THE STONE

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

That confession of Peter is the rock, or stone, that Jesus Christ will build His church upon and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. See Mat 16:15-18.

THE STONE IS A SANCTUARY -- OR A STONE OF STUMBLING

“And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Isa 8:14

THE STONE IS A SANCTUARY for all who trust and obey Him. He is their shelter from the storms of life.

“Isaiah 8:14 Sanctuary - A sure refuge to all that truly fear him, and rely upon him. A stone - An occasion of sin and ruin, at whom they will take offence and stumble, so as to fall and be broken. To both - To the two kingdoms, that of the ten tribes, and that of the two tribes. Jerusalem - Which are distinctly mentioned, as a wonderful thing, because Jerusalem was the seat of the temple, and of God's solemn worship, where all the means of knowledge and grace were in greatest plenty, where the thrones of civil and ecclesiastical judicature were established, where the most wise and learned doctors had their constant abode. And that such a place and people should reject Immanuel when he should appear, was so strange an occurrence, that the prediction of it was highly necessary, lest otherwise, when it came to pass, it should shake the faith of all who did believe on him; whereas now the accomplishment hereof was a notable confirmation of their faith.” John Wesley

A STONE OF STUMBLING

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“ … whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:44*

People who hear the gospel and do not obey the Messiah will receive much hurt in this present time as a consequence of their ungodly decisions. They have fallen on the stone and do not believe.  If they do not repent before the day of judgment, in vengeance, THE STONE will fall on them to destroy them with the second death.

THE HEAD STONE OF THE CORNER SHALL STAND FOREVER

“The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. “ Psalms 118:22-23

The prophet Daniel shows us the kingdoms of this world shall not prevail against THE STONE.

Dan 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Dan 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Donna Kupp

* “But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him . When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, 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? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:37-44

dk