1 Peter 2:3-10

8. The Living Stone and Spiritual House 2:3-10

1 Peter 2:3-4 if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious: unto whom coming, a living stone rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious.

Expanded Translation

Presuming you have tasted and enjoyed the flavor of Christianity and that the Lord is helpful, kind, and meek; unto whom, as a living stone, you draw near; he who was indeed rejected by (the masses of) men, but with God he was picked out for special blessing and held in honor.

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tasted

Geuo, means literally to taste or try the flavor of, hence to perceive the flavor of, or enjoy, experience. Evidently Peter was writing to those who had enjoyed the blessings of the Christian life. Compare Hebrews 6:4-5.

gracious

Chrestos. Properly, picked for use, useful, virtuous. Secondly, the word signified manageable; that is, mild or pleasant (as opposed to being harsh, hard, sharp or bitter. When it is employed with reference to persons, it refers to one who is kind and benevolent. Such is the Lord we serve, for He Himself said, My yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30). For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3).

unto whom coming

With reference to approaching God, probably the act of coming to Him for salvation. While the masses of men had rejected Christ and turned from Him, Christians have come to Him. Compare Matthew 11:28 where salvation is pictured as coming to Christ. See also Revelation 22:17.

a living stone

Compare Isaiah 28:16 and also Psalms 118:1-29; Psalms 22:1-31. In contrast to the temple at Jerusalem and the Jewish synagogues, the church is made up of living materialsboth the chief cornerstone and the bricks that make up the building (Christians). See Ephesians 2:20-21.[5]

[5] Christ is also pictured as the foundation of a building (1 Corinthians 3:11), but do not confuse that metaphor with this one.

rejected indeed of men

The word rendered reject means basically to reject upon trial, or to reject after testing and examination. Christ, then, was rejected after the Jews had examined or tried Him and He did not fit their preconceived ideas about the Messiah. Also, He is rejected by all who refuse Him as Saviour (Matthew 12:30).

We have already seen that Christians regard Christ highly by coming to Him for salvationthough men (in general) reject Him. But we now see that God also esteems His Son highly.

but with God elect

See elect defined under 1 Peter 1:1.

precious

The word means held in honor, prized; hence, precious. It is well to compare this whole passage with Acts 4:11-12. Note there, that in sharp contrast to the foolish and unwise decisions of the Jews, God had placed Christ in the most important part of the building. The Jews, though they are termed the builders, used poor judgment in leaving out this most important part of the building. God knew much more about good masonry and building than they did!

The statement in 1 Peter 2:4 probably was calculated to encourage the Christians as they made the same choice as God, though the world rejected Christ.

1 Peter 2:5-6 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained in Scripture,

Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious:
And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.

Expanded Translation

You yourselves also, as living stones, must be built up into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, well-pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. Because it is contained within Scripture (Isaiah 28:16),

Look! I lay in Zion (Jerusalem) a chief cornerstone, carefully picked out (by God) for blessings and held in honor:
And the one believing upon Him shall certainly not be disappointed or frustrated.

ye also, as living stones

In view of the fact that Christ is a living stone (1 Peter 2:4), Christians are similarly described because they derive their life from His. (True, some act as if they are just old dead bricks, but we are told to be lively stones! (A.V.) We are not, as the old temple stones, plastered permanently into the wall! If we fail to be doers of the Word, we will be rejected indeed, not of men, perhaps. but of God, the master builder.

a spiritual house

God's house (church) is spiritual in nature (1 Timothy 3:15). But if the former part of the verse be taken as imperative, Peter is here exhorting God's people to be certain they do their part to keep His house spiritual, (See the Expanded Translation.)

to be a holy priesthood

Compare the term royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Now the analogy seems to go from a building to a particular building, the temple of the Jews, Because saints have access to God and offer not external but spiritual sacrifices to God, they may be termed Jehovah's priesthood.

Our sacrifices are well-pleasing to God only when they are through Jesus Christ. Compare John 14:6, Thus our sacrifices differ in two basic ways from Old Testament offerings. They are to be: (1) spiritual, and (2) only offered through Christ. And what are our sacrifices to be? See Hebrews 13:15, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:15-18.

because it is contained in Scripture (Isaiah 28:16) behold

I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone

Referring to the founding of the spiritual house. God made Christ the chief cornerstone of the church (Ephesians 2:20) which began in Jerusalem (Zion), Acts 2:1-47.

