Wherefore lets us know that he is continuing from chapter 1, 1Pet.2 and verse 1 reads.
1Pet.2:1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
Putting all differences aside, and also gossip and evil speech. For this is not what we are as Christians.
1Pet.2:2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
[3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Newborn babes, are young Christians, age is not the subject. Come to the Father as a child would his father. This is how we should come to God, he is our Father, and we love him as a child.
1Pet.2:4] To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
[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.
He is speaking of the elect, this stone disallowed by men is Jesus Christ. The stone that the builders rejected. Psalms 118:21-22 and it reads.
Psa.118:21] I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
[22] The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Cain is named as the first city builder in the bible. Gen.4:17. This should say something to those that live in large cities today. That being said, Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, even in the Old Testament Jesus is mentioned over and over again. Back to 1Pet.2 and verse 6 reads.
1Pet.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.
Let’s go to Isaiah 28:16 and it reads.
Isa.28:16] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Back to 1Pet.2 and verse 7 reads.
1Pet.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,
[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.
How is it that Jesus becomes a stumbling block, because they didn’t study God’s word, and followed the first one that said he was Jesus but lied, and is the antichrist. Jesus would speak of this in Mat.21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17.
1Pet.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:
[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.
To understand this, we need to go to the minor prophets. Let’s go to Hosea 1:8-9 and it reads.
Hos.1:8] Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
[9] Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
Lo-ruhamah means, not loved (mercy is love), and Lo-ammi which means not my people. But it was Israel that left God, God didn’t leave Israel. But what happens when they come back to the Lord? Hosea 2:23 reads.
Hos.2:23] And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
They go from Lo-ruhamah, not loved, to loved, Ruhamah. And Lo-ammi, not my people, to Ammi, My people. Back to 1Pet.2 and verse 11 reads.
1Pet.2:11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
As pilgrims, we are just passing through the flesh, live for the Spirit.
1Pet.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.
As elect we should be good examples, especially among the gentiles. They may not believe now, but at his coming, they shall repent and believe. They will glorify God and all knees will bow.
1Pet.2:13] Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
[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.
[15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
This is saying, to do all the commandments, and obey the laws of the land in which you live. It would be hard to do the will of God if you were in jail.
1Pet.2:16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
That they might see you serve God as a good Christian should. Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house we shall serve the Lord”.
1Pet.2:17] Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Be peaceable to all men, love the fellow Christians. Revere God and the Son.
1Pet.2:18] Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
[19] For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
[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.
Think for a moment, did not Christ suffer on the cross for all. If they did this to a righteous man, then what would they do to an unjust man. But if you do well and suffer, then know they hated Jesus before they hated you.
1Pet.2:21] For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
[22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
[23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Jesus committed himself to God, God had sent him.
1Pet.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.
[25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Before we finish today let’s go to Mat.9:36-38 and it reads.
Mat.9:36] But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
[37] Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
[38] Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
We are sent out to teach the word of God to all the world, do not hold back from any, plant the seeds. Then walk away, for God only can make it grow, but you have done great works my fellow laborers. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible