1 Peter - Chapter 2
Verses 1-3
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Commentary
Verse 1
The verse begins with "therefore" which means we need to know why it is "there for." It means it concludes what has come before it. In other words, we need to remember what was learned in the previous chapter.
Peter gives a list of things that people should rid themselves of:
---1. all malice
---2. all deceit
---3. hypocrisy
---4. envy
---5. slander of every kind
Verses 2-3
Peter says people should be like newborn babies who crave pure spiritual milk so they can grow up in their salvation.
Verses 4-10
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.”
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,
“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8 and,
“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Commentary
Verses 4-8
Jesus is called the living Stone who was rejected by humans but chosen by God. Peter says we are like living stones being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
These verses are written in poetry that still focus on the stone, such as the stone in Zion, the precious stone the builders rejected that became the cornerstone, and a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the message they were destined for.
Verses 9
Verse 9 is a familiar one to most Bible students. Peter tells readers that they are :
---1. a chosen people
---2. a royal priesthood,
---3. a holy nation
---4. God's special possession
Verse 10
Peter says, "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God." Also, "Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."
Verses 11-12; Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Commentary
Verses 11-12
Notice Peter addresses his readers as "Dear friends." Then he calls them foreigners and exiles. He tells them to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against their soul. He tells them to live good lives among the pagans so that they may see their good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Verses 13-17
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.
Commentary
Verses 13-17
Peter gives a list of instructions for the Lord's sake in these verses.
Verses 18-21
18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Commentary
Verses 18-21
Notice Peter addresses his readers as "slaves" as he continues with instructions.
Verses 22-25
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Commentary
Verses 22-25
In the final verses of this chapter, Peter focuses on what Jesus did rather than giving instructions for people to follow.
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