1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:1-10

The general exhortation to believe is continued and enforced by several reasons taken from the foundation on which Christians are built, Jesus Christ, and from their spiritual blessings and privileges in him, vers. 1—12. Particular directions are given here faithfully ought to stop the magistrates, and servants their mothers, patiently suffering in well doing, in imitation of Christ.

1. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocritus, and envies, and all evil-speakings, 2. As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3. If to be ye have tailed that the Lord is gracious. 4. To whom Vet. II.

coming, as unto a living Stone, disillowed indeed of men, but cholen of God, and precious. 5. To also as lively Stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sina a chief corner-stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him, shall not be confounded. 7. Unto you therefore which believe he is it precious; but unto them which he 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 officers, ever to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a moral priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him with hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10. Which in time past unto our people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

The apostle proceeds.

1. To exhort the Hebrides to shew a temper suitable to their profession. Wherefore laying aside all malice, every thing (pictorial, envious, and revengeful; and all guile, every thing deceitful in word or behaviour; and hypocrites, whether in the profession of religion towards God, or in evidences of respect and friendship towards men; and amiss, rejoicing at the prosperity of others; and all evil speaking, which proceed from their wise tempers in the heart: in opposition to all which, as one-born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, the pure unsatisfactory gospel, that ye may prove thereby in every divine and holy temper, unto the measure of the nature of the fulness of Christ: if ye be, or fearbeach, as, ye have tailed that the Lord is gracious, experimentally proving the riches of his mercy, and having begun to enjoy a sweet favour of that grace, which, though but a taste compared with what it shall be, is yet so precious and reviving. Note, (1.) All malice, guile, hypocrite, and slander, are direct contradictions to the Christian character. (2.) By nature all evil cleaves to us cladeth that our paramount; but it must be put off as filthy rags, if we mean with comfort to appear in the presence of God. (3.) The word of God forgates milk for babes, and strong meat for men; and they who feel an appetite for it verily shall be fed and nourished up in the words of sound doctrine. (4.) The grace which is in Jesus Christ is rich and free to the poorest and most miserable sinner, and to those who have tailed of it he will indeed be precious.

2. He described that blessed Jesus, the true foundation of the sinner’s hope, of whose grace they had been made partakers. To whom coming by faith, as unto a living Stone, even Christ, who is the only foundation, everlastingly durable, and never to be broken; a living stone, the head of vital influence, and communicating to all his members life and stability; disillowed indeed of men, rejected and slighted by the Jewish rulers, and all unbelievers, who will not come to him that they may have life: but chosen of God, and precious, appointed by him from eternity to bear the malice structure of his church, as much as critical in himself, and most able to exalt the glory of God, and to secure the salvation of his redeemed. Coming therefore to him, ye also, as freely stones, animated by virtue of union with him, are built up a spiritual house, in which God the Spirit is pleased to take up his birth abode; an holy priesthood, consecrated to God’s immediate service, and devoted to his glory; not to offer up the blood of health, but the better spiritual sacrifice of your body, souls, and spirits, in prayer and praise, which are acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Note, (1.) Every child of God is the temple of the Deity, where his Spirit abidingly dwells. (2.) They who reject Christ as their foundation, must build on the land, and be swept away by the deluge of wrath. (3.) All Christians are consecrated as priests to God, and must approve their peculiar relation to him by their unreferred devotedness to his service.

3. He supports what he had advanced by the testimony of Isaiah. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, with wonder, love, and praise, behold, I lay in Sina, in my holy mountain, a chief corner-stone, the great Messiah, on whom all his people’s hopes are built; elect, and cholen for this blessed purpose, to unite Jews and Gentiles, and the whole body of the redeemed, in one glorious church; precious in my sight, and who should be above all things dear to those who are grounded on him as their foundation: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded, neither here nor hereafter; having confidence, through a Redeemer’s blood and righteousness, to approach a throne of grace, and holdeth to appear before a throne of glory. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious; Jesus is interpretably amiable in your eyes, you count your relation of him the highest honour, and firmly trust your everlasting hopes upon him: but unto them which he disobedient and unbelieving, as another scripture obstress, the flour which the builders, the Jewish

