1 Peter 2
CHAPTER 2
Therefore, put away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisies, envies and all evil speaking. 2 Be as newborn babes, longing for the spiritual milk which is without deceit, so that you may grow thereby to salvation, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The new temple
4 Come to him as to a living stone, indeed rejected by men but chosen by God and precious. 5 You as living stones are being built up into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Because it is contained in scripture: Look, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, chosen, precious. And he that believes in him shall not stumble. 7 Therefore, for you that believe he is precious. But to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, 8 a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. For being disobedient, they stumble at the word; to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may show forth the excellence of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 10 Who in times past were no people but now are the people of God. Who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as temporary residents and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Our attitude to those in authority
13 Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake. Whether to the king, as supreme leader, 14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish evil-doers and for the praise of those that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 As free and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle but also to the harsh. 19 For it is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief - suffering unjustly. 20 For what glory is it, if, when you sin and are beaten, you shall take it patiently? But if when you do well, and suffer, you shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For this were you called. Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps. 22 He did no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 Who, when he was insulted, did not retaliate with insults, when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to Him that judges righteously. 24 Who himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but are now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls.
Commentary
2:2 We are born again in baptism (Jn. 3:3-5) and afterwards we should desperately desire the milk of God’s word; we need to get in the habit of daily Bible reading as soon as possible.
2:5 God’s intention is that we should be a priesthood (:9). Priests serve others and empower them to give to God; this should be the focus of our lives. Most religions teach that just some religious leaders are the priests; but we are all to be priests.
2:9 These are the very terms used about the Old Testament people of Israel (Ex. 19:6). By baptism into Christ we become the children of Abraham (Gal. 3:27-29) and are thus a new, spiritual Israel (Gal. 6:16). We should therefore feel our national identity as “spiritual Israel” rather than whatever nation we were physically born into.
2:21 The cross and sufferings of Christ are therefore not just something to be admired from a distance as we may admire a picture or be intrigued by distant history. He there is our very real pattern and inspiration in daily life.
