Why is Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks?
Paul explains that Jews require a sign, so a crucified Christ is a stumbling block; Greeks seek after wisdom, so the cross appears as foolishness. Yet to those called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Les explains in this passage that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, but to those who are saved it is the power of God. Salvation must be an exercise of the sovereign power of Almighty God, because man cannot work for his salvation; man has only physical strength, while only God can bring about the salvation of the spiritual. The Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek wisdom, but Paul refuses to pursue signs or a new philosophy. Instead, he preaches Christ crucified: to the Jews a stumbling block, to the Greeks foolishness, but to the called—Jews and Greeks—Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.