The Bible records many names given to Jesus. These names are either titles of honor or are given to Him to describe some aspect of His personality or His position. In chapter one of his first letter, the Apostle Peter has referred to Jesus as the Christ, as Lord, and as a lamb. In chapter two, Peter calls Jesus “a living Stone.” In verses 4-6 he writes, “coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.””
In order to understand what Peter means when he calls Jesus a “living stone” or a “cornerstone” we must first understand what he means when he says that the followers of Jesus are being built into a spiritual house. When we speak of a house, we usually mean one of two things. In one sense we use the word ‘house’ to refer to the members of a family. Secondly, we use the word house to describe the building where a family lives. Peter uses the word in both senses. In chapter one he called the followers of Jesus children of God and brothers. So, when Peter tells his readers that they are being built into a spiritual house he is reminding them that they are part of God’s family. This is in agreement with other Scriptures. For example, in Hebrews 3:5-6 it says, “Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken, but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.”
But Peter is also referring to a building when he says that the followers of Jesus are being built into a house. He has in mind the temple that was built in Jerusalem. But since Jesus sacrificed His life for the forgiveness of sins and was resurrected, God no longer dwells in a house made of stone, but rather in the hearts of those who follow Jesus. This is why Peter calls them living stones. This living temple is built on faith in Jesus. And this is why Peter calls Jesus the cornerstone. The Apostle Paul explains it this way, “So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22) It is important to note that another name the Bible uses for this temple is ‘church.’ The church is not a physical building but is made up of all those who follow Christ.
Just as the Mosaic Law designated certain people as priests to serve in the temple at Jerusalem, this new living temple also has priests. But there is a major difference. Under the Mosaic Law only people from a certain tribe or family could serve as priests. But Peter says that all of those who follow Christ are priests in the living temple.
Just as the priests under the Mosaic Law had to perform certain duties, so do the priests of the living temple. One of the most important duties of the priest under the Law was to sacrifice animals as a sin offering on behalf of the people. Those sin offerings were ineffective however, for as Hebrews 10:3-4 points out, “ But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” Sin was not atoned for until Jesus offered His sinless body as the perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 10:11-12 says, “Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;” It is for this reason that the priests of the living temple do not offer animal sacrifices. Instead, Peter says that they are to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Peter does not say what these sacrifices should be. From other passages of Scripture however we see that these sacrifices include our love, (Mark 12:33) our bodies, (Romans 12:1) finances, (Philippians 4:18) praise and generosity. (Hebrews 13:15-16)
Here it is important to note another difference between the Old Covenant under the Mosaic Law and the New Covenant that Jesus has brought. Under the Law, the people could not offer their sacrifices themselves. They had to bring them to a priest who would offer the sacrifices on their behalf. But under the New Covenant, everyone who follows Jesus is a priest and therefore has the right to offer sacrifices. In Christ everyone is equal. This does not mean however, that we are not to pray on the behalf of other people. On the contrary, the Christian is instructed to do this. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 the Apostle Paul writes, “I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.”
Another difference from the Mosaic Law is that no longer must sacrifices be brought to the physical temple in Jerusalem. Now our sacrifices can be offered anywhere we are because we are part of the living temple. Where the Christian is, there the temple is also.
But while every Christian has the right to offer spiritual sacrifices to God, Peter says that they must be offered through Jesus Christ. It is the blood of Jesus that atones for the sins of those who follow Him. And it is on the basis of Jesus’ blood that God accepts our sacrifices and listens to our requests. As it is written, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)