Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Peter 2:7-8

"For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." — 1 Peter 2:7-8 (ASV)

But unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

This is the distinguishing mark between God's chosen people and the rest of mankind. His elect receive Christ, and rejoice in him; but as for the ungodly, they willfully reject the Saviour, and so he becomes to them a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.

Christ is the great touchstone of humanity; by contact with him, the precious are discovered, and the vile are discerned.

But to those who are disobedient, the stone that the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them who stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed.

The ungodly reject him and regard him as of no account; but God has made him the head of the corner. And he has done more than that: he has made him a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to them, even to them who stumble at the Word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

That is a terrible truth on which I am not going to speak right now, but I want you especially to note what a dreadful thing it is for people to stumble at the Word—to break themselves upon Christ's cross—to turn the heavenly medicine into poison—to make Christ himself, who is to others the savour of life unto life, be to them the savour of death unto death. Being disobedient.

The fault lies with themselves; they willfully disobey the command to believe on Christ. Whereunto also they were appointed. So the divine purpose is accomplished, although the guilt and punishment of their disobedience rest upon themselves alone.

But unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

When Peter wrote these verses, he must have thought of his own name. He was called a stone or a rock; and once he was a rock of offence to his Master when he stumbled at Christ's word and even began to rebuke his Lord, but he was forgiven and saved, so now he gives a warning to others so that they would not sin even more grievously by making Christ himself to be to them a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence.