1 Peter chapter 2
Long for the pure spiritual milk of the Bible. Jesus Christ is the Rock Foundation. From him, we get our calling. Conduct yourself honorably.
LONG FOR THE PURE SPIRITUAL MILK OF THE WORD
VERSE 1. Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
VERSE 2. as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that with it you may grow,
long for the pure milk of the Word. The Bible is the “pure milk” by which we grow.
VERSE 3. if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
JESUS CHRIST IS THE ROCK FOUNDATION
VERSE 4. coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
a living stone. In the desert, a rock gave God’s people life-saving water. Later, the rock was a symbol for the LORD God. In the New Testament, the rock is the Lord Jesus. Read more »
VERSE 5. You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
You … as living stones. You are a living stone in the Temple of the Most High God!
a spiritual house. In the Old Testament era, the temple in Jerusalem was the House of God. But in our New Testament era, the LORD God dwells within his people. Read more »
VERSE 6. Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”
VERSE 7. For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,”
We humans rejected the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified him. Yet he became the foundation of God’s great work on our behalf. Read more »
VERSE 8. and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.
a stumbling stone and a rock of offense. St. Paul calls us to preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. However, that message doesn’t resonate with everyone. We need to be OK with that. Read more »
FROM JESUS CHRIST WE GET OUR CALLING
VERSE 9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter of Peter and from the entire Bible.
a chosen race:
Isaiah 43:21. the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.
Esther E:21. For in the place of the destruction of the chosen race, Almighty God has granted them this time of gladness.
a royal priesthood:
Exodus 19:6. and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
a holy nation:
Exodus 19:6. and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
a people for God’s own possession:
Malachi 3:17. “They shall be mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.”
that you may proclaim. We are given all the above for a purpose. It is not so we can feel nice about ourselves. Rather, it is so we can share the Good News with other people. It is for us to do the Ministry of Evangelism.
VERSE 10. In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Hosea 1:9. He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.
Hosea 2:23. I will sow her to me in the earth; and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; and I will tell those who were not my people, ‘You are my people;’ and they will say, ‘My God!’ ”
1 Peter 2:10. In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
CONDUCT YOURSELF HONORABLY
VERSE 11. Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter of Peter and from the entire Bible.
foreigners and pilgrims. We believers are not citizens of this world. Our allegiance transcends national or cultural boundaries. On this earth, we are strangers and aliens. Read more »
abstain from fleshly lusts. Abstain from corrupt desires, and you’ll be much more likely to abstain from the corrupt behavior.
VERSE 12. having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.
VERSE 13. Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
subject yourselves to every ordinance of man. If a secular law is immoral or unjust, should a Christian obey it? Some believers say this verse commands us to obey a law, even if it is unjust.
VERSE 14. or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
VERSE 15. For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
VERSE 16. as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
as bondservants. We find our greatest freedom when we serve God.
VERSE 17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
SLAVES WHO ARE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS
VERSE 18. Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all respect: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.
Some people misuse this verse to defend slavery.
VERSE 19. For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.
VERSE 20. For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
VERSE 21. For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,
suffered for us. Some manuscripts say “died for us.”
VERSE 22. who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:9. They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
VERSE 23. When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back. When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously.
VERSE 24. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.
You were healed by his wounds. The Bible seems to promise healing of our illnesses. We should expect miraculous healing. It should be commonplace. But it is not. Why? Read more »
VERSE 25. For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
returned to the Shepherd. The people of the LORD God are prone to going astray. In those times, they need a godly shepherd to bring them back. Read more »
1 PETER
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.