2:71 Peter 2:7

Christ is the living, elect and precious chief cornerstone laid in Zion as the tried foundation able to bear the sins of the whole world.ST Mar 5, 1912+2 To those who believe He is precious and they will not be confounded, for only believers know His worth as Sin-bearer and complete Redeemer.DA 599.1–2+4 To the disobedient He is the stone disallowed by the builders, the Jewish leaders and religious authorities who should have recognized Him, made the head of the corner but becoming to them a stone of stumbling and rock of offense because they stumble at the Word.DA 599.1–2+4 Despite rejection He remains the only secure foundation of God's temple on which Jew and Gentile must build, and believers coming to Him as living stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer acceptable spiritual sacrifices.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+4 To fall upon Him and be broken is to give up self-righteousness in humble repentance and surrender, while those who refuse to be broken remain responsible and will be crushed when the rejected stone falls in judgment.ST Apr 18, 1878+4

The verse presents Christ as the elect, precious chief cornerstone laid in Zion.ST Mar 5, 1912+3 He is the living stone disallowed by men but chosen of God and precious.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 He is the tried foundation stone tested by the perversity of man and able to bear the sins of the whole world, fulfilling all God's purpose in saving the lost.Lt 15, 1892, par. 14–17

The builders who disallowed the stone are the Jewish builders.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+1 They are the scribes and Pharisees and the Jewish nation, the Jewish people who rejected, insulted and mocked Jesus.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+1 They are the church authorities and the religious authorities, the builders who should have recognized His worth.ST Nov 21, 1878+1

The rejected temple stone pictures His trials and His fitness to bear the weight placed upon Him.ST Apr 18, 1878 Its endurance through exposure to sun and storms and its successful trial under severe pressure show Christ as the tried, precious foundation, able to bear every burden and test.3SP 36.2–37.1 He is therefore secure to build upon, and those who trust in Him find safety and relief.3SP 36.2–37.1

He is the stone that completes the building of faith laid in the Jewish sacrifices that prefigured Him.ST Jul 21, 1898 Type reached antitype in Him, because He alone makes atonement for sin and gives efficiency to faith.ST Jul 21, 1898

To those who believe he is precious, and everyone who believes on him will not be confounded, for only believers know his worth.DA 599.1–2+4 This preciousness is his atoning blood and his justifying righteousness received as Sin-bearer, by whose merits believers are presented perfect before God.Lt 38, 1892, par. 6–7+2 Faith recognizes him as the only hope and complete Redeemer apart from dependence on self or anything else, joined to knowing and loving God through keeping his commandments, and every person who returns to loyalty to God is precious in his sight.Lt 52, 1894, par. 5+2

His preciousness is learned by personal experience in trial, suffering and sleepless pain through sweet communion with God, and by trusting him wholly with soul, body and spirit.Lt 38, 1892, par. 6–7+2 Believers know his nearness and support in their hardest times, trusting him completely in suffering and uncertainty.Lt 38, 1892, par. 6–7+1 To them he gives the peace he promised, lifts above pain, gives rest, takes burdens, meets trials with sympathy, sorrows with love, wounds with healing, weakness with strength and emptiness with fullness, and never disappoints one soul who comes to him moment by moment.Lt 15, 1892, par. 14–17

Believers experience his goodness great toward them and his grace strengthening them and his help in their needs, with their hope of eternal life centered in him.Ms 32, 1894, par. 20 They find consolation as laying burdens on the Savior brings relief and the light of God's love dispels sadness, and knowing him and recognizing his worth brings the soul to the wellspring of life rejoicing in the hope of God's glory.18MR 81.4+1 Those who find him precious by feeding on the Word of God enter a wonderful experience and have something higher and grander to contemplate than foolish amusements and worldly entertainments, something that holds them up and comforts them in sickness and sorrow.Ms 111, 1901, par. 21–23

Believers personally value, love and trust Jesus, finding him precious and near.Lt 19, 1880, par. 8+3 This love leads them to consecrate themselves to God, to rely on Jesus for help and guidance, to do his will and to glorify his name.Lt 19, 1880, par. 8 It is known in personal love for the Lord and in treasuring the rich and glorious truths of his life as precious pearls to bring forth for his acceptance.Lt 25a, 1876, par. 9

To believe is to make Christ our righteousness and to place him as the honored memorial cornerstone, growing up into him as the living head in all things.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29+1 It means cherishing and acting upon his lessons of humility and exemplifying his mercy, justice and the love of God in life, instead of magnifying self, dishonoring God and growing earthward in selfishness.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29+1 It means coming to Christ as to a living stone, tasting that the Lord is gracious, copying the simplicity of Christ, receiving through him true knowledge of God and access to the Father, and becoming partakers of the divine nature.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10 For gospel workers this demands personal faith for themselves and entire consecration, laying aside malice and guile and growing by the Word.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10

