1 Peter 2:5

2:1-10 Evil-speaking is a sign of malice and guile in the heart; and hinders our profiting by the word of God. A new life needs suitable food. Infants desire milk, and make the best endeavours for it which they are able to do; such must be a Christian's desires after the word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is very merciful to us miserable sinners; and he has a fulness of grace. But even the best of God's servants, in this life, have only a taste of the consolations of God. Christ is called a Stone, to teach his servants that he is their protection and security, the foundation on which they are built. He is precious in the excellence of his nature, the dignity of his office, and the glory of his services. All true believers are a holy priesthood; sacred to God, serviceable to others, endowed with heavenly gifts and graces. But the most spiritual sacrifices of the best in prayer and praise are not acceptable, except through Jesus Christ. Christ is the chief Corner-stone, that unites the whole number of believers into one everlasting temple, and bears the weight of the whole fabric. Elected, or chosen, for a foundation that is everlasting. Precious beyond compare, by all that can give worth. To be built on Christ means, to believe in him; but in this many deceive themselves, they consider not what it is, nor the necessity of it, to partake of the salvation he has wrought.

Though the frame of the world were falling to pieces, that man who is built on this foundation may hear it without fear. He shall not be confounded. The believing soul makes haste to Christ, but it never finds cause to hasten from him. All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them! To be without this mercy is a woful state, though a man have all worldly enjoyments. And there is nothing that so kindly works repentance, as right thoughts of the mercy and love of God. Let us not dare to abuse and affront the free grace of God, if we mean to be saved by it; but let all who would be found among those who obtain mercy, walk as his people.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, {5} an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (5) Continuing, he compares us now to priests, placed for this purpose in the spiritual temple, that we should serve him with a spiritual worship, that is, with holiness and righteousness: but as the temple, so is the priesthood built upon Christ, in who alone all our spiritual offerings are accepted.

1 Peter 2:5 . Ye also — Believing in him with a loving and obedient faith, as lively — Greek, ζωντες , living, stones — Quickened and made alive to God by spiritual life derived from him, are built up — Upon him, and in union with each other; a spiritual house — Spiritual yourselves; and a habitation of God through the Spirit. For, according to his promise, he lives and walks in every true believer, 2 Corinthians 6:16 ; and collectively considered, as a holy society, or assembly, uniting together in his worship and service, you are the house, or temple, of the living God, ( 1 Timothy 3:15 ; 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; Ephesians 2:20-21 ,) in which he manifests his presence, displays his glory, communicates his blessings, and accepts the prayers and praises, alms and oblations, of his people; a holy priesthood — Not only God’s temple, but the priests that serve him in that temple; that is, persons dedicated to and employed for God. Thus, Isaiah 61:6 , it is foretold that, in the days of the Messiah, the people of God should be named the priests of the Lord, and the ministers of our God; as also Isaiah 66:21 . Christians are called a priesthood, in the same sense that the Israelites were called a kingdom of priests, Exodus 19:6 . The apostle’s design, in giving these titles to real Christians, is partly to show that they are dedicated to God in heart and life, and also that in the Christian church or temple, there is no need of the mediation of priests to present our prayers to God.

Every sincere worshipper has access to the Father through Christ, as if he were really a priest himself. The apostle says, a holy priesthood, because genuine Christians are very different characters from the generality of the Jewish priests, who, though the posterity of Aaron, and dedicated externally to, and employed in, the service of God, were remarkably unholy, yea, very vicious characters; whereas the true disciples of Christ are really holy in heart and life. To offer up spiritual sacrifices — Not merely their prayers and praises, but their souls and bodies, their time and talents, with all their thoughts, words, and actions, acceptable to God through the mediation of Jesus Christ — The great High-Priest over the house of God, whose intercession alone can recommend to the Father such imperfect sacrifices as ours.

Living stones - built up - a spiritual house It seems as though Peter must have had in mind the conception embodied in Christ's commission to him, of a building erected upon a rock. The metaphor of a house built of living stones is violent, and sufficiently characteristic of Peter; yet it pictures, in a very striking way, the union of stability, growth, and activity in the ideal church. Note the transition from babes growing (1 Peter 2:2) to stones built up. But, as Salmond remarks, "In Paul we have even bolder instances of apparent confusion of metaphors, as when, in one breath, he represents believers as at once walking, rooted, and built up in Christ (Colossians 2:6, Colossians 2:7). To offer up (ἀνενέγκαι) The usual Old-Testament (Septuagint) term for offering of sacrifice. Lit., to bring up to the altar. Compare Hebrews 13:15. The force of ἀνά, up, appears in the fact of the altar being raised. The word is often used of carrying from a lower to a higher place. Thus Matthew 17:1; Luke 24:51. In this sense 1 Peter 2:24 of this chapter is suggestive, where it is said that Christ bare (ἀνήνεγκεν) our sins: carried them up to the cross. See note there.

