The Church: Its Organization, Order and Discipline

Christ the Tried Stone

Christ is not only called the rock, but he is also called the tried stone. We read: “I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head-stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:21-23. Inspired comment is given on this text in the New Testament in our Saviour’s parable of the vineyard and the husbandmen: “Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Luke 20:13-18. COOD 8.1

Should any doubt remain in the mind of any that this stone refers to Christ, assurance is made doubly sure by the words of Peter before the rulers, elders, and priests in Jerusalem: “If we this day be examined of the good deed to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:9-12. COOD 9.1