Much has been said of the importance of the chief cornerstone in the construction of ancient buildings. It has been well established that it was first carefully cut and laid, the other parts of the building being measured and built from it, Thus great care was taken in selecting and shaping it properly.

and he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame

The phrase put to shame, kataischuno, is variously rendered, but nearly all the modern scholars give it here the idea of disappoint. Green's Lexicon and others state it is from the Hebrew, meaning to frustrate or disappoint. So we have, No one who believes in it will ever be disappointed!

1 Peter 2:7-8 For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve,

The stone which the builders rejected,
The same was made the head of the corner;

And,

A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence;

for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Expanded Translation

To you therefore who believe, He is precious and valuable, but for such as refuse to believe,

The stone which the builders rejected (after examination)
This has become the main corner stone;

And,

A rock which is an impediment and cause of stumbling.

They stub their toes at the word being disbelieving and incompliant: into which position they were appointed.

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For you therefore that believe is the preciousness

Or, He (Christ) is precious. The word preciousness, rendered honor in 1 Peter 1:7, means a pricing, estimate of worth, etc. Then, a thing of price, something worthy of great price. Of course, in reality our Saviour is priceless!

but for such as disbelieve

i.e., on the Son of God. Disbelieve is in the present tense, indicating a persistent unwillingness to be convinced.

the stone which the builders rejected, the same was
made the head of the corner

See comments, 1 Peter 2:4; 1 Peter 2:6.

and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence

These two phrases expressing basically the same thought, i.e., that Christ became a stone over which the Jews tripped and fell because He did not meet their preconceived ideas. It annoyed and offended the Jews that His words, deeds, career and particularly His ignominious death on the cross did not correspond to their expectations concerning the Messiah. They, therefore, despised and rejected Him, and by that crime brought upon themselves punishment. By their obstinacy and rebellion, they made shipwreck of salvation. See Romans 9:32-33.

for they stumble at the word, being disobedient

Expressing a state of things which was still existing, as being disobedient is a present participle. The term apeitheo is composed of the alpha negative plus peitho, to persuade. Thus the lexicons: to be incompliant, to refuse to believe, disbelieve; to refuse belief and obedience, be stubbornly perverse or rebellious.

It is well to notice that the Saviour, as a stone, was rejected and cast out, not built into the wall. Note, also, that the builders themselves, according to Acts 4:11-12, rejected the precious stone of Christ, and were stumbling over Him, There seems to be here a picture of construction workers who were stumbling over the object they had cast out and left to the side of the building they were erecting.

whereunto also they were appointed

Literally, into which they were placed. Into or unto what? The simplest interpretation from the context is the disobedience. Being disobedient, into which state they were placed. Those who were not saved were, by the very nature of the case, destined to act in this manner. Actually, Peter has not as yet spoken of the punishment to which they were appointed, but only the cause of punishmenta life that is unyielding and unbending to the will of God.

It does no violence to the passage to attribute this appointing to God, He had even written of it beforehand (Jude 1:4, Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 53:3), Therefore it was, in a sense, appointed that Christ should be an occasion of stumbling and falling to some, even as He was the Saviour to others. In either case, it was not a matter unforeseen by God, At the same time, no man who finds Christ to be such (i.e., disbelieves and rejects the Gospel) should take refuge in this as an excuse. Such are voluntary in rejecting the plan (though God knew some would reject it), the same as others voluntarily accept it (though this was also known and arranged for by God). Concerning those who rejected it, we may say they were not forced or compelled to do it; but it was seen that this consequence would follow, and the plan was laid to send the Saviour in spite of such knowledge.

The statement does not necessarily refer to their eternal doom. Notice Acts 3:17-19 and Acts 2:36-38. These very Jews who were appointed to the condition or circumstances mentioned here by Peter, were yet told to repent and turn to Christ, obey His Word and their sins would be forgiven. Yet, the verse before us is frequently cited by those who would teach that some are eternally destined beforehand by God to be everlastingly doomed, and that such individuals have no ability to turn to Christthey being helpless victims of God's irrevocable edict that they should be forever lost.

Surely it is true in our present age, also, that some stumble at the Word because of their preconceived ideas when they study it. An example of this is the modern Jew, who still is unwilling to accept Jesus Christ because of his false conceptions concerning the Messiah.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: who in times past were no people, are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Expanded Translation

But you (in contrast to those of which I have just spoken) are a chosen and select race, a regal and royal priesthood, a holy and sanctified nation, a people belonging to God; in order that you may declare abroad the excellencies and perfections of him who called you out of the darkness of sin and into his admirable and wonderful light. You are the ones who formerly were no people, but now are the people belonging to God, the ones who had not received mercy (pity, compassion) but now have received mercy.

