4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
The words [coming to Him] in the Greek text do not refer to the initial act of the sinner coming to the Lord Jesus for salvation, but indicate a close and habitual approach and an intimate association made by faith when the believer realizes the presence of and seeks communion and fellowship with his Lord. — Wuest, page 52
I agree with Wuest’s statement (above) because it comes immediately after Peter said to his readers “If indeed [if, as is the case] you have tasted that that the Lord is gracious” (v.3).
The word “disallowed” [rejected] is the translation of a word that refers to the act of putting someone or something to the test for the purpose of putting one’s approval upon that person and thus receiving him, this act of testing being carried to the point where no further testing is needed, with the result that one comes to the settled conclusion that the one tested does not meet the requirements of the test and is therefore disapproved, repudiated. This Living Stone in the person of [the Son of God] became incarnate, lived for thirty-three years in the midst of Israel, offered Himself as its Messiah, was examined by official Israel for the purpose of approving Him as its Messiah, and then repudiated because He was not what official Israel wanted in a Messiah. — Wuest, pages 52-53.
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The word “chosen” [v.4] is not a verb in the Greek text but a noun, literally “a chosen-out one,” thus “elect.” “Precious” is the translation of a Greek word used in Luke 7:2, describing the centurion’s servant as “dear” to him. The word speaks of one being held in honor and as dear to another. — Wuest, paged 52.
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The reference in verse 5 is to the material Temple at Jerusalem with its carnal priesthood, and animal sacrifices. These believers of the Dispersion were living stones in a spiritual temple, a holy priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices. They were members of the Messianic church (Matthew 16:18)—not the church revealed in the Epistle to the Ephesians, for that was hidden and not revealed until made known by Paul. — Williams, page 999.
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The words “to offer up” are the translation of a word used in the Greek translations of the Old Testament of the act of the priest bearing the sacrifices up to the brazen altar. the latter was four and one-half feet high and was approached by an incline up which the priest carried the sacrifice. The word itself means literally “to carry up” … The word “acceptable” in the Greek text means literally “to receive to one’s self with pleasure.” — Wuest, page 53.
The quote in verse 6 if from Isaiah 28:16 in the LXX.
disobedient (v.7) = disbelieving
The quote in verse 7 is from Psalm 118:22 in the LXX. Jesus applied this to Himself in Mark 12:10, and Peter applied it to the Lord in Acts 4:11.
The quote in verse 8 is from Isaiah 8:14.
The words “a stone of stumbling” [v.8] are the translation of lithos, ” a loose stone in the path,” and proskommatos meaning “to cut against, which altogether means “an obstacle against which one strikes.” The words “rock of offense” are from petra, “a ledge rising out of the ground,” and skandalou, “a trap set to trip one.” Our word “scandal” comes from the latter word. These who are disobedient (the literal Greek has it “non-persuadable”) are appointed to stumble at the Word, which is the penalty for refusal to believe it. “By faith we understand” (Hebrews 11:3), is the God-ordained way. Thus, unbelievers find the Living Stone, which is precious to believers, an obstacle against which they strike, and a scandal, that which offends them. — Wuest, page 56.
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Sadly, many prominent Bible teachers … teach that the Body of Christ is the priesthood of God. This is simply a failure on their part to rightly divide the Word of truth. …
In time past, the priesthood implied that the people did not have access to God. Consequently, the Lord chose the tribe of Levi, from among the other tribes of Israel, to sever as His ministers (Numbers 18:6-7). The Israelites could not draw nigh to God without coming under the sentence of death. … Anyone other than a priest who dared to do so experienced the wrath of God. They alone could enter beyond the veil to offer the prayers of the people before God at the golden altar of incense. The priests always ministered on behalf of those who did not have access.
But consider these words of the Apostle Paul: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ … For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:13, 18). On the basis of the Cross both Jews and Gentiles now have access to God the Father. To whom would we serve as priests? …
Peter’s hearers, however, could indeed be called a royal priesthood. They were a divine pattern of future Israel that will one day be a kingdom of priests to the Gentiles (Isaiah 61:6). … According to prophecy, the Gentiles never possessed the privileges that the chosen people enjoyed. This will also be true in the coming kingdom. Therefore, those of other nations will only have access to God through her (Zechariah 8;23). As the priests of God, the Jews will intercede on behalf of the Gentiles, who will be required to pay homage to the King of Kings at Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:16-21). — Sadler, pages 73-75.
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