1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:1

Then said I, Lo, I come . . . to do thy will, O God. The Psalmist (Psalms 40:7,8) represents Christ, who comes simply to do the will of God, completely surrendered to his will. In the volume of the book it is written of me. In the roll of the law it is written of me; that is, there I am predicted.

1 Peter 1:3

Then said he. He said, first, “The Levitical sacrifices do not please God” (Hebrews 10:8); then he said, second, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. This is pleasing to God. Hence he taketh away the first, the old covenant with its sacrifices. That he may establish the second, the new covenant inaugurated by complete submission to the will of God.

1 Peter 1:4

By which will we are sanctified. By this complete submission our sins are removed from us and we are made holy. The meaning of “sanctified” here is remission of sin. Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. In Christ’s surrender his body was offered on the cross, once [for all] for sin, and by that offering our sins are remitted.

1 Peter 1:5

And every priest standeth daily ministering. Christ offered his sacrifice “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10), but Levitical priests offer daily their sacrifices “which can never take way sins”.

1 Peter 1:6

But this man. Jesus, after he had offered one sacrifice, himself on the cross, sat down, which implies that he needeth to make no more offering. On the right hand of God. Honored forever.

1 Peter 1:7

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Waiting until every enemy is conquered. See PNT Hebrews 1:13.

1 Peter 1:8

For by one offering, that of the cross, he hath perfected for ever. Given them perfect consciences free from a sense of the guilt of sin. Them that are sanctified. All Christ’s brethren are sanctified (Hebrews 2:11); so are all whose sins are forgiven (Hebrews 10:10,29); all saints are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2); hence all Christians are called the “sanctified”.

1 Peter 1:9

[Whereof] the Holy Ghost is also a witness to us. He testifies that Christ perfects the sanctified. He had said before. See, too, that the Holy Spirit bears witness in words. He spoke in Jeremiah the prophet (Jeremiah 31:33,34).

1 Peter 1:10

This [is] the covenant, etc. See Jeremiah 31:33,34; also see PNT Hebrews 8:10.

1 Peter 1:11

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. See Jeremiah 31:34. It is thus God “perfects the sanctified”, by forgiving all their sins. Also see PNT Hebrews 10:14.

1 Peter 1:12

Where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin. Hence, since there is complete remission, no more offering for sin is required.

1 Peter 1:13

Having therefore, brethren, boldness into the holiest. It has now been shown that Christ has, as our high priest, opened the way into the holiest of all, the heavens, for us. Hence we may follow with boldness. We have the assurance of heaven.

1 Peter 1:14

By a new and living way. Christ is “the way” (John 14:6). The way for us is not only pointed out but opened through his flesh. Which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. His rent body poured out the redeeming blood, and thus the veil before the holiest of all was rent open that we might enter in. For us the rent veil is the body of Christ.

1 Peter 1:15

And [having] an high priest. Our high priest hath opened the way by rending the veil. He is priest over the House of God, the church on earth, and our high priest in the Holiest of all above.

1 Peter 1:16

Let us draw near, the altar of incense, the open veil, and to God who dwelleth in the Holiest of all. With a true heart. Sincere and pure heart. In full assurance of faith. Filled with trust in our high priest. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. By the blood of Christ through which we realize that our sins are forgiven. And our bodies washed with pure water. See Titus 3:5 Acts 22:16. Alford, Prof. Stuart, Delitzch, Moll, Meyer and most commentators refer the passage to baptism. That is undoubtedly the thought of the sacred writer; the heart and spirit are cleansed by the blood of Christ and the body sanctified by washing in pure water, effecting the purification of the whole man.

1 Peter 1:17

Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering. The thought is, cling to the faith professed and the hope in the soul without wavering.

1 Peter 1:18

Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Let each care for others and exhort others to love and to do good works both by word and example.

1 Peter 1:19

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves. In times of persecution there was a great temptation to stay away from the church assemblies, and some had fallen into dangerous neglect. As ye see the day approaching. There were signs that the Hebrew Christians could see that “the day” was near at hand. They probably thought that Christ would come in person at that day. He did come in judgment on the Jewish nation. As that awful time of trial seemed near at hand they should be zealous in exhorting each other. Macknight, Stuart, Milligan, Meyer and many others refer “day” to the destruction of the Jewish nation.

1 Peter 1:20

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth. Deliberately trample under foot Christ’s will; apostasize from the faith in life. There remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. We have, in that case, rejected Christ, the only sacrifice for sin.

1 Peter 1:21

But. There remains instead a Certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery judgment. Cut off from hope of salvation by rejecting Christ, one has only judgment and punishment to look forward to.

1 Peter 1:22

He that despised Moses’ law. He who wilfully rebelled against the law of Moses had no remission. Died without mercy under two or three witnesses. When proved guilty by two or three witnesses his fate was death. See Numbers 15:30-36 Deuteronomy 13:6-10. There was mercy for the ignorant, the mistaken, those “overtaken” (Galatians 6:1), but not for the deliberate despiser.

1 Peter 1:23

Of how much sorer punishment. Where much is given much is required. How great the sin of the apostate! Who hath trodden under foot the Son of God. Despised him instead of Moses. And hath counted the blood of the covenant. the blood of Christ, the blood by which he was sanctified. Wherewith he was sanctified. Cleansed from the guilt of sin, An unholy thing. Treated this blood as if it was unholy. And hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace. Rejected all the work, the words, the preaching, the pleadings of the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:24

We know him that hath said. We know what God hath said. He promises vengeance and judgment upon sinners. Vengeance [belongeth] unto me. See Deuteronomy 32:35. The Lord shall judge his people. See Deuteronomy 32:36.

1 Peter 1:25

[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. A fearful thing for the sinner who has despised God’s mercy; for the apostate who has trampled it under foot.