Here in this verse; God in an exclamatory mood, seeming to express surprise, addresses His Messenger saying: Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Book (JEWS AND CHRISTIANS) instead of using it as a means of guidance to obtain salvation and prosperity for others, as well as for themselves; they have bought misguidance and err, and they wish you too, to lose the right path and go astray. Thus the light of truth through their bad intention and mischief has turned to a dark means of misguidance and falsehood. This is because they were not indeed willing to join the truth, and looked at everything through the black glasses of discord, hypocrisy and materialism.