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 foundation. The spiritual house mentioned in the text is, of course, the Church.

A holy priesthood.

The living stones are all priests. Christ is High Priest, and all these are by him anointed, and their duties made and plainly specified in the succeeding paragraph.

To offer up spiritual sacrifices.

None other than spiritual sacrifices will be acceptable to God. Spiritual sacrifices, by these living stones all made priests by Jesus Christ, are to be offered up to God. These spiritual sacrifices are all plainly designated in the Living Oracles, which may be briefly summed up in this: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament