Our lesson today covers 1 Pet 2:4-10. In this passage we see the following:
Jesus Christ is the living stone – this stone is Christ and he is surely alive. Christ, the rock, followed the Jews in the wilderness, keeping them alive with water [1 Cor 10:4]. Christ, the rock, was in hell for three days and nights and the gates of hell did not prevail against him [Matt 16:16-18]. Christ, the stone cut out without hands, will return to the earth one day and set up an everlasting kingdom [Dan 2:34-35, 44-45].
- He is chosen of God – 1 Pet 2:4 – Jesus is God’s choice for the chief stone. He is the stone whom the Lord God lays in Zion [Is 28:16].
- He is precious – 1 Pet 2:4, 6 – John said that the one sitting on the throne in heaven looked like a jasper and sardine stone, and that there was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald [Rev 4:2-3]. Jasper, sardine and emerald are all precious stones. The foundations of the wall in Rev 21:19-20 are all precious stones. Thus, it is fitting that the “corner stone” is a precious stone, as well. He is more precious because he is “cut out without hands.”
- He is the chief corner stone – 1 Pet 2:6 – the chief corner stone is the principal stone in the foundation by which all other stones are laid in place [Eph 2:20].
- He is elect – 1 Pet 2:6 – God has elected him to rule and have the preeminence [Is 42:1-4; Phil 2:9-11; Eph 1:20-23]].
To us who believe:
- He is precious – 1 Pet 2:7 – precious stones are “of great value and highly esteemed.” He is more precious to us than all gemstones.
- We shall not be confounded – 1 Pet 2:6 – we will not be confounded because we worship Jesus, the true stone, unlike the graven images worshipped by idolaters [Ps 97:7]. Is 28:16 says, “he the believeth shall not make haste,” indicating, in the context, that they won’t be hurriedly fleeing from the judgment of God. Rom 9:33 says, “whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed,” because we believe God.
To them which be disobedient: (he was disallowed of men, 1 Pet 2:4)
- He is the head of the corner – 1 Pet 2:7 – so, not only is Jesus the chief corner stone, but he is also the head of the corner. A pyramid has a stone on top that is the head of the corner. The builders rejected Jesus [Ps 118:22; Matt 21:42; Mk 12:10-11; Lk 20:17; Acts 4:11], God’s chosen and elect, and built their own building [kingdom]. God will build his kingdom without them. When he is finished, he’ll put Jesus, the rejected stone on the very top.
- He is a stone of stumbling – 1 Pet 2:8 – when we believe Jesus, he is our sanctuary [Is 8:14], he is our fortress [Ps 18:2]. But when someone refuses to believe the word, Jesus becomes an obstacle to them, a stone of stumbling, upon which they fall and are broken [Matt 21:44; Rom 9:32]. When Jesus returns, he will fall on them and grind them to powder.
- He is a rock of offence – 1 Pet 2:8 – when Jesus came, the Pharisees and unbelieving Jews were offended by him [Matt 13:57; Mk 6:3]. Unbelievers find Jesus and the cross offensive [Gal 5:11].
As a result of believing on Jesus Christ, we are now:
- Lively stones – 1 Pet 2:5 – stones are inorganic. They are, in essence, dead, just like we were before we were saved. But now that we are saved, we are alive [Eph 2:1].
- A spiritual house – 1 Pet 2:5 – the house that God is building is real, but it is not seen. It is spiritual, made up of all who believe [Eph 2:19-22].
- An holy priesthood – 1 Pet 2:5 – to offer up spiritual sacrifices and to shew forth the praises of him [1 Pet 2:9]. We don’t need priests like they did in the Old Testament. We are now priests who offer spiritual sacrifices [Heb 13:15-16]. We offer ourselves [Rom 12:1-2].
- A chosen generation – 1 Pet 2:9 – because we have received Jesus, God has chosen us. Jesus was God’s choice, so now we are God’s choice.
- A royal priesthood – 1 Pet 2:9 – not only are we priests, but we shall also be kings [Rev 1:6]. Therefore, we are a royal priesthood.
- An holy nation – 1 Pet 2:9 – we are holy because he is holy [1 Pet 1:15-16] and we are a nation because we are Gods people. We have a new nationality.
- A peculiar people – 1 Pet 2:9 – we have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Pet 2:10 we were not a people but now we are the people of God, who have now obtained the mercy of God. We are peculiar in that we are the only people on earth like this.