2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord [is] gracious.
2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,
2:5 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.
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.
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,
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.
[2] {stone of stumbling} Christ crucified is the Rock: (1) smitten that the Spirit of life may flow from Him to all who will drink # Ex 17:6 1Co 10:4 Joh 4:13,14 7:37-39 (2) To the church the foundation and chief corner Stone # Eph 2:20 (3) to the Jews at His first coming a "stumbling stone" # Ro
9:32,33 1Co 1:23 (4) to Israel at His second coming the"headstone of the corner" # Zec 4:7 (5) To the Gentile world-power the smiting "stone cut out without hands" # Da 2:34 (6) In the divine purpose the Stone which, after the destruction of Gentile world-power, is to grow and fill the earth. (7) To unbelievers the crushing Stone of judgment. # mt 21:44
2:9 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:
[1] {priesthood} The New Testament priesthood, Summary: (1) Until the law was given the head of each family was the family priest # Ge 8:20 26:25 31:54 (2) When the law was proposed, the promise to perfect obedience was that Israel would be unto God "a kingdom of priests" # Ex 19:6 but Israel violated the law, and God shut up the priestly office to the Aaronic family, appointing the tribe of Levi to minister to them, thus constituting the typical priesthood # Ex 28:1 (3) In the dispensation of grace, all believers are unconditionally constituted a "kingdom of priests" # 1Pe 2:9 Re 1:6 the distinction which Israel failed to achieve by works. The priesthood of the believer is, therefore, a birthright; just as every descendant of Aaron was born to the priesthood # Heb 5:1 (4) The chief privilege of a priest is access to God. Under law the high priest only could enter "the holiest of all," and that but once a year # Heb 9:7 but when Christ died, the veil, type of Christ's human body # Heb 10:20 was rent, so that now the believer-priests, equally with Christ the High Priest, have access to God in the holiest # Heb 10:19-22 The high Priest is corporeally there # Heb 4:14-16 9:24 10:19-22 (5) In the exercise of his office the New Testament believer-priest is (1) a sacrificer who offers a threefold sacrifice: (a) his own living body. # Ro 12:1 Php 2:17 2Ti 4:6 1Jo 3:16 Jas 1:27 (b) praise to God, "the fruit of the lips that make mention of His name" (R.V.), to be offered "continually" # Heb 13:15 Ex 25:22 "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat"); (c) his substance # Heb 13:16 Ro 12:13 Ga 6:6 3Jo 1:5-8 Heb 13:2 Ga 6:10 Tit 3:14 (2) The N.T. priest is also an intercessor # 1Ti 2:1 Col 4:12
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.
2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech [you] as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
2:12 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.
2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
2:14 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.
2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
2:16 As free, and not using [your] liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
2:17 Honour all [men]. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
2:18 Servants, [be] subject to [your] masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 2:19 For this [is] thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
2:20 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.
2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:
2:24 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.
2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
