This second chapter of 1 Peter is a continuation of the first chapter. Remember that the epistles or letters were never intended to be divided into chapters with verses, but were intended, like a modern letter would be, to be read all at one time.
Verse 1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
So chapter one ended with the topic of Christian love for one another. In order to be loving, the believer cannot be malicious (having ill-will towards another and desiring to injure), and have guile (deceit and practicing deceiving another), be hypocritical (acting the part of a Christian but not living the Christian life), be envious (discontented or resentful of someone else’s possession, qualities or life), or engage in unrighteous speech.
Verses 2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Application: Christian believers do not instantly become knowledgeable of the Word of God at the time of conversion. It takes time to grow and mature in their faith and spiritual walk with the LORD. All churches contain people at different levels of spiritual maturity, and the Apostle Peter is using the analogy of a baby wanting milk to describe these new believers. A baby does not want meat and potatoes. A baby can neither chew, swallow or digest this kind of food. A baby can only suck and he/she wants milk and will cry and fuss until that milk is provided. New Christian believers cannot understand the more complex doctrines of the Christian faith until they understand the basics. This is why discipleship is so important. Jesus taught His disciples and they, in turn, taught others. Churches need to have discipleship classes for the new believer. But if one is not available, each mature Christian believer needs to disciple those that need to understand the “milk” of the Word and then be introduced to new “foods” or more complex doctrines so that they can grow up in their faith and spiritual walk and then, in turn, disciple others.
Verses 4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Jesus was the stone that the builders rejected. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes” Matthew 21:42 Also see Mark 12:10 and Luke 20:17. Jesus was quoting from Psalm 118:22 which says, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” The prophet Isaiah referred to Jesus in chapter 28, verse 16 when he wrote, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” See verse 6 below.
Any stone foundation or stone wall has to have a corner stone set absolutely level as the rest of the stones are built upon it. If it is not perfect, the foundation or wall will be faulty and not workable. Christian believers are referred to as “lively stones” as they are living men and women who are building up a spiritual building by following the example of a perfect LORD Jesus Christ. They are a holy or set apart priesthood and the spiritual sacrifices are their own bodies and souls which they dedicate to Jesus and to the work of His kingdom. A Jewish, Catholic, or any other denominational priest is no longer needed to intercede between God and man. Each believer can go to the throne room of the LORD directly through prayer. “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles, and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:16 Because each Christian believer has the Spirit of God dwelling in them, each believer is a house or temple. In the Old Testament, God had a Temple for His people. Now, He has a people for His Temple.
Verses 6-8 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. 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, 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.
The unbeliever who is being disobedient to the LORD finds the Gospel message and Christian believers to be a stumbling block or an obstacle in the way as both God’s word and His people convict the unbeliever of his/her sin. The Jewish leadership, and to a large part the Jewish people, rejected Jesus and His message of salvation and eternal life in Heaven or Hell and so they ruined their chances of receiving their prophesied Messiah and forgiveness of their sins.
Verses 9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 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.
This is one of the most important verses in the New Testament for Christian believers to wrap their hearts and minds around. This verse is, in this writer’s opinion, the key verse to this book. The Apostle Peter is writing to people who have had to flee their homes and homeland and seek refuge abroad because they are believers and followers of Jesus. They needed to be reminded of who they were/are in Jesus Christ.
The Greek word translated as “chosen” is “eklektos” and it means chosen, elect, or the best of its kind or class. Each believer was chosen by Almighty God to be in His kingdom. People do not choose God. He chooses them and draws them to Himself through the work of His Spirit until they repent and convert. If you, the reader, are a Christian believer it is because you were singled out and chosen by God to be adopted into His family of believers. Each believer is special.
The Greek word translated as “generation” is “genos” and it means kind, race, offspring, family, or nation. It is not referring to a group of people living collectively at about the same time. There is no specific kind of people, race of people or nation of people in God’s kingdom. All of His people are His spiritual family or offspring and they are all, as stated in verse 10 above, “the people of God”.
Verses 11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 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.
The Apostle Peter addresses the recipients of this epistle as “dearly beloved”, the Greek word being “agapetos” which also means esteemed, dear, favorite, and worthy of love. Because these people were chosen and called by God, they are dear to Him and worthy of love. All believers in the LORD Jesus Christ are dearly beloved. Each believer is special.
