THE LIVING STONE

Passage: 1 Peter 2:4-8

Key verse: 5

NIV

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

4 As you come to him, the living Stone(A)—rejected by humans but chosen by God(B) and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built(C) into a spiritual house[a](D) to be a holy priesthood,(E) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.(F) 6 For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,(G)
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”[b](H)

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,(I)

“The stone the builders rejected(J)
    has become the cornerstone,”[c](K)

8 and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”[d](L)

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.(M)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 2:5 Or into a temple of the Spirit
  2. 1 Peter 2:6 Isaiah 28:16
  3. 1 Peter 2:7 Psalm 118:22
  4. 1 Peter 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone (A)rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 (B)you yourselves like living stones are being built up as (C)a spiritual house, to be (D)a holy priesthood, (E)to offer spiritual sacrifices (F)acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

(G)“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
(H)and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who (I)believe, but for those who (J)do not believe,

(K)“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”[a]

8 and

(L)“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, (M)as they were destined to do.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Peter 2:7 Greek the head of the corner
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The Living Stone

Jesus is the Living Stone. He was the rejected stone--rejected by many people, including his own people Israel. But he was chosen by God to be the cornerstone of the new Israel, the capstone of God's redemptive history. This was a fulfillment of the promises of Scripture.

2. Living stones

We who come to him in faith are living stones in a spiritual house which he is building. We are not only a spiritual house, but also a holy priesthood. All Christians are priests who must offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. Spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God are a repentant heart and a thankful heart (Ps 51:17). But the real task of he holy priesthood is to bring the unbelieving world to God in repentance and faith (Ro 15:15,16).

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me to be a living stone. Help me to share your gospel with the people of my times.

One Word: Come to the Living Stone