Basically, because it's not fit for purpose. It may be tarnished, discoloured, have a fault, holes or cracks in it. If this is the case then the integrity of the stone will be under question. The stability of a building depends on the structure of each individual stone. Therefore each stone would be inspected to determine if it's fit for purpose. If there were any question about it, then the stone would be rejected as no-one wants houses falling down on their heads!
The stability of a building depends on the stability of each stone. Each stone has to be free from blemish, strong and undamaged. All others are rejected, so when we read:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
1 Peter 2:7 (ESV)
This seems unbelievable. Why would a rejected stone which is not deemed fit for purpose by the experts become the cornerstone? How does a rejected stone become the first stone of primary importance - the cornerstone?
It's not just that the rejected stone was of use, but it became of primary use. The rejected one became the cornerstone - the stone which all other stones are lined up against. The base stone which determines the structural soundness of the whole building itself. If the cornerstone is faulty, the likelihood is that the whole building will collapse.
It sounds ludicrous, yet that's exactly what happened!
I know that Peter is using an analogy; The stone that the builders rejected signifies that Jesus was rejected by the religious experts.
He was not fit for their purpose. He did not line up with the vision of what they wanted to build. He didn't fit.
So, what happened?
Jesus became a new standard. He became the first stone in a new building. He was the perfect cornerstone for a new regime, a new way of building life which we can all align with. When we align ourselves with Him we become part of something greater and stronger than ourselves. We are built into a something solid that will stand the test of time.
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