Application: Is it possible to love other believers whom have never been seen or spoken to? Yes. Because of the indwelling of the Spirit of God, Christian believers can have love for other believers they have never met. Christian love is not just a warm feeling towards someone or some thing, but is rooted in action. When money is sent to a missionary outreach program, the believer is loving people never seen. When children are supported in other countries through agencies such as Compassion International, the believer is loving children never seen. When giving a word of encouragement to a stranger, the believer is loving that stranger. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.“ 1 John 4:11 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:” 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Fleshy lusts are those things that are of the world and that are often offered by Satan. They are governed by the sinful nature of men and not by the Spirit of God. The usual things such as sexual sins, lust or coveting for money or possessions, harming the physical body with tobacco, drugs, alcohol, fast foods, risky behaviors and so forth, are all things of this world and they do not lead to righteous living and therefore harm the soul (mind, will, and emotions). The Apostle Peter is exhorting these believers living in foreign, Gentile nations to not get involved with whatever the pagan peoples of the land are doing, but to live a righteous, God-pleasing life and therefore be a witness to the unsaved around them. His reference to “they speak against you as evildoers” is the normal response of the unsaved towards the saved. But the works or actions and deeds of the Christian believers will be seen so that their accusations will be baseless and the pagan people may come to the saving knowledge of the LORD Jesus Christ. The “day of visitation” refers to when God looks into and searches the ways, deeds, and character of men in order to judge them according to whether they are righteous followers of Him or unrighteous followers of the Devil.
Verses 13-16 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 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. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
The above verses are often used to convince Christian believers that they should always do what the governments of men order them to do. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Romans 12:18 So there is a difference between interpreting the verse above to mean submitting to every ordinance of man and Paul’s verse regarding living peaceably if possible. One suggests always submitting and the other suggest submitting on a restricted basis. Scripture does not conflict with itself. In English, the definition for “ordinance” is a piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority, or an authoritative order. The Greek word translated as “ordinance” is “ktisis” and it doesn’t mean the same thing as “ordinance” in the English language. It means the act of founding, establishing, building or the act of creating. In other words, anything created. What the Apostle Peter was/is saying to people who are displaced from their own form of government and from their own culture is to blend in and don’t create waves when asked or expected to live according to that which another culture has built and by which they are governed. Because these Christian believers were/are free in Christ and therefore were/are free to live under the laws of God that are common to all mankind they could/can refuse to participate in another culture’s way of life, but that would be hurtful to the Gospel message. The Apostle Peter is not telling them to obey without thinking or to obey even if God’s laws are violated. Which brings back what the Apostle Paul said. The Roman believers were living under Roman law and Roman culture, and some of that may have been contrary to the 10 commandments and to the teachings of Jesus. So if possible, they were to follow Roman law as long as it did not conflict with the commandments and teachings of Jesus.
Application: In today’s world, all the governments of all the nations are corrupt, and that includes the local governments as well. Christian believers, in order to maintain their witness for the Gospel, must live in and navigate the corrupt systems without compromising their Christian faith and principles. When these wicked, Satan run systems pass legislation that violates God’s laws, Christian believers cannot support or participate and must not obey. Roe v. Wade in America is an example of the legalization of the murder of babies and it has continued for half a century. This violated God’s commandment in Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill” and God’s Common Law principle of “do no harm”. Many Christian physicians and nurses refused to participate in the abortion procedure and many of them lost their jobs or practices as a result. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 This verse in the book of Acts should correct any wrong teaching by churches that people must obey man-made governments regardless of what the statutes, codes and laws do in violation of the laws of God.
Verse 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
The Greek word translated as “honour” is “timao” and it means honor (respect, esteem) or value. The Christian believer is to respect all people. This is not the same as liking all people. Corrupt, demonic filled people are not likable but they are to be treated with respect as they were created by the LORD and belong to Him. In so doing, the Christian believer is a living witness of the love of Jesus Christ who never treated anybody with disrespect, even when He was correcting them and exposing their sins.
Verses 18-19 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
The Greek word translated as “submit” is “hupotasso” and it means to subordinate, to subject one’s self, to obey, or to submit to one’s control. Every man or woman living today that has a job in which they are paid a salary must subject themselves to their boss or to their employer. Servants who were believers in Jesus in the times of the Apostle Peter were to do the same as they were a witness to their master of the love and patience of Jesus. The Greek word translated as “fear” is “phobos” and it means dread, terror, or reverence. It is probable that some masters created fear (dread and terror) in their servants, but this writer believes that the word is better read in the verse above to mean reverence as the Apostle Peter goes on to state that the masters could be good and gentle or froward (wicked, unfair) and good and gentle masters would not strike terror in the hearts of their servants. So, regardless of the treatment received at the hands of their masters, Christian believers in the position of a servant were to show respect and reverence.
Verse 20 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.
If treated badly and yet still respecting the froward master, the Christian believer was pleasing the LORD and trusting Him to right the wrong. The froward master was seeing Jesus in the life of his servant. Jesus took all the abuse that could have been handed out in those Biblical days and yet never said one word of rebuke towards his persecutor and instead prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Verses 21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1 Peter 2)