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pristis and rulers, disobeyed and rejected, the same, as was foresight, is made the head of the town, related to the greatest honour, and setting up his gospel church in defiance of their enmity and opposition. And, as I fiah in another place prophesies, he is become a force of stumbling and a rule of offence, even to them which thanks at the word, and through pride and prejudice, unable to bear the humbling manner in which the Messiah appeared, and the doctrine which he taught, being disobedient and insidious, having rejected him as the promised hope of Ifoah, and Ifoah upon this rock; whereupon also they were appointed, according to God’s sovereignty and righteous judgment. Note, (1.) Faith in Jesus will prevent all shame; the hope founded upon him shall not fall us, either in time or in eternity. (2.) Christ is indeed precious to the believer, so precious, that, compared with the excellency of the knowledge of him, he counts all things before but doing and lofty. (3.) They who disbelieve the gospel, and display God’s word, rush on those rains, and must lather the work in eternity.

4. He reminds them of the rich and invaluable blessings and privileges which in the Redeemer they had obtained. But ye are a choir generation, elect to infinitely greater privileges than those which the visible church of Israel enjoyed; a roof priesthood, having an auction from the Holy One, and made kings and profits unto God, Rev. 1. 6. inflections over your spiritual foes, separated for God, and to reign with him in glory for ever; an holy nation, consecrated to the Lord, and in spirit and temper consecrated to his image; a peculiar people, in a nobler house than ever Israel was of old, appointed to the highest dignity, and enriched with the most distinguishing blessings; that ye should show forth the prays of him who by his grace hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light of gospel truth, brought from the steady dispensation of legal institutions into that bright day, which the Sun of righteousness makes, a sift with healing in his wings. Which in time past were not a people, having been disowned and divorced of God, Hsf. 1. 9, 10. ii. 23. but are now the people of God, through Jesus admitted into the covenant of grace, and acknowledged at the Lord’s: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy, even pardon, grace, and all the blessings of eternal redemption.

5. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ‘abstain from deftly lofts, ‘which was against the soul; 12. ‘Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, ’they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God ‘in the day of visitation. 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 evil doers, 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: 16. ‘As free, and ’not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but ‘as the servants of God. 17. ‘Honour all men. ‘Love the brotherhood. ‘Fear God. Honour the king.

1 Peter 2:11-17

Whilst they are in the flesh, the best of man have need be warned and exhorted to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. The apostle therefore admonishes them,

1. To guard against all worldly and carnal affections. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as becomes strangers and pilgrims, for such you profess yourselves to be upon the earth, abstain from deftly lofts, inhaling every conditions appetite and every constriction, which was against the soul, and threaten its defilement and destruction; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, adorning your profession by every thing commendable and excellent; that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, and misrepresent you as a wicked, refractory, and lawless people, they may be confited by your good works, which they shall behold, and be ashamed of their unjust atperforms, compelled to glorify God in the day of visitation, either when in a day of judgment he shall punish them for their ill usage of you, or in mercy, when turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, he shall lead them to approve and imitate your good conversation.

2. To be obedient to magistrates. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, under whatever form of government you live, or whoever they be whom the Divine Providence sets over you; whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him, and bear his commission, for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well; from whom faithful and obedient subjects have nothing to fear, have every thing to hope for. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, by your loyalty and cheerful fellowship, on the civil government, consisting the calumnies of those who would brand you as seditious: as free indeed feces the tyranny

of sin, Satan, and the curse of the law, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, to cover any treasonable defile, or other malignant evil; but as the servants of God, conscientiously observant of his holy will in all things, and obedient to magistrates not only for wrath but also for conscience sake.

3. He adds four short but important precepts. Honour all men according to their rank and Station. Love the brotherhood, high or low, rich or poor; bear them an unfeigned regard as members of Christ, show it in every self of kindness to their bodies or their souls. Fear God with all reverence, and filial awe of offending. Honour the king, as his representative upon earth, and governing by his authority.

