(1 Pet 2:1 NASB) Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,
(1 Pet 2:2 NASB) like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
1 Pet 2:2: We are to put aside all false and evil actions in our lives. Peter tells us to long for the pure milk of the Word. Here Peter says we are to long for His Word like a newborn baby longs for milk.
The writer of Hebrews (Paul) speaks of the milk also, but in a different sense. He speaks of different things in Scripture. He speaks of some things in Scripture as being “baby food,” such as “Yeshua is Messiah.” Other things in Scripture are referred to as “adult food” such as righteousness and obedience to Torah (Heb. 5:12-14).
(1 Pet 2:3 NASB) if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
(1 Pet 2:4 NASB) And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,
(1 Pet 2:5 NASB) you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Pet 2:5: We are to come to Yeshua as He is a living stone. He was rejected by men, but choice and precious in the site of His Father. Peter then compares us to Yeshua as living stones also. He says that we are to be a spiritual house for a holy priesthood (Isa. 61:6, 66:20-21).
He says we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices. This is done in several forms (Psalm 50:14, 23, 107:21-22, 141:2, Hosea 14:1-2)
(1 Pet 2:6 NASB) For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
1 Pet 2:6: This is a quote from Isaiah 28:16. The following verse in that quote also speaks of righteousness (Isa. 28:17).
(1 Pet 2:7 NASB) This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
1 Pet 2:7: This is a quote from Psalm 118:22-23.
(1 Pet 2:8 NASB) and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
1 Pet 2:8: This is a quote from Isa. 8:14-16. They stumble because they are disobedient to the Word (Torah). Peter says they were appointed to do their stumbling and disobedience.
The following verses tell us of the importance of Torah also.
(1 Pet 2:9 NASB) But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
1 Pet 2:9: Peter is quoting Exodus 19:5-6 and telling the people that they are now a part of Israel.
(1 Pet 2:10 NASB) for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
1 Pet 2:10: Peter once again quotes the Tanakh in a manner that tells the people they are now a part of Israel (Hos. 1:9-10, 2:23)
(1 Pet 2:11 NASB) Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
(1 Pet 2:12 NASB) Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Pet 2:12: Peter exhorts them to righteousness in all they do.
(1 Pet 2:13 NASB) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,
(1 Pet 2:14 NASB) or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
(1 Pet 2:15 NASB) For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1 Pet 2:15: Peter tells us to submit to earthly authorities. Paul tells us the same thing in Romans 13. We are to do be obedient to authorities as long as it does not interfere with righteousness.
(1 Pet 2:16 NASB) Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
(1 Pet 2:17 NASB) Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
1 Pet 2:17: We are free men, but only in the respect that we are free from sin. We are still slaves to Elohim.
(1 Pet 2:18 NASB) Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.
(1 Pet 2:19 NASB) For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.
(1 Pet 2:20 NASB) For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1 Pet 2:20: We are to go out of our way to be loving to others, especially those to who we work for. We are to put up with a lot from others and show patience.
(1 Pet 2:21 NASB) For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
(1 Pet 2:22 NASB) WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
1 Pet 2:22: Yeshua was perfect in all His ways and followed Torah perfectly. We are to walk in His footsteps.
(1 Pet 2:23 NASB) and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1 Pet 2:23: When Yeshua was reviled, He did not revile in return. He entrusted all these things to the One who judges righteously. We should do the same.
(1 Pet 2:24 NASB) and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
(1 Pet 2:25 NASB) For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 Pet 2:25: The word for “cross” is xulon, which can also be translated “tree.” Since He suffered on the tree without malice and without reviling those who did it to Him, we are to die to sin and live to righteousness. It is only by His sacrifice that we are healed.
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas