The stone the builders rejected

SERMON TOPIC: The stone the builders rejected

Speaker: Gavin Paynter

Language: ENGLISH

Date: 2 April 2021

Topic Groups: CORNERSTONE, EASTER, CRUCIFIXION

Sermon synopsis: Jesus faced rejection from all - in order to bring about our salvation:
1 Peter 2:4 (NIV) As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him
Let’s look at the sevenfold rejection of Jesus.

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THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED

THE CORNERSTONE

MICHELANGELO & DAVID

It was his iconic 17-feet statue of David that defined the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475 – 1564) as a master sculptor.

16th century painter and architect Giorgio Vasari wrote of it, “Whoever has seen this work need not trouble to see any other work executed in sculpture, either in our own or in other times.”

DAVID WAS AN UNWANTED STONE

But this famous masterpiece was created from a piece of marble that had been twice discarded by other sculptors.

Agostino di Duccio gave up on a project using the block. 10 years later Antonio Rossellino tried to use it but decided it was too difficult to work with.

When Michelangelo started his work, the marble had been standing for 40 years. The unwanted block of marble – discarded by others - became a masterpiece of Renaissance art.

REJECTION OF THE SON OF DAVID

Rejected as useless stone by some, it became a precious masterpiece of David.

Jesus (the Son of David) too was a stone that was rejected which subsequently became the most important and precious stone of all – the cornerstone. He faced rejection - yet became the sole redeemer of mankind.

1 Pet 2:4 (NIV) As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him

REJECTION OF THE SON OF DAVID

A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE

Isa 28:16 (Brenton Septuagint Translation)

Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Zion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED

Ps 118:22-23 (NKJV) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.

A STONE OF STUMBLING

Isa 8:14-15 (NKJV) “He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.”

1) HIS HOMETOWN

Jesus faced rejection in his hometown – where “they took offense at him” (Matt 13:57).

Luke 4:16-30 (NIV) He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.

Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.

Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’ I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

They got up, drove him out of the town…

… and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.

But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

2) HIS FAMILY

Jesus was misunderstood by his family – they thought he was out of his mind.

Mark 3:20-21 (NIV) Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Jesus’ brothers misinterpreted his ministry as an attempt to gain publicity:

Jesus’ brothers misinterpreted his ministry as an attempt to gain publicity:

John 7:2-5 (NIV) But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

3) RELIGIOUS LEADERS

In the main, Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders – the very people who should have welcomed him.

Mark 8:31 (NIV) He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law…

They tried to trap him in his words and looked for a way to kill him. They bribed Judas to betray him. They tried him using false witnesses at an illegal trial by night where they accused him of blasphemy.

They handed him over to the Romans, demanding his death - falsely asserting that his kingship was a threat to the Romans and that he opposed taxation. *

They accused those who believed on him of being ignorant.

They accused those who believed on him of being ignorant.

John 7:45-49 (NIV) Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared. “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

Days before his crucifixion, Jesus rides into Jerusalem in what is known as the Triumphal entry.

Days before his crucifixion, Jesus rides into Jerusalem in what is known as the Triumphal entry.

Matt 21:7 NIV) They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

Matt 21:8 (NIV) A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Matt 21:8 (NIV) A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Matt 21:9 (NIV) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” …

Matt 21:9 (NIV) The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” …

PSALM 118

Zech 9:9 (ESV) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

While most realise that this is a fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9 this also fulfils the Messianic Psalm 118 – including the later rejection of the cornerstone.

The crowd is quoting Psalm 118 as Jesus approaches the Temple.

Ps 118:26 (NIV) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

They have branches (boughs) in their hands which they lay in his path to the Temple.

Ps 118:27 (JPS Tanakh 1917 *) The LORD is God, and hath given us light; Order the festival procession with boughs, even unto the horns of the altar.

* The Jewish Publication Society of America Version (JPS) of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) was the first translation of the Tanakh into English by a committee of Jews

THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED

Jesus enters the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem and will soon provide the way of salvation.

Ps 118:19-21 (NIV) Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

He is rejected but becomes the cornerstone.

