The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 123

also are living stones, only with this difference, that we derive all our Iivin" consequence in the building from Christ. A stone, according to the general idea, is n~ meant to be by itself; it is meant to be placed along with others in a building. So we rise to the idea of our being as living stones built up a spiritual house. Ancient Israel had a temple; the heightening consideration is that we as Christians are the temple. Whereas also material elements (such as in the Jewish temple) can only in a very restricted way be used for the glorifying of God, there is far greater freedom and capability when we come to the spiritual elements that exist in the Church. "To the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the Church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. iii. 10). But that is not all; for ancient Israel the complete conception was broken up. They had a temple, and they had also, distinct from it, a priesthood. 'l'be heightening consideration is that we combine the two ideas. We are the temple and the priesthood in one. The Jewish priests had a sacred character. "Once a priest, al ways a priest." They could not take to trading; God's service required their undivided attention. So even in trading we are to have a sacred character, abjuring self and referring all to God. Our feet are al ways to be fonnd in the path of God's commandments-which cover things both temporal and spiritual. 'l'be Jewish priests offered up fruits, animals; the heightening consideration is that we offer up spiritual sacrifices. These are only acceptable to God thr()Ufjh Jesw Christ; and therefore wo require to remember that his sacrifice comes first. After it, founded upon it, and deriving all their virtue from it, come our sacrifices, which are distinctively eucharistic, i.e. they are forms of giving thanks. They are this even when we begin, as we must do, by offering up ourselves. Gratitude, especially for what has been done for ue in redemption, prompts us first to offer up ourselves, and then ourselves in good thoughts, in earnest prayers, in loving deeds. 2. Scriptural foundati011, for the characterizati011,. "Because it is contained in Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief Corner-stone, elect, precious: aud be that believeth on him shall not be put to shame." This is a free quotation from Isa. xxviii. 16. .Attention is called to the declaration of the eternal counsel. It is "tbe Lord God" who says, "I lay;" but there is not excluded laying by human agents. From the temple in Zion we are to pass in thought to the Church. The chief corner-stone is the most important stone in the building, both com- biuing as being in the corner, and supporting as being the foundation-stone; such is Christ to the Church, with the epithets formerly applied to him. The prophet goes beyond this to the consequence of believing. .As it stands in tbe prophecy, the language is, "He that believeth shall not make haste," i.e. shall go on his way calmly. As altered here, it is, "He that believeth on him [Christ as the Stone] shall not be put to shame." Believing, in builders' language, is taking Christ as the Foundation. If Christ is the Foundation, it must be designed that stones should be laid upon him or in relation to him, That is the design of any foundation-the design, then, of Christ as the Founda- tion. If we are laid upon Christ as the Foundation, we shall never be put to shame; i.e. shall never have the shame connected with the foundation proving insufficient. 3. Consequence of believing. "For you therefore which believe is the preciousness." It is better to translate, "is the honour." This is the positive side of the conception that we have just noticed. Laid upon Christ as the "chief Corner-stone, elect, precious," there is the corresponding honour; i.e. the honour of having a defiuite, abiding place in the building, with a share in the glory that is communicated to it by Christ. 4. Consequence of not believing. "But for such as disbelieve, The Stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the bead of the corner; and, A Stone of stumbling, nud a Iloclc of offence; for they stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." The statement of consequence is preceded by a statement of wonderful fact from Ps. cxviii. 22, which by our Lord himself, and by Peter in his speech before the Sanhedrin, is connected with the action of the Jewish rulers. '1.'he blindness of the builders. The position which these Jewish rulers occupied was a very honourable one. 'l'hey were appointed to build. It is of the greatest impor- tance that those who lead the thought or action in any way should be really builders, clearly and boldly grasping the principles, and earnestly and vigorously carrying forward the work. It is an incalculable evil when any take advantage of their gifts or position to promulgate opinions which are fitted to sap the foundations-to do the work of him who has been a destroyer from the begiuning. There are some, not ouly in other 118 THE FIRST EPISTLE GEN'ERAL OF PE'I'ER. [en. u. 1-25.