2:81 Peter 2:8

Christ is the living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, made the head of the corner and the only true foundation broad and strong enough to bear the whole world and complete the work of salvation.Ms 31, 1900, par. 16–18+4 To those who believe he is precious, their salvation and support, and coming to him they become living stones built into a spiritual house.DA 599.1–2+4 To those who disobey he is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, because to stumble at the word is to disobey it and reject the truth in him.DA 599.1–2+4 Those who stumble in this way are appointed to this outcome of stumbling over him, while all are also appointed to the work of laboring together with him in humble obedience.Lt 26, 1900, par. 23–25+4 Every person must now fall upon the Rock and be broken in genuine repentance, giving up self and sin to be healed, for whoever refuses to be broken now will be ground to powder when the Rock falls upon them in judgment.ST Apr 18, 1878+4

The verse presents Christ as the living stone disallowed by human builders but chosen of God and precious, made the head of the corner.Ms 31, 1900, par. 16–18+4 To those who believe He is precious, but to those who are disobedient He is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense because they stumble at the word.Ms 31, 1900, par. 16–18+4 The disobedient disallow Him as builders by turning from Bible principles to their own finite judgment, treating position as liberty to speak and plan contrary to God's will, and by refusing the word.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29+3 It is a word of encouragement and of hope and courage from God, calling to lay aside malice and envy and hypocrisy and evil speech and to come to Christ the living stone, upon whom believers both Jews and Gentiles build and become living stones in a spiritual house.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2

The same Christ is a precious foundation to those who believe, yet He becomes a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who through disobedience stumble at God's word.DA 599.1–2+4 The stone rejected by the builders becomes the head of the corner, so that the One who is precious to believers is an occasion of stumbling to the disobedient.Lt 26, 1900, par. 23–25+3 To His sincere followers He is salvation and support, but those who disobey are appointed to stumble over Him.DA 599.1–2+3 Rejected by disobedient people, He meets them not as foundation but as obstacle.DA 599.1–2+2

He is the only true foundation, broad enough for all and strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole world, and the church is built on Christ as chief cornerstone.Lt 20, 1896, par. 11–16+1 All who build upon Him by connection with Him become living stones, while those who hew and polish and beautify themselves by their own endeavors and are not riveted to the eternal rock fall in ruin when rain and tempest and flood come.ST Apr 18, 1878 Those who refuse to give up self-righteousness and come with childlike humility, repentance, and faith in His forgiving love encounter Him as an obstacle.Lt 20, 1896, par. 11–16+1 He was meant to complete the building whose foundation was laid in the sacrifices that prefigured Him, type reaching antitype in Him who alone could make atonement for sin and give efficiency to faith.ST Jul 21, 1898+1 Because the scribes and Pharisees and the Jewish nation refused to receive the Redeemer whom their sacrifices prefigured and failed to search the Old Testament, all their worship without Him was an unfinished tower, their religious faith incomplete and their salvation incomplete, leaving themselves a ruin without Christ.ST Jul 21, 1898+1

To stumble at the word is to disobey it and to reject Christ and stumble over the truth in him.Ms 6, 1892, par. 24–26+3 Those who believe find him precious, while those who stumble through disobedience fail to value the possibilities of obeying God's law and do not offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.Ms 6, 1892, par. 24–26+1 Their stumbling is settled rebellion and refusal to have him reign over them, leaving them in darkness and unbelief, and worldly judgment can lead them to reject both him and the humble people chosen for his work.Ms 6, 1892, par. 24–26+1 Yielding to worldly influences and deceptions leads them to regard truth as error and error as truth.Ms 6, 1892, par. 20–23

People stumble because the call to obey God's law conflicts with their inclinations, and they refuse to be doers of the word.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2 They reject his yoke of obedience in pursuit of self-rule, mistaking that obedience for bondage and what they call freedom for liberty.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2 Joining him in obedience is the way to true rest and freedom and keeps from being confounded, while rejecting his yoke leads to stumbling and confusion.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2 All are appointed to a work as co-laborers with him, but some stumble rather than accept that calling.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2

