In quoting the prophecy of the rejected stone, Christ referred to an actual occurrence in the history of Israel. The incident was connected with the building of the first temple. While it had a special application at the time of Christ's first advent, and should have appealed with special force to the Jews, it has also a lesson for us. When the temple of Solomon 598 was erected, the immense stones for the walls and the foundation were entirely prepared at the quarry; after they were brought to the place of building, not an instrument was to be used upon them; the workmen had only to place them in position. For use in the foundation, one stone of unusual size and peculiar shape had been brought; but 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.

Ved at anføre profetien om den forkastede hjørnesten viste Kristus hen til en virkelig begivenhed i Israels historie. Det var et tilfælde, som stod i forbindelse med opførelsen af det første tempel. Skønt det havde særlig forbindelse med tiden for Kristi første komme og med særlig kraft burde have talt til jøderne, har det også noget at lære os. Da Salomons tempel blev opført, blev de vældige stene til murene og grundvolden fuldstændig tilhuggede i stenbruddet. Når de først var bragt til byggepladsen, måtte der ikke mere benyttes noget redskab på dem. Arbejderne skulle kun anbringe dem på deres rette plads. Der var blevet bragt en usædvanlig stor og mærkeligt formet sten derhen for at blive benyttet til grundvolden; men arbejderne kunne ikke finde nogen plads til den og ville ikke tage imod den. Den voldte dem ærgrelse, fordi den lå i vejen for dem og ikke kunne bruges. I lange tider var den en vraget sten. Men da bygningsmændene skulle til at lægge hjørnestenen, ledte de længe for at finde en sten af passende størrelse og styrke og med den rette form til at ligge på dette særlige sted og bære den store vægt, der ville komme til at hvile på den. Hvis de skulle komme til at gøre et uklogt valg til dette vigtige sted, ville hele bygningsværkets sikkerhed være i fare.