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Notice the contrast between this verse and the three preceding verses. The phrase, but ye, refers to the Christians. Whereas many of the Jews had found an occasion of stumbling in Christ because of their disobedience, those who accepted Him became an elect race, etc. Surely this verse shows how God has elevated every person who has come into His fold!

race

The primary meaning of this word is offspring. It refers to a family, stock, species, race or kindred. Notice that Peter tells us that we are not only a race, but an elect race. See 1 Peter 1:1 on elect.

For over a thousand years the determining factor for becoming a member of God's elect race was not a new experience, or conversion. It was a physical birth. If one was born a Jew and obeyed the Law of Moses, he was a member of God's elect race. Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 7:6 bear this out. But now the determining factor is a new birth, a birth of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).

royal priesthood

See 1 Peter 2:5 and compare Revelation 1:6.

Under the Law of Moses the priest constituted a special class empowered to officiate in worship and sacrifice to God. Inasmuch as all Christians are authorized to engage in the worship of God, all Christians are priests, We are a priesthood of believers, This is contrary to the clergy-laity concept, prevalent in the Roman Catholic and some of the Protestant denominations, The church is a kingdoma kingdom in which all the subjects are qualified to engage in offering sacrifice.

holy nation

See 1 Peter 1:15 on holy. The phrase now applies to all members of Christ's church, especially since the Israelites (in the past regarded as the nation consecrated to God) have been cast off and rejected as a whole because of their disobedience, All Christians now compose the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16).

a people for God's own possession

A much better rendering than the King James Version, a peculiar people, Christians belong to God and are His exclusive property (Ephesians 1:14, Titus 2:14).

that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called
you out of darkness into his marvelous light

The word that, is a conjunction meaning in order that. It is used here to show purpose or design. So in this verse we see why we were redeemed. God has called us to the high and holy position of being Christians for a specific reason. It is not that we might be egotistical, haughty or headstrong! See Luke 18:9-14. This is why physical Israel fell. They were proud of the fact that they were God's chosen people. Their attitude was, God, you can-'t get along without us! How easy it is for Christians to fall into this same attitude.

But notice that the real purpose of our lives is to show forth the excellencies of Him.
SHOW FORTHthat is, declare abroad, publish, make known, We may do this by both our lives and our words. What is it that we are to tell abroad?

EXCELLENCIESa word signifying excellencies, perfections, beauties, It is used in 2 Peter 1:3 of God's power.

The scope of reference in this phrase is to our whole manner of life as a Christian. Surely the text would include our work as personal evangelists to those who are unsaved. But in every way we are to be reflectors of God's glories.

God called or beckoned us out of something into something. Out of what were we called?

DARKNESSused figuratively of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties. But, as Thayer says, it includes the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with consequent misery. The ignorance and the accompanying sinfulness of the unsaved person is indicated. See Ephesians 5:7-8. This is what we were called out of. Now, what were we called into?

LIGHTused to denote truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity congruous with it. It especially denotes the saving truth embodied in Christ and by His love imparted to mankind. This light is called MARVELOUS. It is worthy of a Christian's admiration; excellent, wondrous, glorious.

What a picture of real conversion! Compare Colossians 1:12-13.

God help us to never go back to the darkness!

no people

The primary reference here is evidently to the Gentile nations. See Romans 9:24-26. But it is also true, in a general way, of all who are without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Greeks were a people of great culture and learning. However, as far as usefulness to God was concerned, they were nobodies, because they did not have Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The second chapter of Ephesians forms an excellent commentary on the phrase, no people.

God is not primarily concerned with whether you are able to sing like Caruso, play the piano like Mendelsohn, scale the heights of political greatness, climb the pinnacle of oratorical excellence, or build a business that approaches Kaiser'S. Although you may have done all of these things and more, as far as God is concerned you are nobody until you have turned your heart and soul over to Jesus Christ. Yes, God loves you, but your life is of no eternal profit until it is involved in His service!

obtained mercy

Eleeo, to feel sympathy with the misery of another, especially such sympathy as manifests itself in action, less frequently in word. a criminal begs eleos (the noun form of this word), of his judgeThayer.

It is well to note that the personal will of the individual is involved in accepting the mercy and love of God. We had not obtained mercy but now we have obtained mercy. This we must do, We must accept the gracious offer of salvation that God lovingly extends, He will not force it upon us against our will, The prodigal's father ran out to embrace him, when the son left the pig-pen and returned to his family!