The Cornerstone and the Other Stones

The Cornerstone and the Other Stones

“Jesus said to them, ‘Did 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”? . . . And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.’” Matt. 21:42, 44.

The cornerstone, which is Jesus Christ, is well placed in Zion, and this stone indicates the direction for the entire building. Eph. 2:20. It embodies unshakable laws about cursing and blessing. Jesus is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against. Luke 2:34. The Spirit of the cornerstone is as hard as death against all sin and unbelief, and all those who want to enter the building will feel it. Those who acknowledge their sin and are humble will have a heartfelt and glorious entrance. They will quickly find their place in the building. They have such high esteem for the cornerstone that there is no question of them stumbling and falling. A mouse cannot stumble or fall if it meets a mountain; however, a tall man who meets a relatively small stone can stumble and fall.

Such great and strong people will encounter the cornerstone if they should attempt to enter the church of the living God. The greater they are, the worse will be their fall. A radical hardness is required from all those who are in the house so that this spirit is crushed at the entrance and never gains the power to rise up in the house. This is true love. It is significant that Jesus was first of all destined for the fall, and then for the rising of many in Israel. Many will seek to enter, but will not be able. Luke 13:24.

The body of Christ is also the small stone that Daniel saw. It pulverized everything that was great and all those who held onto that which is great.

Gideon saw this kingdom of God as a loaf of barley bread that crushed the entire camp of the Midianites, who were without number as the sand.

This stone from God will also fall on all those who want to hinder the house of God—the church of the living God—from being built. Every spirit that rises up against the knowledge that is in Jesus Christ will be crushed.

Only by the laws of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ can each stone find its rightful place in the building—through humility, obedience, and faithfulness. Everything will be arranged according to the chief cornerstone. There is a blessed spirit of safety, unity, and unfailing brotherly love that rules in the house of the Lord.

Peter says that we must first lay aside all malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking in order to come to Jesus who is the living stone, so that we can also become living stones. 1 Pet. 2:1-6. “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.’” V. 6.

We will never be put to shame once we have laid aside all this foul stuff that only causes uneasiness and simply believe in Christ. Then each one of us will also be an elect and precious stone before God, and we will occupy our eternal place in the everlasting and glorious house of God even while here on earth.

The house is built outside the camp, and the reproach of Christ will be over all the stones. Just like the cornerstone was, so all the stones will be rejected by men, but they are precious before God. All human reasoning will rise up against this building in the spirit of pride. People believe that their sins have been forgiven, but they will not believe that God’s Word, by its very firmness, can be built into their lives. They stumble because of their unbelief, to which they were also appointed. 1 Pet. 2:8. The cornerstone will become a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to them. God sees their attitude of mind and permits their downfall because of their envy, pride, fornication, desire for gain and honor, and all other kinds of sin. Jesus encountered great contradiction from sinners. We will also meet opposition from sinners, if we are along in raising this building. This is a great comfort, and the reproach of Christ is a great honor and treasure. God’s kingdom is not divided, which means that God-fearing people will never oppose each other. They are united in the same Spirit, the same mind, and the same judgment, as firmly united stones in God’s house. How glorious it is to be along in this house, and how terrible it must be for each of those on whom the stone falls.