1 Peter 2:1-6

¹ “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, ² and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, ³ if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. ⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in Scripture:

‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone,
And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.’”

Verse 1: In light of our new identity in Christ, Peter encourages believers to let go of all forms of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. These behaviors are contrary to the nature of Christ and hinder our growth in him. Instead, we are to embrace the love, truth, and purity that characterize our new life in him.

Verse 2: Peter uses the analogy of newborn babies to illustrate our need for spiritual nourishment. Just as infants crave milk for their growth and development, we are to crave the pure spiritual milk of the gospel. It is through the gospel that we grow in our understanding of salvation and mature in our faith.

Verse 3: Peter reminds believers that they have experienced the goodness of the Lord. Through their encounter with Christ, they have tasted His goodness and experienced His love and grace. This serves as a motivation to continue seeking him and growing in their relationship with him.

Verse 4: Peter introduces the concept of Jesus as the living Stone. While Jesus was rejected by humans, He was chosen by God and holds great value in His sight. This imagery highlights the significance and uniqueness of Christ as the foundation and cornerstone of our faith.

Verse 5: Peter extends the metaphor of living stones to believers. Just as Jesus is the living Stone, we, as believers, are also living stones. This demonstrates our oneness with Jesus. We do not need to work to be closer to God. We are already one with him. As a holy priesthood, we have the privilege of offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. Regarding spiritual sacrifices Peter likely has in mind a similar concept as Paul in Romans 12:1. In view of God’s mercy, we offer ourselves as holy and righteous saints that he may live through us.  This worship and service are acceptable to God because of our union with Christ.

Verse 6: Peter quotes from Isaiah 28:16 to further emphasize the significance of Jesus as the chosen and precious cornerstone. Those who place their trust in him will never be put to shame. This assurance speaks to the security and confidence we have in our relationship with Christ.