1 Peter 2:1-20

24 Isa_40:6-8.

4 Our Lord, speaking to the chief priests and elders, told them that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a nation bringing forth its fruits, in proof of which He also quotes Psa_118:22-23. The parable of the vineyard was spoken to them on this occasion

(Mat_21:33-46). They fulfilled this parable in rejecting Him, and He takes the kingdom from them and gives it to those who receive Him, and who form the nucleus of the believing nation of that day.

6 Isa_28:16.

7 Peter himself, soon after the day of Pentecost, before the chief priests, charged them with rejecting the Stone which was to be the head of the corner (Act_4:11).

9 When Jehovah brought His people to Himself on eagles' wings, He purposed that they should be His peculiar treasure above all peoples, and that they should be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exo_19:4-6). Hitherto, through unbelief, they have not realized this ideal, but those who receive Christ shall fulfill it in the coming kingdom. As kings they will then rule the nations for God and as priests bring the nations to God.

10 The phrases "not a people" and who "have not been shown mercy" are usually referred to the gentile nations, in contrast with Israel. This passage is then adduced in favor of applying Peter's epistles indiscriminately to all men at all times, especially to the present ecclesia which is Christ's body. But a closer consideration will show that this passage proves the very opposite, for it quotes from the prophecy of Hosea, who speaks of the sons of Israel, and cannot possibly be interpreted of any other people. One passage reads as follows (Hos_1:9-11): And He is saying :

"Call his name 'Lo Ammi' [Not My people],

For you are not my people

And I will not be yours.

And the number of the sons of Israel

Shall be as the sand of the sea

Which shall not be measured And shall not be numbered.

And it shall occur, in the place where it is being said to them

'You are not My people.'

It shall be said to them 'Sons of the living Deity.'

And the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel

Shall be gathered together as one,

And shall place over them one head,

And ascend from the land, For great is the day of Jezreel."

The companion passage is equally plain (Hos_2:23):

"And I compassionate the uncompassioned,

And I say to Lo Ammi [Not My People]'

'You are My people!'

And he shall say, 'My God!' "

By no means may these quotations refer to any people but the chosen nation.

12 "Your behavior among the nations," or gentiles, confirms our conclusion that Peter is addressing those of his own nation outside the land.

13 The word "creation" here is the same word which is always so rendered in every other occurrence. Possibly the idea that creation is a prerogative of God led our translators to alter to "ordinance" here. Yet such contexts as this are the very ones which the English reader needs to correct his conception of this word, for according to this passage, man can create, and the word does not mean to bring into being that which heretofore had no existence.