September 2
Romans 9:32-33, “For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
The “Stumbling Stone” that we have been studying, the “Stumbling Stone” that the Jews rejected, the “Stumbling Stone” that was and is a great offense, has become the “Capstone of Biblical Religion.”
Psalm 118:22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
There is a two-thousand-year-old tradition that has been passed down from the time of the building of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. In order that there be no noise at the temple site, the stones for Solomon’s temple were quarried away from the temple site. The temple architects supplied the plans, the stone cutters shaped the stones, and they were transported to the temple site and assembled there without the noise of stone cutting tools. Early in the construction, a stone was sent that did not seem to fit anywhere in the temple. Because the builders did not know what to do with it, they laid it aside and forgot about it. When the temple was nearly completed, and the builders were ready to place the large capstone, they sent to the quarry for it. The word came back that the capstone was not there, it had already been sent up. The builders searched the temple site, and eventually found the stone that had been laid aside. When it was lifted into its proper place, it fit perfectly.
So, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”
Jesus quoted from Psalm 118 when he was speaking to the religious leaders who sought for reasons to arrest Him. Jesus had told two stories which exposed the religious leaders hardhearted rejection of Him. Both stories are found in Matthew 21. In the first, the religious leaders were portrayed as a son who said he would work in his father’s vineyard, but did not. In the second, the religious leaders were portrayed as wicked tenants of a rich man’s field, who plotted to steal the field, and later killed the heir. When Jesus concluded these storied He said, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” (Matthew 21:42).
Peter quoted the same verse when he and John were on trial before the Sanhedrin following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Peter told the religious leaders, “ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” (Acts 4:10-11).
Paul quoted Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 in our text in Romans. Jesus and Peter both quoted Psalm 118:22 in Matthew 21:42 and Acts 4:11. I ask you to turn your attention to 1 Peter 2:4-8, where “Peter draws all three [N.T.] texts together to show how those who believe on Jesus build their lives on Him and are made part of a spiritual temple, the church, which God is constructing.” (Boice)
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone,
elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:
but unto them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed,
the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offence,
even to them which stumble at the word,
being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:4-8)
“In view of this passage, I cannot see how anyone can imagine that when Jesus told Peter that ‘thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ (Matthew 16:18), He was teaching that Peter was to be the foundation on which He would build His church. The errors of the supremacy of the Roman pontiff and the infallibility of the pope when speaking ex cathedra are constructed on this text. But these are terrible errors, and they are certainly not what Peter himself understood the Lord’s words to mean.” (Boice)
Next time we will consider our Lord’s play on words in Matthew 16:18.
Adapted from “Romans” by Boice.
In Christ,
Dan Todd
