1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2 (NIV)

In context, this is a continuation of the call to holiness from the previous chapter. Peter not only gives reasons to be holy, based on the foundation of Jesus Christ, but also demonstrates how to obtain holiness in their lives. He recommends the word of God and warns them to shun anything that is not of God. He also gives instruction on how to obey God by obeying our rulers.

1 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.

“Therefore” meaning “because of the things I have just told you.” From the last chapter, he is continuing his call for the christians to pursue holiness in their lives. He tells us to “rid” ourselves of everything contrary to God’s nature. Literally meaning to throw away, take it off like a rotten, filthy rag and burn it, or throw it in the trash heap. Cast it away with force and do not pick it up again. These sins are to be banished with force… deceit (in words – such as lies, flattery, using another’s weakness to control them or manipulate them), hypocrisy (this word is actually plural – not one hypocrisy, but many/all of them. Hypocrisy is false purity, false holiness or counterfeit friendliness), envy (envy is when we are happy when others are prosperous, successful, or when we begrudge their abilities) and slander of every kind (slander is evil speaking, backbiting, belittling others behind their backs). Even the mature Christians need to be warned against these sins, as we are human and susceptible to temptations. Our best ministry for God will not please him if we are indulging in these sins.

Remember scripture says “if I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” [1 Corinthians 13:1-3]

Once we have purged these things from our lives, it is important to replace them with other, Godly practices. We are told that to do this, we must feed ourselves the true spiritual milk of God, from his word, so that we can grow to maturity. It is in essence, replacing poison for healthy food. Those sins poison us, they poison our hearts and minds, but the spiritual word of God helps us grow and become wise and strong. It edifies and improves us – God’s word makes us better people. Peter tells them that they have already tasted how good God is, and encourages them to seek him and his word even more. Those who do this will grow to be strong and mature and experience the fullness of God in their lives.

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

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[Or into a temple of the Spirit] 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.”[Isaiah 28:16]

Here, Christ is described as a stone. To us, that seems odd and not very flattering. To the Jews, however, they put a lot of importance and their entire religion into their magnificent temple. Remember that this temple was made using rich wood, gold, silver and precious stones. So to them, calling the Messiah a stone is elegant and proper and gives honor. Perhaps Peter understood this reference of honor well, considering that Jesus changed his name from Simon (reed) to Peter (rock). In this metaphorical description of Jesus, calling him a stone is saying that he is invincibly strong, everlastingly eternal, and someone that his children can trust. Being a stone, he gives a strong foundation, he is our protection and security, a rock wall of offense against our enemies. He is the living stone, he has eternal life and is the source of life for his people. He has a reputation with God and is considered precious to his father, but the Jews rejected him. He was chosen by God and communicates to us the perfect knowledge of God. Through him we have been given access directly to God.

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,”[Psalm 118:22]

Men in general may reject Jesus, but to those who believe, he is precious. Since Peter refers to Jesus as the foundation, he goes on to describe us, also as living stones who are being built up. It was natural for the Jews to reject Jesus because, as a man, he did not compare to their glorious temple. He did not live a glorious or wealthy life that was worthy of their respect, and neither did his followers.

8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”[Isaiah 8:14]

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

The very person of Jesus offended the Jews who were expecting an earthly king, wealthy and respectable. The Jews were the “builders”, the chief priests that had brought about the living temple of God on earth, but they rejected him, and so he became a “stone of stumbling” that they actually hurt themselves on spiritually. So the very thing that was to provide their salvation – the messiah they had watched for through generation after generation actually became a stumbling stone to them. Isaiah warned them, and they still stumbled. They could not accept such a common man to be the son of God and the Messiah they had waited for. They disobeyed the very prophesies that they had studied and rejected Jesus. Their race had been chosen by God to bring the Messiah… they had once been referred to as a “chosen people”. But now, look who has that title of honor.

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.

But those who received him were given every honor and blessing once bestowed upon the Jews. Those who accept Jesus are highly privileged, favored by God, and infinitely precious to him. The Jews thought highly of themselves because they had been called a chosen people. They thought they would be giving that up if they accepted Christ and end up at the same level that they considered the gentiles to be… but in fact it was the exact opposite. They lost their privilege because they couldn’t accept Jesus and their favor was given to the gentiles, those who were not even a “people”. Being a “people” can be described this way – the Jews were a “people”. They were united by their religion, and that superseded a location or a nation. They could be scattered and still be a people. Now, God has made a people of the gentiles – whether they be Egyptian, Hebrew, Philistine, American, German, Spanish…. they are all a people, united by Christ even though separated by continents and languages – they are still “one people” called Christians. All these different gentiles from far and wide are now the people of God and have received mercy from God. We are now one nation, with one ruler, with one set of laws, manners, and customs, as set by God’s word.

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.

So now, Peter goes through those laws, manners, and customs as set by God’s word. We are to shun the sinful ways of our past lives, those of our past “nation”. We are to fully follow God’s word so we avoid having a war within ourselves. Our spirit, which has been renewed, will war against our fleshly desires and our un- renewed minds. But if we strive to live such good lives that no falsehoods can stand against us, then we will be witnesses to God’s glory. We proclaim God’s goodness as much in how we live as we do with our words.

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.

To the purpose of honoring God, we must also honor the authorities put over us. If we are doing right and living wholesome lives, we will have no fear of punishment from those over us. So we must live a life that honors God in all ways – by doing this we are told it will silence the ignorant (uninformed) talk of foolish (un-wise) people. But because we are given freedom from sin, we must stay free of it, living instead as loving and willing servants of God. We should show love and respect to everyone (not just other believers) and love the family that we have been purchased into, give proper awe to God and honor those in authority. We are to conduct our affairs faithfully and honestly.

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.

Those who were slaves were to follow the same guidelines to honor their masters just as we are to honor any other authority over us. In today’s society, this scripture for slaves can be used for those who are employed by another. We are to submit and give respect to not only good leadership, but also to those who are harsh. If we live as honorable as we can and still suffer, we give honor to God. If we do wrong and are punished, it doesn’t bring honor to him. Christ set an example for us, he did no wrong and suffered instead for us. He essentially took the blame for our sins and was punished for them so that we could be free from those sins.

22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[Isaiah 53:9]

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,”[Isaiah 53:4,5,6 ] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Instead of defending himself, or throwing the blame, or even threatening those who mistreated him with some kind of retribution, he took the pain that was meant for us. This is the sacrifice that provided us with all the promises of God. It provided salvation, freedom from sin, healing, and best of all – eternal life in heaven with our Father. We have been reunited with the Lord of all – our creator!