1 Peter 2:1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
Putting these evil things right away from you, having nothing further to do with any of them. Notice the repetition of the word «all.» «All malice, and all guile,» everything in the shape of deceit, «and all evil speakings.» All these are to be put away by all believers, as rags are put away in the rag-bucket, or refuse on the dunghill.
1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Be glad to get simple truth, the «milk of the Word.» Even if you can digest the strong meat of the Word, never grow weary of the milk, for it is always good diet even for a full-grown man in Christ. Do not crave milk and water, but «desire the unadulterated milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby.» It is not enough for you to be spiritually alive, you must grow; and especially while you are babes in grace, your great desire should be that you may grow.
1 Peter 2:3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
You begin with tasting that the Lord is gracious, you go on to desire the unadulterated milk of the Word, and so you grow in grace more and more.
1 Peter 2:4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
No one figure is sufficient to set forth Christ as he really is. A stone is a Scriptural simile and symbol of Christ, but we have to make the metaphor somewhat incongruous by comparing him to «a living stone.»
1 Peter 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones,
It is not «lively» stones, it is the same word, in the original, in both cases, «a living stone» and «living stones.» The translators of our Authorized Version have often rendered the same Hebrew or Greek word in a different way, which is a pity, as it is in this instance: «Ye also, as living stones,»
1 Peter 2:5. are built up a spiritual house,
A house that is a living structure from the foundation to the topstone.
1 Peter 2:5. An holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
He is a living stone, and you, as living stones, are built upon him, and he and you together make up a living spiritual house, and in order that the house may have suitable tenants, and be properly furnished, you also become priests, and, as priests, you «offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.»
1 Peter 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.
Thus the apostle quotes from the prophet Isaiah the ancient prophecy concerning Christ.
1 Peter 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,
Here Peter quotes from Psalms 118:1. What reverence these inspired men had for the inspired Book! The Spirit of God could have spoken fresh words if he had pleased, but, as if he meant to honour above everything else the Book which he had himself inspired, he «moved» Peter to quote the ancient prophet and psalmist in confirmation of what he was writing.
1 Peter 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.
These are terrible words, but they are true. I cannot fully explain them. As Archbishop Leighton says, «It is easier to get into a depth over this awful truth than it is to get out again.» O God; grant that none of us may stumble at Christ! If we do, Christ will not move because we kick at him, or fall over him.
1 Peter 2:9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
These are wonderful epithets that are here heaped upon believers. May we have the grace to be able to appropriate them, and to expound them in our lives!
1 Peter 2:9. That ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
See where you once were, and see also to what you have been called by God's grace: «out of darkness into light.» That is not all: into His light. Even that is not all: «into his marvellous light.» The light of the gospel is full of wonders. As common light is made up of many colors, so the light of God's grace is made up of many marvellous colors, the colors of all the attributes of God.
1 Peter 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.
What a great change conversion is! And how great a change conversion Works! How wonderful is the effect of regeneration! We had not obtained mercy, but now we have obtained mercy; we were not a people, but now we are the people of God.
1 Peter 2:11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you
Peter puts his hands together, and pleads with intense earnestness.
1 Peter 2:11. As strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Those fleshly lusts belong to this present evil world, but you do not belong to it; you are «strangers and pilgrims» here, therefore feel an absolute alienation towards such things, an utter abhorrence of them. Do not even think of them, much less practice them. «Abstain from fleshly lusts;» for, while they injure the body, that is not the worst thing that they do, for they «war against the soul.»
1 Peter 2:12-13. 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. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:
You are not to be disturbers of the peace; you Christian people are to cultivate the spirit of conciliation wherever you dwell, submitting yourselves, «for the Lord's sake,» even to some things which you do not like.
1 Peter 2:13. Whether it be to the king, as supreme;
In Peter's day, the king was a poor creature, and something worse than that. Indeed, I might say of the bulk of the Emperors of Rome, who were the chief «kings» of that day, that they were monsters of iniquity; yet the office was to be respected even when the man who occupied it could not be; much more should it be respected when the occupant is what a true «king» should be.
1 Peter 2:14-16. 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. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free,
Free in yourselves, free in your conscience, free in your mind and heart.
1 Peter 2:16. And not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
You possess a freedom which others claim, but do not know. You feel that you are no man's slave, yet you do not use your liberty for evil, or to the injury of others.
1 Peter 2:17-19. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
There is no credit in suffering rightfully; the credit is in patiently enduring suffering, which you do not deserve.
1 Peter 2:20-21. 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. For even hereunto were ye called:
It is part of a true Christian's calling to bear what is put upon him wrongfully.
1 Peter 2:21-23. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
This leads Peter to make the following glorious declaration concerning the stunning sacrifice of Christ.
1 Peter 2:24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
There was a transference of sin from sinners to Christ. This is no fiction. He, «his own self,» bore that sin «in his own body on the tree,»
1 Peter 2:24. That we, being dead to sins,
Because he died for us, and we died in him,
1 Peter 2:24. Should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
By his sufferings, you were cured of sin. His death not only removed from you the penalty of sin; but what is far better, it also removed from you the dread disease itself.
1 Peter 2:25. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
God grant that this may be true concerning every one of us, for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake! Amen.