4. Servants, he subject to your matters, with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward. 19. For ’this is thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20. For ‘what glory is it, if when ye be suffered for your faith, ye shall take it patiently? ‘but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently; this is acceptable with God. 21. For even ‘herceness 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 guide 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 judgment rightfully: 24. ‘Who his own self have our sins in his own body on the tree, ’that we being dead to sin 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.

1 Peter 2:18-25

As the Jews vary hardly bore a foreign yoke, as unwilling were they to subside to any Gentile matters; and those of them who believed in Christ were by their judaising teachers persuaded to think that they owed no obedience to unbelieving matters. To correct so dangerous an imagination, the apostle,

1. Inculcates the duty of servants. Be subject to your matters, with all fear and reverence, and be obedient to all their lawful commands; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the forward, if such is your lot to be placed under their power. For this is thank-worthy, a matter of real commendation, and a singular gift of God, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully, and bearing patiently the ill usage of a cruel matter, to whom he hath given no just cause of provocation. For what glory is it, if when ye be suffered for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? this can bring no credit to your religion, you receive but the just reward of your deeds. But if, when ye do well, faithful to your truth, and true to your profession, and suffer for your conscientious regard to God and his service, ye take it patiently, with all men’s, and without murmuring, this is acceptable to God, and a fear proof of the truth of his grace in your hearts. Note, (1.) The spirit of independence, which is in men, hardly brooks subjection, and correction still left. (2.) Patient suffering for evil-doing is our distinguished honour. (3.) Though the duty of servants is dishonest, yet their guilt is not the less who abide their authority over them; and they will find a Master shortly, who will call them to account, with whom there is no respect of persons.

2. He enforces what he had conjured with the most powerful arguments. For even servants were ye called. The cross every Christian must be content to bear: and we should the more readily take it up, because Christ will suffered for us as our childlous, and to make atonement for us, or for you, as many copies read; for the meanest servant as well as for the highest of the form of men; leaving us an example of patience and long-suffering under all the most cruel and unjust treatment which he met with, that ye should follow his steps, and be conformed to his blessed pattern: who, grievously as he suffered, yet did no sin, neither was guide found in his mouth; his bitterest enemies could not so much as fix upon him the shadow of a crime: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; but observed an admirable silence, as the sheep before her sheaves is dumb: when he suffered, he threatened not, nor discovered the least anger at his tormentors; but committed himself and his cause to him that judged rightfully, and to whom vengeance belonged: who his own self have our sins in his own body on the tree, submitting, as our furety, with his own blood to pay the penalty due to our iniquities; that my, being dead to sin, as crucified with him, should live unto righteousness, quickened by his spirit to unmuch of life: by which stripes ye were healed, and the deadly wounds of your souls, far worse than those, which the most cruel matters can make in your palate, upon cared by the lonesome balm of that blood which sheaves from his foraging. For ye were as sheep going astray, foolish, disobedient, deceived, in your guilt, but are now by grace recovered, and returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls, the blessed and adored Jesus. Note, (1.) Christ’s example should

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animants to with chastifluffes to take up every cross which in his providence he is pleased to lay upon us. (2.) Our sufferings, however cruel or unjust, will never be an excuse for our impatience under them, or for any anger toward the instruments of them, however wicked or untruthable. (3.) All the sins of the endowed were laid upon the Saviour: on the tree he bore them. There never will one sin be pardoned, but those whose price were then paid: there never will be one sin remembered any more against those whose furety he then appeared. (4.) The doctrine of imputation is inculcated in both instances; nor can it be more strange that we should be justified by Christ’s righteousness, than that we should be healed by his stripes. (5.) All whose sins he bore are raised from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness. We are deceived, if we live in our iniquities and foster ourselves with hope in Christ. (6.) By nature, by practice, we have all gone far aforesaid. Reader, art these then returned by faith in the atoning blood to the great Shepherd of souls: are thou under his government, and doest thou tread in the footsteps of his flock?