Keeping him precious requires faith that is allowed to increase and never be weakened, accepting the Word and taking heed to its directions.Lt 56, 1906, par. 3–5 It is entered by feeding on the Word of God, growing day by day in grace and in the knowledge of Christ with cheerful, grateful hearts.Ms 111, 1901, par. 21–23+1 It means not only teaching truth but exemplifying it in spirit, word, act and deportment so as to speak the words of Christ.Lt 56, 1906, par. 3–5 The Holy Spirit's work in the believer's mind and heart agrees with the Word, and the Spirit and the Word bear witness that believers are born of God.21MR 23.3

Christ and those who love and obey God may appear humble and commonplace to worldly judgment, but they are chosen and valued by God despite rejection by the disobedient.Ms 6, 1892, par. 24–26 Believers prize the blessings of God and Christ's righteousness above worldly inducements and human praise.Lt 28, 1896, par. 25–27 The contrast places Christ's worth above worldly honor, riches and power, while the disobedient reject the very stone God has made the cornerstone.Ms 6, 1892, par. 24–26+1

To the disobedient He is the stone disallowed by the builders that is made the head of the corner and chief cornerstone, and to them He becomes a stone of stumbling and rock of offense because they stumble at the Word through disobedience.DA 599.1–2+4 Believers find Him precious, but the disobedient reject Him as builders reject a stone, while God makes that rejected stone the cornerstone, setting faith over against disobedience and rejection.Ms 31, 1900, par. 16–18+4

They stumble when the Word interferes with selfish inclinations, ambitions and desires, refusing truth because it conflicts with what they want and rejecting obedience to God's law, thereby turning from their appointed work as His fellow workers.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+3 They fail to value the possibilities of obeying God's law and do not offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+1 Wanting to reach the highest round of the ladder without climbing step by step from the lowest keeps them from the practical education they need.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20

This stumbling includes churches that use worldly designs and human inventions instead of God's heavenly pattern, and through transgression and disobedience mismeasure the temple as earthly rather than heavenly.Ms 23, 1897, par. 14–16+1 It includes the world placing human authority above God's law and thus putting itself among the disobedient, while believers by contrast will be exalted with Christ their Head.Ms 83, 1902, par. 15–17 It includes misconstruing His self-denial, purity, high standard, perfect obedience and sacrifice to mean He abolished the law, thereby turning God's standard of righteousness into a stumbling stone.Ms 23, 1897, par. 17–18 It includes refusing Christ's yoke of obedience to God's law while seeking freedom on one's own terms, though obedience with Christ is true rest and freedom, and believing and obeying Him and being built on Him the Eternal Rock brings security rather than confusion.FE 461.2–462.1+1

The Jewish people rejected, insulted and mocked Jesus, stirred by a power from beneath, and made His work hard and trying.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 Though the Jewish builders rejected Him and put Him to death, He became the head of the corner, the true foundation of God's temple honored in heaven and by the faithful on earth.SLP 158.2 If they had received Him He would have been the rock of their salvation, but in disobedience He became to them a rock of offense.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 To the scribes and Pharisees and the Jewish nation who refused to receive Him He became a stone of stumbling and rock of offense, so that type having reached antitype in Him who alone makes atonement for sin, their religious service without Him became an unfinished tower, their salvation incomplete, and themselves a ruin.ST Jul 21, 1898

God had appointed the Jews as His purchased possession to honor and glorify His name by faithful service as co-laborers with Christ, but they did not keep the faith and stumbled in disobedience.Ms 21, 1896, par. 25–27 The same is true now of those connected with God's work who despise the showers of blessing sent to soften the obdurate heart, turn from the light shining in their hearts, and cherish opposition and unbelief and ridicule of the Holy Spirit.Ms 21, 1896, par. 25–27 The Pharisees' settled rebellion placed them among those who disallowed the stone and refused to have Him reign over them.4RED 107.1–108.1

The warning applies to ministers who neglect light they have received, for refusing to accept and practice it deprives their work of the fruit it could bear and makes the work a stumbling block to them.20MR 315.6–316.3 It applies to Judas, who could have received Christ and become a living stone in God's spiritual house but failed to form a firm, Christlike character.ST May 20, 1897

Despite rejection He is made the head of the corner, the true foundation of God's temple honored in heaven and by the faithful on earth.Lt 31, 1902, par. 29–30+2 He is the foundation stone and head of the corner of the church, its sure and only true foundation, the foundation on which Jew and Gentile must build.Ms 102, 1898, par. 11–14+3 He is the only true and secure foundation to depend on and build upon, the cornerstone and salvation and support of sincere followers, while all else is sliding sand unworthy of trust.Lt 31, 1902, par. 29–30+2

