ANALYSIS. Putting aside all the evils that are opposed to a holy and virtuous life, being therein as newborn babes in Christ, long after the unadulterated word, that ye may grow thereby. For, in fact, ye can not otherwise grow to the proper stature and strength of God's children. This you will do if... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 1. WHEREFORE LAYING ASIDE ALL MALICE. A necessary conclusion here follows. You have a complete view of the magnitude of the great salvation provided for you, and therein the great love of the Father, whose gift it is, and the certainty of the ground upon which your faith and hope rest, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 2. AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD. What a natural figure. How grand and beautiful it is when fully apprehended and applied. The Savior said, "Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God," and in that connection added further: "Except a man be born of wa... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 3. IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS. The Vulgate uses the word "sweet" in lieu of the word "gracious." I can not see how that expression, even if adopted, throws any additional light on the text. The Lord is gracious because he is good. The word "good" is, therefore, in a sen... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 4. TO WHOM COMING, AS UNTO A LIVING STONE. Coming to Christ Jesus in the way he has appointed. So coming, we reach what? A living stone. Here is food for thought. In the New Testament Scriptures the term "stone" or "rock" is ever after applied to the savior. He himself, speaking of his divine... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 5. YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES. The Revised Version, Vulgate, Syriac, Macknight and Rotherham have it "living stones." Being born again, the Christian possesses the hope of eternal life. They are, therefore, living stones built into this spiritual temple; built upon Christ, their living foundat... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 6. WHEREFORE ALSO IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE. Peter here appeals to the Scripture confirmatory of the truthfulness of his statement in making Christ a living stone and the foundation of the spiritual temple. The quotation is from the prophet Isaiah (xxiii. 16). God laid in Zion a chief... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 7. UNTO YOU, THEREFORE, WHICH BELIEVE HE IS PRECIOUS. That is, on the believer is the honor conferred of being built on him, and of not being ashamed, and in that sense precious. Peter here applies the prophecy of Isaiah: But to the disobedient, or those who believe not, he is made the head o... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 8. AND A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE. Notice that to the believer he is said to be precious, to the disobedient a stone of stumbling and rock of offense; that is to say, the unbeliever stumbles at the Word, rather, against it, and falls. This is his proper punishment. "And whoso... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 9. BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION. That is, an elected race or people. This was once confined to the Jew only; now to the whole world. See how the apostle piles up the high titles. Not only a chosen generation, or an elect race, but also a royal or kingly priesthood. More yet, ye are a holy n... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 10. WHICH IN TIME PAST WERE NOT A PEOPLE. All those called out of darkness in the time passed, while in that darkness were not the people of God, but were worshipers of idols. WHICH HAD NOT OBTAINED MERCY. That is, in the time passed mercy had not been offered and its benefits were not yet... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 11. DEARLY BELOVED, I BESEECH YOU. The appeal is urgent and tender I beseech you. Strangers and pilgrims. This the people of God while on earth must continue to be. We are strangers here; we are traveling, as pilgrims do, to another country, to the heavenly country. Why appeal to such? Why ex... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 12. HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST AMONG THE GENTILES. Conversation; that is, your behavior, your conduct. Let that be proper, honest, right and comely. SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL-DOERS. This they do. They blaspheme the blessed Master and spread calumnies concerning his cause and people, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 13. SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN. Be obedient to the laws of the government where you may sojourn. Christianity does not require any of its devotees to be insurrectionists; upon the contrary, it is the Lord's will that we as Christians obey human laws. WHETHER IT BE TO THE KIN... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 14. OR UNTO GOVERNORS. These, as rulers, are placed over provinces by the emperor, and as such are sent by him to punish evil-doers, and to praise such as do not break the law.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 15. FOR SO IS THE WILL OF GOD. You will put to silence the calumny that because of your faith you were law-breakers. Their calumny was in consequence of their ignorance, and also their wickedness. It is God's will that you silence these slanderers by your good conduct.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 16. AS FREE, AND NOT USING YOUR LIBERTY FOR A CLOAK. Christians are free from the law of sin. They are no longer under bondage to it, but you must not use this liberty as a covering for wrong-doing. BUT AS THE SERVANTS OF GOD. You are the Lord's bondmen, and you live as his bondsmen, observ... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 17. HONOR ALL MEN. That is, those to whom honor is due. Have respect to men in every station in life. Some may occupy stations of honor, some stations of profit. Show no disregard to any. LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD. Our Savior has set us the example. It is his command; love the brethren. FEAR GO... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 18. SERVANTS, BE SUBJECT TO YOUR MASTERS. To such among the addressed believers as are in the station of a servant, I say to you it is your duty to be subject to the orders of those who are for the time being over you as masters. You must be careful not to discriminate. Some masters may be go... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 19. FOR THIS IS THANKWORTHY. That is to say, this kind of a service meets the approbation of God, whether the master is satisfied or not. Service rendered for conscience' sake, although grief and suffering are endured wrongfully, God will approve.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 20. FOR WHAT GLORY IS IT? If one is guilty of faults and is punished, the punishment is just, and, while the suffering is borne patiently, NO credit is due for the patience. But where one renders conscientious service, and is then buffeted and bears his punishment with patience, this is accep... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 21. FOR EVEN HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED. Suffering for well-doing, when Peter wrote, seems to have been the experience of all, and it was to be expected. Believers had been warned, and are now warned, that suffering may arise at any time for the cause of Christ. Evil and good are in antagonism.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 22. WHO DID NO SIN. His conduct was without a fault. NEITHER WAS GUILE FOUND IN HIS MOUTH. No false word was by him uttered, hence he suffered without cause. The sufferings endured by Christ he did not deserve.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 23. WHO, WHEN HE WAS REVILED. When reviled by the Jews no words of resentment were by him used. When he was crucified, he did not threaten his persecutors, but meekly committed his cause to God, who judges a righteous judgment.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 24. WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS. The apostle is still considering the example left by Christ. He died for our sins. He did not die for his own sins, for he had none, but he bare ours on the cross. Our burden of sin was by him borne. A sacrificial offering was made, and thereby we have an o... [ Continue Reading ]
VERSE 25. FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY. That is, formerly led astray by the evil, but now are, as it were, found, and have returned from wandering by coming to Christ. THE SHEPHERD AND BISHOP. He is the good Shepherd. This he has proven by his death. A good shepherd careth for his sheep. Of... [ Continue Reading ]