The Stone Which the Builders Rejected

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day (the “builders”), were expecting the Messiah to bring about a much different “kingdom” then what Jesus revealed.

Jesus was clear that this kingdom, which He repeatedly preached was “at hand” (or within reach), would exist within His followers. Many Christians today profess to understand and experience this inward kingdom, but it has a much deeper meaning than many may realize.

The depth of meaning is found within the word that is used all throughout the Scriptures as a symbol of this kingdom.

Daniel 2:34-35 “You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”

The kingdom of God, which conquers all the kingdoms of this earth, and lasts forever, is represented by a stone. Have you ever wondered why? I’d suspected that maybe it represented strength and endurance, but I’ve discovered that those ideas only scratch the surface.

We also see through Scripture that this kingdom, this “stone,” was manifested in the life of the only-begotten Son of God:

Isaiah 8:14 “He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.”

Matthew 21:42-44 “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was Yahweh’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Matthew 16:15-18 “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

1 Corinthians 10:4 “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

1 Peter 2:4-8 “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

We see over and over again that this kingdom, revealed in the life of the Son, is likened to a stone or a rock. So what does it mean to have this kingdom within us, and therefore to have Christ living within us?

We must remember that the Bible was written in Hebrew, and this was not an arbitrary decision on God’s part. This beautiful language holds deep layers of meaning within each word. Every letter is like a picture, and every word tells a story. So let’s unpack the Hebrew word which symbolizes God’s kingdom as a stone.

The Hebrew word for “stone” is ‘eben, and is spelt with three Hebrew letters: Aleph-Bet-Nun

When you break down the word into its parts, you find the amazing meaning…

The first two letters (Aleph-Bet) make up the word “ab” which means father.
The last two letters (Bet-Nun) make up the word “ben” which means son.

And the middle letter, Bet, is actually the very first letter of the entire Bible—the first letter of the word which translates to “In the beginning…” Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, signifying the number two. It represents the beginning of duality, that there may be both a giver and a receiver. It provides the dramatic leap from Absolute Oneness, to the ability for there to be two. It is the catalyst of all creation. It represents the birth of the Source/Channel relationship between God the Father and His Son, the divine pattern of all things. (For more information on this divine pattern, check out The Blueprint of Blessing!) The form, or visual picture, of the letter Bet literally denotes a house, representing the universal concept of a container or vessel for something else to fill and dwell within.

Therefore, the meaning of “stone” in Hebrew is literally: the Father abiding within the Son, and the Son abiding within the Father.

Colossians 1:19-20 “For it pleased the Father that in [Jesus] all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself…”

John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”

That is what the kingdom of God is. That is the unbreakable, enduring, everlasting stone. And to be a member of this kingdom is to be brought into the same fellowship that Jesus has with His Father—abiding fully in Him and allowing Him to abide fully in us, that we may truly walk in “the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12)

Ephesians 3:17-19 “…That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love… May be filled with all the fullness of God.”

John 17:22-23 “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

This stone is what will shatter the power of all earthly kingdoms, and fill the earth with it’s glory. It is the chief cornerstone, the only sure foundation. This life of abiding within the Son as He abides within His Father is what the gates of Hell cannot prevail against.

And this, unfortunately, is what the builders rejected. They did not want to surrender their man-made religion and self-righteousness in order to rest in peaceful, trusting submission to God, following His Word and seeking His will alone. As Jesus said,

Matthew 15:4-9 “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? […] Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”

Having the kingdom of God within us means no longer desiring to speak our own words, follow our own will, or fulfill our own plans. We want nothing but to be a vessel for Christ to fill with His Father’s Spirit, even as He has been filled.

Matthew 10:19-20 “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

Within this kingdom, we no longer have any desire to do our own will, but the Father’s alone; no matter what difficulties we may have to pass through.

Luke 22:42 “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

This kingdom—this childlike trust in God, and desire for His words, His works, and His will alone in our lives—will continue to be rejected by men, even as it was rejected by the leaders of Christ’s day. It is simply too contrary to the self-driven life promoted by society for many to accept. But the few who do receive it, and enter into it, will experience joy and peace that surpasses all understanding. And no matter what difficulties we may face, this stone will endure. The enemy will have no power to prevail against us while we abide in Christ, as He abides in His Father.

John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.”

Colossians 1:13 “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,”

I pray that this deeper understanding of the nature of God’s kingdom has blessed you as much as it has me. And I pray that no matter what trials you are currently experiencing, or what may come to you down the road, you will be able to enter into the fellowship of the Father and Son, and find rest within the Stone ❤️

I John 1:1-4 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”