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Dave Burnette's Commentary

1 Peter Chapter 2

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Peter
Date Penned: (62-64 AD)
Overview: Peter Encourages Suffering Christians (c 1-5)
Theme: God's Great Blessing to His People (c 1-2)
Message: Instructions for Church Living  (v 1-25)

1 Peter 2 Commentary

(2:1-3) Peter Challenges the Believer - Peter gave a bold challenge. The next section details the ethical responsibilities of those who have experienced the blessings of salvation described in 1:3-12. The promises God makes to believers and the hope we have should motivate us to holy living. This means being mentally alert, morally disciplined, and spiritually focused. This is hard work. Are you ready to meet Christ?

(2:4-12) Living Stones for God's House - In describing the church as God’s spiritual house, Peter drew on Old Testament texts that would be familiar to his Jewish Christian readers: Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14; 28:16. They would have understood the living stones to be Israel; then Peter used the image of the “cornerstone” for Christ. Again Peter was demonstrating that Christ did not cancel the Jewish heritage but had fulfilled it. Peter encouraged his readers by emphasizing their true identity and unity in Christ. We too should strive to be usable, obedient elements in God’s work.

(2:13-17) Respecting People in Authority - At this point in Peter’s letter, the focus changes from theological to practical. Up to this point, Peter had explained that the believers were to live holy lives, revealing their status as God’s chosen people. In this section, Peter offered practical advice for holy living in an unholy and often hostile world. As believers who have received God’s mercy (2:10), we ought to live worthy of our calling. This begins the next major section of 1 Peter (2:11–3:12). It centers on the Christians’ relationships to non-Christians. Because we are the community of God (2:4-10), we must live like it.

(2:18-25) Slaves - Believers who were servants were not set free from serving their masters, but they were set free from slavery to sin. While their masters might not be Christians, that did not allow the servants to be disrespectful or lazy. They needed to remember that their ultimate Master was God himself (Colossians 3:23-24). These people were not permanent slaves, but neither were they merely servants. Their positions were semipermanent. They did not have legal or economic freedom but often were paid for their services and could eventually hope to purchase their freedom. For more on slaves, see 1 Corinthians 7:21; Ephesians 6:5-8; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; Titus 2:9-10.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

Growing in the Word

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue the book of 1 Peter with Chapter 2 and in our text we see are living building stones for God's House so we should grow in the Lord while obeying those in authority in the world in submission to the Lord. How about you? Are you growing in the Lord? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder of Peter to desire the sincere milk of the Word so we my grow in the Lord and do His Will being in the world but not of the world as we share Christ in these last days.

 

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1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2

 1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

 4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

 6Wherefore 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.

 7Unto 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,

 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 9But 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;

 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

 12Having 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.

 13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;

 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

 18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.

 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

 20For 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.

 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

 24Who 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.

 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.