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the workmen could find no place for it； and would not accept it。 It was an annoyance to them as it lay unused in their way。 Long it remained a rejected stone。 But when the builders came to the laying of the corner； they searched for a long time to find a stone of sufficient size and strength； and of the proper shape； to take that particular place； and bear the great weight which would rest upon it。 Should they make an unwise choice for this important place； the safety of the entire building would be endangered。 They must find a stone capable of resisting the influence of the sun； of frost； and of tempest。 Several stones had at different times been chosen； but under the pressure of immense weights they had crumbled to pieces。 Others could not bear the test of the sudden atmospheric changes。 But at last attention was called to the stone so long rejected。 It had been exposed to the air； to sun and storm； without revealing the slightest crack。 The builders examined this stone。 It had borne every test but one。 If it could bear the test of severe pressure； they decided to accept it for the cornerstone。 The trial was made。 The stone was accepted； brought to its assigned position； and found to be an exact fit。 In prophetic vision； Isaiah was shown that this stone was a symbol of Christ。 He says：
〃Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself； and let Him be your fear； and let Him be your dread。 And He shall be for a sanctuary； but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel； for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem。 And many among them shall stumble； and fall； and be broken； and be snared； and be taken。〃 Carried down in prophetic vision to the first advent； the prophet is shown that Christ is to bear trials and tests of which the treatment of the chief cornerstone in the temple of Solomon was symbolic。 〃Therefore thus saith the Lord God； Behold； I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone； a tried stone； a precious cornerstone； a sure foundation： he that believeth shall not make haste。〃 Isa。 8：13…15； 28：16。
In infinite wisdom； God chose the foundation stone； and laid it Himself。 He called it 〃a sure foundation。〃 The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs； it can endure them all。 With perfect safety they may build upon it。 Christ is a 〃tried stone。〃 Those who trust in Him； He never disappoints。 He has borne every test。 He has endured the pressure
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of Adam's guilt； and the guilt of his posterity； and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil。 He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner。 In Christ the guilty heart has found relief。 He is the sure foundation。 All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security。
In Isaiah's prophecy； Christ is declared to be both a sure foundation and a stone of stumbling。 The apostle Peter； writing by inspiration of the Holy Spirit； clearly shows to whom Christ is a foundation stone； and to whom a rock of offense：
〃If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious。 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 cornerstone； 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 offense； even to them which stumble at the word； being disobedient。〃 1 Peter 2：3…8。
To those who believe； Christ is the sure foundation。 These are they who fall upon the Rock and are broken。 Submission to Christ and faith in Him are here represented。 To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self…righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child； repenting of our transgressions； and believing in His forgiving love。 And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation。
Upon this living stone； Jews and Gentiles alike may build。 This is the only foundation upon which we may securely build。 It is broad enough for all； and strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole world。 And by connection with Christ； the living stone； all who build upon this foundation become living stones。 Many persons are by their own endeavors hewn； polished； and beautified； but they cannot become 〃living stones；〃 because they are not connected with Christ。 Without this connection； no man can be saved。 Without the life of Christ in us； we cannot withstand the storms of temptation。 Our eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure foundation。 Multitudes are today building upon foundations that have not been tested。 When the rain falls； and the tempest rages； and the floods come；
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their house will fall； because it is not founded upon the eternal Rock； the chief cornerstone Christ Jesus。
〃To them which stumble at the word； being disobedient；〃 Christ is a rock of offense。 But 〃the stone which the builders disallowed； the same is made the head of the corner。〃 Like the rejected stone； Christ in His earthly mission had borne neglect and abuse。 He was 〃despised and rejected of men； a man of sorrows； and acquainted with grief： 。 。 。 He was despised； and we esteemed Him not。〃 Isa。 53：3。 But the time was near when He would be glorified。 By the resurrection from the dead He would be declared 〃the Son of God with power。〃 Rom。 1：4。 At His second coming He would be revealed as Lord of heaven and earth。 Those who were now about to crucify Him would recognize His greatness。 Before the universe the rejected stone would become the head of the corner。
And on 〃whomsoever it shall fall； it will grind him to powder。〃 The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and their nation destroyed。 Their glory would be broken； and scattered as the dust before the wind。 And what was it that destroyed the Jews？ It was the rock which； had they built upon it； would have been their security。 It was the goodness of God despised； the righteousness spurned； the mercy slighted。 Men set themselves in opposition to God； and all that would have been their salvation was turned to their destruction。 All that God ordained unto life they found to be unto death。 In the Jews' crucifixion of Christ was involved the destruction of Jerusalem。 The blood shed upon Calvary was the weight that sank them to ruin for this world and for the world to come。 So it will be in the great final day； when judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God's grace。 Christ； their rock of offense； will then appear to them as an avenging mountain。 The glory of His countenance； which to the righteous is life； will be to the wicked a consuming fire。 Because of love rejected； grace despised； the sinner will be destroyed。
By many illustrations and repeated warnings； Jesus showed what would be the result to the Jews of rejecting the Son of God。 In these words He was addressing all in every age who refuse to receive Him as their Redeemer。 Every warning is for them。 The desecrated temple； the disobedient son； the false husbandmen； the contemptuous builders； have their counterpart in the experience of every sinner。 Unless he repent； the doom which they foreshadowed will be his。
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Chapter 66
Controversy
The priests and rulers had listened in silence to Christ's pointed rebukes。 They could not refute His charges。 But they were only the more determined to entrap Him； and with this object they sent to Him spies； 〃which should feign themselves just men； that they might take hold of His words； that so they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor。〃 They did not send the old Pharisees whom Jesus had often met； but young men； who were ardent and zealous； and whom； they thought； Christ did not know。 These were accompanied by certain of the Herodians； who were to hear Christ's words； that they might testify against Him at His trial。 The Pharisees and Herodians had been bitter enemies； but they were now one in enmity to Christ。
The Pharisees had ever chafed under the exaction of tribute by the Romans。 The payment of tribute they held to be contrary to the law of God。 Now they saw opportunity to lay a snare for Jesus。 The spies came to Him； and with apparent sincerity； as though desiring to know their duty； said； 〃Master； we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly； neither acceptest Thou the person of any； but teachest the way of God truly： is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar； or no？〃
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The words； 〃We know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly；〃 had they been sincere； would have been a wonderful admission。 But they were spoken to deceive； nevertheless their testimony was true。 The Pharisees did know that Christ said and taught rightly； and by their own testimony will they be judged。