Stumbling comes when the word interferes with selfish inclinations and ambitions.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20 People desire to reach the highest round of the ladder without climbing step by step from the lowest round, and therefore fail to receive the practical education they need to impart to others.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20 Being appointed means being appointed to a different work, for to everyone is appointed a position of honor in his work, and he uses everyone who in humility and meekness will consent to be fashioned after the divine pattern.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20

The disobedient disallow him by turning from Bible principles to their own finite judgment, treating position as liberty to speak and plan contrary to his will.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29 They reject him because they do not appreciate him and refuse God's authority, placing human authority above Jehovah's law.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29+1 This is seen in men in positions of great responsibility who magnify themselves and dishonor God, grow earthward instead of growing up into Christ their living head, regard self as important, weave selfishness into their work, and fail to manifest his humility, mercy, justice, and love.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29 Their course is looked upon with displeasure, and their offerings are not acceptable spiritual sacrifices, whereas those who believe in him are exalted with him, their great Head.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29+1

A mind diverted by worldly concerns finds the word an offense and a stumbling stone because, lacking the Holy Spirit, it cannot discern its deep truths or the rich treasures of godliness.Ms 6, 1892, par. 20–23+1 Pride that makes people unwilling to receive counsel causes them to stumble at the word and take it as an offense, so that warnings and reproofs have no effect.Lt 23, 1890, par. 1 Neglecting and disobeying light already given causes people to stumble over the very work God is doing.Ms 64, 1898, par. 5–7 Ministers who have the clearest light on health reform yet do not receive it, practice right principles, live healthfully, and give the light to others cannot harmonize with that work but make it a stumbling block to themselves, watching with eager eyes for inconsistencies to comment upon instead of overcoming prejudice.Ms 64, 1898, par. 5–7

His means of bringing people back can become a cause of stumbling when people resist his message, reject warnings and reproofs, cling to unbelief, and refuse the light of his word.DA 587.4–5 The truth exposes their sins and conflicts with their expectations and natural inclinations, so they reject it and choose darkness at the peril of their souls.DA 587.4–5 Ancient and modern Israel stumble over him when his self-denial, purity, exalted standard, and perfect obedience to God's law offend them.Ms 23, 1897, par. 17–18 His sacrifice to redeem humanity from Satan's power and the curse of the law is wrongly treated as abolishing God's law, turning God's standard of righteousness, which represents his character, into a stumbling block and wrongly setting Christ in the Old Testament against Christ in the New.Ms 23, 1897, par. 17–18

The same Christ who is precious to those who believe becomes a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to those who disobey and stumble at the word, and those who disobey are appointed to this outcome of stumbling over him.Lt 26, 1900, par. 23–25+4 The stone rejected by the builders is made the head of the corner, and the living stone disallowed by men but chosen of God becomes an occasion of stumbling for the disobedient.Lt 26, 1900, par. 23–25+2 This was seen in the Jewish people who rejected, insulted and mocked him, stirred by a power from beneath to make his work hard and trying, and who stumbled at the word through disobedience whereunto they were appointed.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+2 Had they received him by faith he would have been the rock of their salvation, while those who believe and obey in the face of reproach, unrighteous tribunals, prison and death for the truth's sake are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth his praises, trusting him and not confounded.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 This warning belongs with the call not to abandon the true banner of faith.Lt 40, 1895, par. 3–4

They stumble because the call to obedience to God's law conflicts with their inclinations, and they refuse to be doers of the word of truth.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2 Their disobedience includes rejecting his yoke in pursuit of self-rule, mistaking that obedience for bondage, though joining him in obedience is the way to rest and freedom and keeps them from being confounded.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2 In this connection the appointment language is also applied to people's appointed work: all people are appointed to a work, including being co-laborers with Christ, but some stumble rather than accept that calling.Ms 68, 1897, par. 29+2

Being appointed also means being appointed to a different work, for God has appointed to everyone a position of honor in his work.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20 They stumble at the word when it interferes with selfish inclinations and ambitions, desiring to reach the highest round of the ladder without climbing step by step from the lowest round.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20 Therefore they fail to receive the practical education they need to impart to others, whereas God uses everyone who in humility and meekness will consent to be fashioned after the divine pattern.Ms 91, 1901, par. 18–20