Ps 118:22-23 (NIV) The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Some Pharisees undoubtedly understand the references to Israel’s king riding on a donkey in Zechariah 9 and the allusions to the messianic psalm (118). But they reject Jesus as king and ask Jesus to get his disciples in check.

Some Pharisees undoubtedly understand the references to Israel’s king riding on a donkey in Zechariah 9 and the allusions to the messianic psalm (118). But they reject Jesus as king and ask Jesus to get his disciples in check.

Luke 19:39-40 (NIV) Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

After these events in Matthew 21, Jesus makes the connection to Psalm 118 clear - when he identifies himself as the stone the builders rejected.

Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.

He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.

Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.

When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.

Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.

Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?

He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.

Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”?

Luke 20:16-17, (NIV) When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!” Jesus looked directly at them and asked:

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. [Matt 21:43-44, NIV]

Luke 20:19 (NIV) The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

The religious leaders rejected Christ as king

The religious leaders rejected Christ as king

John 19:14-15 (NIV) “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

After healing the lame man, Peter - full of the Holy Spirit - tells the Jewish rulers that Jesus is the stone they rejected who has become the cornerstone (the only way of salvation).

After healing the lame man, Peter - full of the Holy Spirit - tells the Jewish rulers that Jesus is the stone they rejected who has become the cornerstone (the only way of salvation).

Rulers and elders of the people! … know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. [Acts 4:8-12, NIV]

4) HIS PEOPLE

By and large, Christ was rejected by his own people – the Jews.

John 1:11-12 (NIV) He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…

And yet they will receive the Antichrist.

John 5:43 (NIV) “I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”

Despite Jesus’ love for the city and its’ people – Jerusalem would be the place where he would be killed.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ [Matt 23:37-38, NIV)

Despite Jesus’ love for the city and its’ people – Jerusalem would be the place where he would be killed.

Jerusalem rejected it’s Messiah - stumbling over the stone of offense.

Jerusalem rejected it’s Messiah - stumbling over the stone of offense.

Isa 8:13-15 (ESV) “But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honour as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Many in Israel were looking for a Messiah – King. But they didn’t think they needed a Messiah - Saviour because they had confidence in their ability to keep the Law.

Many in Israel were looking for a Messiah – King. But they didn’t think they needed a Messiah - Saviour because they had confidence in their ability to keep the Law.

The stumbling stone was pursuing salvation by works instead of faith.

Rom 9:30-33 (NIV) What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

5) THE WORLD

But Jesus is also rejected by many in the world he came to redeem.

John 15:18 (NIV) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

John 15:22-25 (NIV) “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’”

Isa 53:1-3 (NIV) Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Isa 53:1-3 (NIV) Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

He was rejected by the very world he created.

He was rejected by the very world he created.

John 1:10 (NIV) He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

This concept is expressed in the poem by F. W. Pitt (1859-1943) a pastor in London:

The Maker of the universe As Man, for man was made a curse. The claims of law which He had made, Unto the uttermost He paid.

His holy fingers made the bough Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow. The nails that pierced His hands were mined In secret places He designed.

He made the forest whence there sprung The tree on which His body hung. He died upon a cross of wood, Yet made the hill on which it stood.

He made the forest whence there sprung The tree on which His body hung. He died upon a cross of wood, Yet made the hill on which it stood.

The sky that darkened o’er His head By Him above the earth was spread. The sun that hid from Him its face By His decree was poised in space.

The spear which spilled His precious blood Was tempered in the fires of God. The grave in which His form was laid, Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.

The throne on which He now appears Was His from everlasting years. But a new glory crowns His brow. And every knee to Him shall bow.

6) A FRIEND

What a cruel betrayal Jesus endured - he was betrayed not by an enemy but by a close friend.

I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil the scripture: ‘He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ (John 13:18, NIV)

The scripture Jesus quoted was from Psalms:

The scripture Jesus quoted was from Psalms:

Psalm 41:9 (NIV) Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

Jesus still addresses him as “friend” when he leads the mob who arrest him.

Jesus still addresses him as “friend” when he leads the mob who arrest him.

