*1 Peter 2:1-25
Peter calls believers to live holy lives, submitting to authorities, and following the example of Christ in suffering.
- Purification and Growth:
- Believers are urged to rid themselves of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
- Like newborn babies, they should crave pure spiritual milk so that by it they may grow up in their salvation, now that they have tasted that the Lord is good.
- Living Stones and a Holy Priesthood:
- The passage uses the metaphor of believers as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Jesus is described as the cornerstone, chosen and precious in the sight of God, and believers are also precious in this construction.
- Christ as the Foundation:
- The scripture references include Christ as a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, aimed at those who do not believe and disobey the word.
- For believers, however, Christ is the cornerstone, essential and invaluable.
- Royal Priesthood and Holy Nation:
- Believers are described as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.
- They are called to declare the praises of God who called them out of darkness into his wonderful light, once not a people but now God’s people, once not having received mercy but now having received mercy.
- Living as Strangers:
- The text exhorts believers to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against the soul.
- As foreigners and exiles, they are to live good lives among the pagans so that, although they are accused of wrongdoing, they may see good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
- Submission to Authority:
- Believers are instructed to submit themselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors.
- This is God’s will, that by doing good they should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
- Christ’s Suffering as an Example:
- Peter highlights Christ’s suffering as an example for believers to follow. He did not retaliate or make threats; instead, he entrusted himself to God who judges justly.
- Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.
- Healing through Christ:
- The passage ends with a reminder that by Christ’s wounds, believers have been healed. They were like sheep going astray but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.
2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 2:8 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.
2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
2:18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.