Craving Spiritual Milk
Study note
Peter instructs believers to rid themselves of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Like newborn babies, they should crave pure spiritual milk so they can grow in their salvation, having already tasted the goodness of the Lord.
1 So throw out all hatred, all lying, all pretending, all jealousy, and all trash-talking. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 Be like newborn babies who are hungry for milk. Crave the pure spiritual food of God's word so that you can grow up in your faith. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 You have already gotten a taste of how good the Lord is. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Living Stones and a Chosen People
Study note
Believers are called living stones being built into a spiritual house with Christ as the precious cornerstone. Peter weaves together multiple Old Testament passages to describe the church as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God. Those who believe find Christ precious, but to the disobedient he is a stone of stumbling. Once they were not a people, but now they are the people of God who have received mercy.
4 Come to Jesus, the living stone. People threw him aside, but God chose him because he is precious and valuable. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 You are living stones too, and God is building you into a spiritual house. You are his special priests who offer spiritual gifts that make God happy through Jesus Christ. 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.
6 The Scripture says it like this: "Look! I am placing a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion. Anyone who trusts in him will never be let down." 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 For those of you who believe, he is exceedingly precious. But for those who refuse to believe, the stone that the builders threw away has become the most important stone of all. 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 He is also a stone that makes people trip and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they refuse to obey God's message, which is exactly what was planned for them. 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.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 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 At one time, you were nobodies. But now you are God's people. At one time, you had not received kindness. But now you have received God's kindness. 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.
Honorable Conduct Among Unbelievers
Study note
As strangers and pilgrims, believers are urged to abstain from fleshly desires and to live honorably among unbelievers, so that even accusers may glorify God by observing their good works. Peter calls for submission to governing authorities, doing good to silence ignorant criticism, and living as free people who use their liberty to serve God, not to cover evil.
11 Dear friends, you are just visitors and travelers in this world. I beg you to stay away from the sinful desires that fight against your soul. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Live such good lives among people who do not believe. Even when they say bad things about you, they will see the good things you do. Then they will praise God when he comes. 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.
13 For the Lord's sake, respect and obey the leaders that have been set up, including the highest ruler, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 and the officials he has put in place. Their job is to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 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 God wants you to do such good things that people who talk foolishly against you will have nothing left to say. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do wrong. Instead, live as people who serve God. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Treat everyone with respect. Love your fellow believers. Honor God. Respect your leaders. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Following Christ's Example of Suffering
Study note
Peter addresses those enduring unjust treatment, pointing them to Christ as the supreme example. Christ committed no sin and made no threats when he suffered; instead, he entrusted himself to the righteous Judge. He bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his wounds we were healed. Once we were like sheep going astray, but now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
18 Workers, respect your employers and do what they say -- not just the kind and fair ones, but even the difficult ones. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 God is pleased when you keep doing right even when others treat you unfairly. He is pleased when you suffer for it because you are thinking about what God wants. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 There is nothing special about taking a punishment you deserve. But when you do the right thing and still get treated badly, and you handle it with patience -- that is something God truly values. 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.
21 This is what God called you to do. Christ suffered for you and left you an example. He wants you to follow the path he walked. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 He never did anything wrong, and he never told a single lie. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 When people threw insults at him, he did not fire insults back. When he suffered, he did not make threats. Instead, he placed his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 He personally carried our sins in his own body when he was nailed to the cross. He did this so that we could die to sin and start living for what is right. His wounds brought you healing. 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 You used to be like sheep wandering around lost. But now you have come back to the Shepherd who watches over your souls. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.