and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation,.... Or "kindred"; the phrase is to be seen in the Septuagint, on Isa 43:20, to which, and the following verse, the apostle refers here, and in another part of this text. The allusion is throughout to the people of Israel in general, who, in an external way, were all that is here said; but was only true in a...
Verse 8. And a stone of stumbling. A stone over which they stumble, or against Which they impinge. The idea seems to be that of a cornerstone which projects from the building, against which they dash themselves, and by which they are made to fall. . The rejection of the Saviour becomes the means of their ruin.
stone of stumbling, &c.--quoted from Isa 8:14. Not merely they stumbled, in that their prejudices were offended; but their stumbling implies the judicial punishment of their reception of Messiah; they hurt themselves in stumbling over the corner-stone, as "stumble" means in Jer 13:16; Dan 11:19. at the word--rather, join "being disobedient to the word"; so Pe1 3:1; Pe1 4:17. whereunto--to penal stumbling; to the judicial punishment of their unbelief.