The appointment means God appointed his people as his purchased possession to honor and glorify his name by faithful service as co-laborers with Christ, with Christ laid in Zion as the elect precious chief cornerstone, precious to those who believe so they will not be confounded, but a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to the disobedient who stumble at the word.Ms 21, 1896, par. 25–27 The Jews did not keep the faith thus appointed to them.Ms 21, 1896, par. 25–27 The same is true of men 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, whose words influence many.Ms 21, 1896, par. 25–27

Judas had abundant opportunities to receive the word and form a firm, Christlike character, but the precious and chosen stone became to him a stumbling stone and rock of offense through disobedience.ST May 20, 1897 The verse in that case describes the consequence of disobedience without explaining further what it means that such people were appointed to this.ST May 20, 1897

To those who believe He is precious, a precious foundation on which trust is never put to confusion, and He is their salvation and support.DA 599.1–2+4 The same cornerstone laid in Zion as elect and precious becomes the head of the corner, precious to believers who trust Him and shall not be confounded, while to the disobedient who stumble at the word it becomes a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.Lt 31, 1902, par. 29–30+4 Believers receive Him as precious and are built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to show forth God's praises after being called from darkness into marvelous light.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+2

Those who come to Him become living stones by connection with Him as the chief cornerstone and are built into a spiritual house, and Jew and Gentile alike must build upon Him.Lt 19, 1895, par. 26–28+3 All who build upon Him become living stones by that connection, but many who hew and polish and beautify themselves by their own endeavors never become living stones because they are not connected with Him and not riveted to the eternal rock.3SP 38.2–39.1+2 When rain falls and tempest rages and floods come they fall in ruin for want of that connection.ST Apr 18, 1878

Those who believe for themselves are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth His praises.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+3 This includes those who believe and obey in the face of reproach, unrighteous tribunals, prison and death for the truth's sake.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 Those to whom He is precious humble their hearts before God, bring Him by earnest prayer into their councils for guidance, draw together in confidence, and trust Christ at His Father's right hand to present their confession and humiliation while God reveals Himself as gracious and merciful, restoring the wounded instead of condemning and cutting them off and showing forth His praises as Healer of soul and body.Ms 143, 1902, par. 28–29 Feeding on the Word of God gives a wonderful experience of His preciousness instead of stumbling in disobedience.Ms 111, 1901, par. 21–23

Had those who rejected, insulted and mocked Him received Him by faith, He would have been the rock of their salvation.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 Those who believe in Him, by contrast with those who reject Him because they do not appreciate Him and refuse God's authority by placing human authority above Jehovah's law, are exalted with Him, their great Head.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23+1 The verse thus makes a distinction between the obedient and the disobedient, and God carries on His work through wholly consecrated workers who believe, turning to others if ministers fail to represent Christ.Ms 105, 1902, par. 5–10+1

The Jewish rejection turned Him into a stone of stumbling and rock of offense because they insulted and mocked Him, stirred by a power from beneath to make His work hard and trying.Lt 116, 1896, par. 21–23 The Pharisees’ settled rebellion made them refuse His rule and deepen in hatred and unbelief until they were beyond further help.2SP 374.2+1 The scribes and Pharisees refused to receive Him, so all their worship without Him stood as an unfinished tower with salvation incomplete.ST Jul 21, 1898

Though they possessed the Old Testament, they failed to search it and recognize the danger of rejecting Him even while they fulfilled what the prophets had foretold.Ms 197, 1898, par. 9–11 Had they received Him by faith and confessed their sins, He would have cleansed them from unrighteousness.Ms 197, 1898, par. 9–11 Though He humbly endured abuse in His earthly mission, He was raised and declared the Son of God with power and will be revealed at His second coming as Lord of heaven and earth.DA 600.1–2 The rejected stone will rise in life and power at judgment as a rock of offense and avenging mountain that crushes the wicked, and this applies not only to the Jews but to all who reject grace.3SP 41.2

