued through the life of Peter. Thus, he brings this up yet again as he writes to the disciples here in 1Peter 2. This teaching concerning the Messiah as the chief cornerstone is a two-edged sword. For those who accept Jesus as the Christ, they are built upon this chief cornerstone as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1Pet. 2:5).
However, for those who reject Jesus as the choice stone, two things are pointed out. First, He was made the chief cornerstone ANYWAY. They rejected him, but he was yet chosen of God. Second, this stone becomes to those who are unbelieving and disobedient a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They will yet stand before the judgment seat, and they WILL THEN confess that “Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:11).
It is futile to reject God, His message, His son. God’s promises (and threats) will be fulfilled because faithful is God who made them. We can REJECT Jesus now and confess Him as Lord on the day of judgment only to be condemned, or we can believe in Him now and make the good confession. He can be either a chief cornerstone or a stone of stumbling. Which is it for you?
Hugh DeLong