Believers come to Him as to a living stone and as living stones are built up a spiritual house and holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 This building follows laying aside all malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies and evil speakings, and coming as newborn babes desiring the sincere milk of the word to grow thereby because they have tasted that the Lord is gracious.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 Believing means copying His simplicity, receiving through Him true knowledge of God and access to the Father, becoming partakers of the divine nature, and being joined to Him so that mere effort to improve without that connection cannot make anyone a living stone.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10+2

Believers are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth His praises.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 They show forth His praises by restoring the wounded and making them whole, humbling their hearts before God, seeking Him in earnest prayer for guidance, drawing together in confidence, and bringing Him confession and humiliation.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+1 Christ standing at His Father's right hand presents their confession and reveals Himself as gracious and merciful.Ms 143, 1902, par. 28–29

To fall upon this stone and be broken means giving up self-righteousness, humbly repenting, trusting His forgiving love, yielding to Christ so His love softens and subdues the heart, and following His example rather than acting with pride, hardness or lack of sympathy.ST Apr 18, 1878+2 It requires true repentance with a broken, contrite heart, surrender of sins and acceptance of His way, since merely professing belief without sorrow for sin and confession is not genuine conversion.Ms 11, 1888, par. 58–59+2 Those who claim to believe but remain unbroken in self and pride do not see Christ as He is or value what He is to believers.11MR 284.5–285.1

Those not firmly connected to Christ will fall when trials come.ST Apr 18, 1878 Those who refuse to be broken remain responsible for their sins and face judgment pictured as the stone falling on them and grinding them to powder.Ms 71, 1907, par. 39–46+1 Though He bore abuse humbly and passively, He will rise in life and power above those who despised and rejected Him, and when He visits the wicked the rejected stone becomes to them like an avenging mountain that falls and crushes them.3SP 41.2+1 This judgment applies not only to the Jews but to all who refuse God's gracious benefits and continue resisting Christ.3SP 41.2

Rejected and abused in His earthly mission, He becomes the cornerstone through His resurrection when He is declared the Son of God with power, and at His second coming He will be revealed as Lord of heaven and earth.DA 600.1–2 The salvation rejected becomes destruction, and this rejection brought Jerusalem's ruin.DA 600.1–2 It points to the final judgment, when His glory is life to the righteous and consuming fire to those who reject grace.DA 600.1–2

Faith in the living God who made all things makes Christ precious to believers, and those who believe will be proved and tried and then exalted with Christ as their great Head.Ms 85, 1899, par. 17–18+2 They will be exalted as good and faithful servants worthy to inherit eternal life with its heavenly riches.Ms 85, 1899, par. 17–18

The verse stands as great encouragement in God's word, full of hope and courage for those who follow on to know the Lord.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3 It gives a precious picture of what Christians may be if they hear and obey.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 As part of 1 Peter 2:1-12 it is to be read in the churches in every place and practiced with watchfulness and prayer.20MR 170.2–4+1 Its instruction warns against lifting the soul up unto vanity.20MR 170.2–4+1

Hearing and obeying it maintains spiritual life by daily obedience to all the commandments of God.Lt 188, 1906, par. 1–4 Such obedience evidences receiving Christ as a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust.Lt 188, 1906, par. 1–4 It belongs to the lesson believers should study and put into practice as they prepare for God's kingdom.Ms 180, 1907, par. 1–3+1 In this setting it encourages holding firmly to the true banner of faith rather than accepting another message.Lt 40, 1895, par. 3–4

It joins the call to consecrate ourselves to God and do the work needed in our own lives to maintain communication with Christ, who redeemed us through the cross.Ms 180, 1907, par. 21–22 Teachers are to seek power from God to believe as their education, that they may impart practical godliness to others.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20 Wanting to reach the highest round of the ladder without climbing step by step from the lowest keeps them from receiving that practical education when the word interferes with selfish inclinations and ambitions.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20

For gospel workers this demands personal faith for themselves and entire consecration, laying aside malice and guile and growing by the Word.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10 God carries on His work through wholly consecrated workmen, and if ministers fail to represent Christ He will turn to others, even men not trained by regular study and called from other employments, to proclaim present truth and the last message of warning.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10 Those to whom He is precious love Jesus and will never deny His name.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 They refuse to deny the faith or make void the law of God even when commanded under threat of being called disturbers of the peace and put to death, as Jesus Himself was called and rejected as truth and grace and peace.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23

Those who believe, to whom Christ is precious, are a people chosen out of the world to remain forever separate from the world while living in it, kept free from its contaminating influences.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30 This calls physicians and ministers into the right relation the Lord designed, with medical missionary work bound up with the gospel ministry.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30 They are to labor unitedly in soul-saving work, molded after the similitude of Christ, standing on the platform of truth and refusing false theories and worldly alliances.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30