What God ordained for life — His goodness, righteousness, and mercy — becomes ruin to the rejecters.DA 600.1–2 This was fulfilled in Jerusalem’s destruction and will be seen in the final judgment, when His glory is life to the righteous but consuming fire to those who reject grace.DA 600.1–2 Every person must now fall on the Rock and be broken, giving up self-righteousness, becoming humble as a child, having a broken heart before God, letting self die, confessing and putting away sins, clearing hindrances, and letting Him take possession and heal every wound.ST Apr 18, 1878+1 This means coming in genuine repentance with sorrow and confession and believing in His forgiving love, rather than merely professing belief while disregarding sin, and receiving His subduing, merciful, patient love.ST Apr 18, 1878+2 Pride and self-will must be humbled and brought under God’s will, and those who keep self alive and exalted have not truly fallen upon Him.11MR 284.5–285.1+1

People may fall upon Him and be broken by yielding their sins to Him, and all who build upon Him in this way become living stones by connection with Him as the chief cornerstone.ST Apr 18, 1878+1 Those who merely hew, polish, and beautify themselves by their own endeavors never become living stones because they are not connected with Him, and when rain, tempest, and flood come they fall in ruin because they are not riveted to the eternal Rock.ST Apr 18, 1878 If people refuse to be broken now without waiting, the Rock will fall on them and grind them to powder.Ms 71, 1907, par. 39–46+1 Then their unconfessed sins will meet them in the judgment when He comes in the clouds of heaven to reward everyone according to works, and they will have no part in His kingdom but be lost, with past wrongdoing brought up when it is too late to make things right.Ms 71, 1907, par. 39–46+1 Christ and the message of His coming become a stumbling stone to professed believers who resist them, for the second advent is joy and hope to the righteous but unwelcome to those who do not love the Saviour and prefer pleasure, money, and worldly honor, and their irritation and opposition reveal departure from God.GC 339.2–340.1

The verse is a warning not to turn away from truth and its appointed message, not to abandon the true banner of faith, and it stands as a word of encouragement and of hope and courage from God.Ms 17, 1909, par. 1–3+2 Refusing clearly stated duty puts a person out of right relation to God, and the remedy is to repent of disobedience and live as obedient children.Ms 25, 1907, par. 12–14 Disobedience leads builders to shape the church by worldly designs instead of the heavenly pattern appointed, so that by transgression they mismeasure the temple and make it earthly rather than heavenly.Ms 23, 1897, par. 14–16 Though given a better, holy calling, they fail to value the possibilities of obeying God's law and do not offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, and so are numbered among those who stumble through disobedience.Ms 68, 1903, par. 12–15

This applies especially to men in positions of great responsibility who turn from Bible principles to their own finite judgment and treat position as liberty to speak and plan contrary to God's will.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29 Instead of growing up into Christ their living head, they magnify themselves, grow earthward, regard self as important, weave selfishness into their work, and fail to manifest His humility, mercy, justice, and love, and God looks on their course with displeasure so that their offerings are not acceptable spiritual sacrifices.Lt 78, 1896, par. 26–29 The verse belongs to a passage setting forth the believer's position in 1 Peter 2:3-9, and the whole chapter of 1 Peter 2 is to be studied.Ms 180, 1907, par. 1–3 It calls every believer to consecrate self to God and to do an advanced work for the individual self, without which there can be no communication with Him who hung on the cross to redeem.Ms 180, 1907, par. 21–22

It sets the high standard to which God's people must attain, to be read, studied with all intelligence, and practiced with watchfulness and prayer, its meaning expressed in words and actions.Lt 188, 1906, par. 1–4 It shows what Christians may be if they hear and obey, warns those who lift their souls unto vanity, and calls for daily obedience to all the commandments by bringing the law of heaven into everyday experience.Lt 188, 1906, par. 1–4 By this believers receive Christ and partake of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust, maintaining spiritual life through constant warfare while in this world of sin.Lt 188, 1906, par. 1–4 It teaches that God has chosen a people out of the world to remain forever separate from the world, living in the world but not of the world and kept free from its contaminating influences.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30

