A Living Stone and a Holy People

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.