Matt 26:47-50 (NIV) While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? [Luke 22:47-48, NIV]

7) HIS FATHER

But the final – and worst – rejection came from an even more surprising source. On the cross even his Father forsook him, as the sin of the world is laid on him:

Matt 27:45-46 (NIV) From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

THE REJECTED STONE

But the rejected stone became the most important cornerstone.

1 Pet 2:4-8 (NIV) As you come to him, the living Stone [lithos]—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him… For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone [lithos] in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone [akrogōniaios], and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone [kephalē gōnia *] and, “A stone [lithos] that causes people to stumble and a rock [petra] that makes them fall.”

When a building was to be erected, a specific large stone was hewn to perfect measures and carefully put on the corner of the building as part of the foundation. All measures and direction was then taken from this stone to ensure that the building is built square and to the correct measures. *

THE CORNERSTONE

* https:// bibledifferences.net/2019/02/26/155cornerstone/

THE CORNERSTONE

Without Christ as the perfect cornerstone our lives lack direction and are not “built square”.

JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah predicted a precious cornerstone laid by God in Zion (Jerusalem).

Isa 28:16-17 (NIV) So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line…

Having Christ as the perfect cornerstone ensures that the building is built on principles of justice and righteousness.

JEWS & GENTILES IN ONE BODY

Of course, there is a much bigger picture than personal application because “as the cornerstone holds together two walls, so Christ joins together as Christians, into one body dedicated to God, those who were formerly Jews and Gentiles.” *

Eph 2:11-21 (NIV) Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles … at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility 

THE CHURCH

 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body * to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility... For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone [akrogōniaios]. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

THE CORNERSTONE & CAPSTONE

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance defines the Greek word akrogóniaios as “chief corner, capstone.” It literally means “at the extreme angle or corner.”

Jesus is described as both a cornerstone and a capstone.

Matthew uses another word, “lithon” (stone) in verse 21:44 to refer to Jesus. There he indicates Jesus as the stone that could refer to either a ”capstone” or a “cornerstone”. “And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” One can fall on a cornerstone, but it is a capstone that can fall on someone, crushing him. *

Roman archways were built from two columns of carved stones, where the two sides arch in towards each other at the top. In the top centre there’s a triangular shaped capstone that balances the two sides of the arch against each other.

THE CAPSTONE

Both the cornerstone and the capstone are apt metaphors to describe the importance of Christ in the building.

THE CAPSTONE

A capstone is the wedge-shaped stone at the apex of a masonry arch or typically round-shaped one at the apex of a vault. In both cases it is the final piece placed during construction and locks all the stones into position, allowing the arch or vault to bear weight. *

A capstone is the wedge-shaped stone at the apex of a masonry arch or typically round-shaped one at the apex of a vault. In both cases it is the final piece placed during construction and locks all the stones into position, allowing the arch or vault to bear weight. *

It is not simply a decorative stone used to finish off the corners of a building with a bit of architectural flair. It holds the entire structure together. If you removed it, the whole arch (or vault) would collapse.

TWO CHOICES

Jesus is the cornerstone from whom we should take all our direction and be our standard of measure. But he is also is the capstone that joins together what needs to be together and without whom our lives would collapse.

To those who reject him he will be “a rock that makes them fall.”

Barnes: “The meaning is, that if this foundation-stone is not the means of their salvation, it will be of their ruin. It is not a matter of indifference whether they believe on him or not - whether they accept or reject him. They cannot reject him without the most fearful consequences to their souls.”

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

John 3:36 (NIV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

But “to you who believe, this stone is precious” and “the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” * (1 Pet 2:6-7)

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AUTHOR: Gavin Paynter

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Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from:

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from:

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Other Scripture quotations taken from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

The New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Isa 28:16 (Brenton LXX) Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

Isa 28:16 (Brenton LXX) Therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord, Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed.

Hebrew

Eloi: el – lee

Lama: le (end) – ma

Sabachthani: se (sit) – bach – thar (far) – knee

Greek

Lithos – lith - oss

Akrogōniaios: uk – crow – go – nee – eye - oss

kephalē gōnia: keff – uh – lay go-knee-a

Petra: pet-truh




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