Applied to medical work, this means medical missionary work is not to be made the body but is to be bound up with gospel ministry, with right relations between physicians and their brethren.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30 Every physician and medical missionary worker is to stand on the platform of truth, uninfluenced by false theories and wrong devising, molded after the similitude of Christ, respecting the pure living principles of the gospel, and laboring unitedly with the church and with ministers in soul-saving work.Lt 220, 1903, par. 28–30 The verse stands in a call to lay aside malice, envy, hypocrisy, and evil speech and to come to Christ, the living stone, since those who refuse the word stumble over Christ to the outcome appointed for such disobedience.Ms 40a, 1890, par. 97–100 Neglecting light God has given causes people to miss the fruit of receiving and sharing it, and prejudice with failure to practice health reform can turn that work into a stumbling block to ministers themselves.20MR 315.6–316.3

Ministers who have the clearest light on health reform yet do not receive it, practice right principles, live healthfully, and give the light to others cannot harmonize with the work, but make it a stumbling block to themselves and watch with eager eyes for inconsistencies to comment upon instead of overcoming prejudice.Ms 64, 1898, par. 5–7 Neglecting and disobeying light also causes people to stumble over the very work God is doing.Ms 64, 1898, par. 5–7 God's cause and institutions can become a stumbling block and offense to unbelievers when failing institutions hinder acceptance, so they are to be sustained, preserved, and recovered rather than closed or handed to worldlings.6T 461.1–462.1+2 The Lord's servants are to rally to recover what has been lost with the Lord working with them, and believers elsewhere are to cooperate with them in that effort.RH Mar 19, 1901

The stone also figures temptations by which believers are easily overcome and past failures that have caused sadness to themselves and others.7T 239.3 Praying not to be led into temptation requires guarding the feet against leading into temptation and keeping away from known temptations.7T 239.3 Learning from past experience how to avoid failure, believers must roll the stone out of the way, and success in this is wrought out by themselves through the grace of Christ.7T 239.3 Obstacles that have led people away from the truth should be removed where possible through loving efforts that stand firmly for truth and unite human agency with divine help.Lt 157, 1897, par. 1–3 An upsetting personal incident should not be allowed to become an obstacle that turns a believer away from faith.Lt 1, 1896, par. 1–3

A course of selfishness and self-exaltation becomes a stone of stumbling to the one who follows it, especially representing those who came before as failures and taking credit for their work.Lt 119, 1902, par. 18–24 Exalting science above God, leaving simple faith in God's power, and limiting His power can become a stone of stumbling.3MR 357.1–2+1 Physicians, medical students, youth associating with educators in a medical institution, and all engaged in scientific research fall over this stone when not entirely surrendered to God, not walking humbly before Him, not looking to Him daily for light and wisdom, not feeling daily dependence on Him, and not growing up into Christ the living Head by increasing in knowledge and love of the truth.Lt 18, 1892, par. 3–4 Many have already fallen for lack of Bible humility, and many more will stumble and be deceived to ruin unless they keep pace with the opening providence of God.Lt 18, 1892, par. 3–4

Making meat eating a test question becomes a stone of stumbling, since some would stumble over such a positive presentation because not yet fully ready, while others would make it a stumbling block for others.Ms 23, 1911, par. 7–8 A subject needing fair representation in all its bearings will trip faith if pressed as a test prematurely instead of first giving essential instruction.Ms 23, 1911, par. 7–8 Those who claim to believe must not cause weak or erring souls to stumble through harshness, accusation, or an unforgiving spirit, but should humble their hearts, seek and strengthen them, and restore the wounded instead of condemning and cutting them off.Ms 143, 1902, par. 28–29+2 As a chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation, and peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light, they are to bring God by earnest prayer into their councils for guidance, draw together in confidence, trust Christ to present their confession and humiliation, and show forth His praises as Healer of soul and body while willingly falling on the Rock to be broken and softened into merciful, patient love.Ms 143, 1902, par. 28–29+2