merely natural and worldly. Notice in the first place that the whole race is involved in whatever con demnation is referred to in this passage, for Jews, Greeks and Gentiles are all mentioned—in verse 22, Jews and Greeks; in verse 23, Jews and Gentiles; in verse 24, Jews and Greeks. I take it that the Greeks are selected as the representatives of all the Gentiles, perhaps because of the emphasis upon their idea that the cross was foolishness, for the Greeks prided themselves upon their wisdom. In any case, whatever is involved in the condemna tion of men, it takes in the whole race, not just one section. In the second place, notice the two things which are specified—that to the Jews, Christ crucified is a stumbling block, it is a snare, it is something over which they stumble. This is merely a state ment of fact. There is no opprobrium attached to it, save that they have divested themselves of the blessing that God otherwise would have given them. A stumbling block—all of us can stumble. Notice the second word, foolishness, and this is the word which characterizes the Gentiles’ attitude toward the cross. I do not think it is difficult for us to enter the meaning of these words and see them in their application. We have two men before us, repre sentative of the whole human race. I think it would be fitting to call one a religionist; for not all Jews are involved in this category, just as all Gentiles are not involved in the category of those who brand “Christ crucified” foolishness. As a matter of fact, the opportunity for men to come to the Lord, to know the salvation of God, is open to both; because verse 24 says “unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks.” So there is no bias one way or the other. God is not a re specter of persons. The believing Jew and the be lieving Gentile are welcomed and made part of God’s spiritual family. It is true that many of God’s ancient people in Paul’s day were concerned about this matter of signs, which is mentioned in verse 22, “seeing that Jews ask for signs." I read in Matthew 12:38-40: “Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees an swered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” You see from this answer of our Lord, while He cer tainly indicated that signs should not be necessary, He did not deny to His people a sign. The sign was this—that as Jonah was three days and three nights THE KING'S BUSINESS
them physically and spiritually. I admit my kin ship with them as “the offspring of God.” I gladly confess my debt, especially to the Jew first, but also to the Gentile. But this does not mean that I must therefore deny the teachings of the Christian faith as taught in the Word of God. I believe that all men are sinners and that God Himself has provided the only way of approach to Himself. All of this is forcefully brought to our attention in two passages which speak of the offense of the cross in the New Testament. The word offense in these passages is actually in the original the word from which our word scandal comes. I t is the scandal of the cross. In its usage in the language in which the New Testament was written, in a very literal and common sense it refers to a snare, a trap ; and can quite legitimately be translated stumbling block. It is so translated by the Ameri can Standard Version in the passages of Scripture to which I now refer. The first of these is Gala tians 5:11: “But 1, brethren, if I still preach cir cumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.” For the apostle Paul to have trusted in the rites of religion for his salvation would have delivered him from the opposition of many of his countrymen. Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been done away. But the apostle Paul refused any such escape from persecution. He did not preach circumcision. He was persecuted because the offense of the cross was something that he could not dis own. The second passage of Scripture is I Corinthians 1:23: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling-block, and unto Gentiles foolishness." Let me read the context beginning at verse 18: “For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wis dom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it ivas God’s good pleasure through the fool ishness of the thing preached to save them that believe. Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling-block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews o.nd Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the ivisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” May I suggest two things about this passage of Scripture which deliver us from any bias that is
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