1 Peter 2:5 . Καὶ ) even .— αὐτοὶ ) yourselves , partakers of the same name ( Stone ).— λίθοι , stones ) Many names, which belong to Christ in the singular, are assigned to Christians in the plural. Christ is the Living Stone; Christians are living stones. From Him they also are called sons, priests, kings, lambs, etc. So the Shulamite is called from Solomon.— ζῶντες , living ) Such persons, living stones, may be at once both a house and a priesthood.— οἰκοδομεῖσθε , are built up ) The indicative, as Ephesians 2:22 .— οἶκος , a house ) a temple.— ἱεράτευμα , a priesthood ) a multitude of priests. This is presently afterwards explained, and (the contrary having been premised in 1 Peter 2:8 ) in 1 Peter 2:9-10 .— ἅγιον , holy ) as belonging to God.— θυσίας , sacrifices ) of praise, 1 Peter 2:9 .— εὐπροσδέκτους , acceptable ) Isaiah 56:7 , αἱ θυσίαι αὐτῶν ἔσονται δεκταὶ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριόν μου · Their sacrifices shall be accepted on My altar .— διὰ , by ) Christ is both precious in Himself, and makes us accepted; for He is the altar. See Isa. as quoted above.

As lively; viz. as being enlivened by Christ. The word here translated lively, and living in the former verse, is the same; but being there spoken of Christ, it is to be understood actively, and here being applied to believers, who receive their spiritual life from Christ, it must be taken passively. Stones; each particular believer is here called a stone, as all together a house or temple, 2 Corinthians 6:16 Ephesians 2:21 , and in respect of their union among themselves, and with their foundation; though elsewhere, in respect of God’s inhabitation, even particular believers are called his temple, 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 6:19 . Are built up; viz. upon Christ the principal Corner-stone, Ephesians 2:20 . This may be understood, either: 1. Imperatively. q.d. Be ye built up; and then it is an exhortation, and relates not only to their continuing in Christ, but their being further built up on him by faith, and is of the same import as 1 Peter 2:2 , that ye may grow: or rather: 2. Indicatively; the apostle as yet being engaged in showing the dignity and privileges of believers, and not entering upon his exhortation till 1 Peter 2:11 . The words being in the present tense, implies the building to be still but going on, and not yet finished. A spiritual house; in distinction from the material one, relating to those scriptures where the tabernacle or temple is called God’s house, Exodus 23:19 34:26 Deu 23:18 .

The material house built of dead stones, was but a type of the spiritual house made up of lively stones, and built upon Christ the living Stone; and this he brings (the truth being always more excellent than the type) to heighten the privileges of the gospel church. An holy priesthood; either the abstract is put for the concrete, an holy priesthood for holy priests; or it may note the whole college or society of evangelical priests, consisting of all particular saints, to whom, in the New Testament, this title is given, but never appropriated to gospel ministers: Christ being a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, had no partner with him in his priesthood, but was himself only to offer a propitiatory sacrifice to God for sin. To offer up spiritual sacrifices; the immediate end of gospel priests, to offer, not bodily, but spiritual sacrifices; in general themselves, whom they are to consecrate to God, Romans 12:1 ; particularly prayer, thanksgivings, alms, and other duties of religion, Philippians 4:18 Hebrews 13:15,16 .

1 Peter 2:5 . Fulfilment of the saying, Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it ( John 2:19 ). Christians live to God through Jesus Christ ( Romans 6:11 ). For this development of the figure of building, cf. especially Ephesians 2:20 ff.— οἰκοδομεῖσθε , indicative rather than imperative. “It is remarkable that St. Peter habitually uses the aorist for his imperatives, even when we might expect the present; the only exceptions (two or three) are preceded by words removing all ambiguity, 1 Peter 2:11 ; 1 Peter 2:17 , 1 Peter 4:12 f”. (Hort).— οἶκος … ἅγιον , a spiritual house for an holy priesthood . The connection with priesthood ( Hebrews 10:21 ) and the offering of sacrifices points to the special sense of the House of God, i.e. , the Temple; cf. ( 1 Peter 4:17 ; 1 Timothy 3:5 ) ναὸς ὅς ἐστε ὑμεῖς , 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; Ephesians 2:21 . So Hebrews 3:5 f., οὗ ( Χριστοῦ ) οἶκός ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς …— Ἱεράτευμα , body of priests , in Exodus 19:6 (Heb. priests ) Exodus 23:22 ; 2Ma 2:17 ; 2 Maccabees cf.9 infra . Here Hort prefers the equally legitimate sense, Acts of priesthood . Usage supports the first and only possible etymology the second. The ideal of a national priesthood is realised, Isaiah 61:6 .— ἀνενέγκαι … Χριστοῦ . to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ .— δια Ἰησοῦ Χ . is better taken with ἀν . than εὐπροσδ .; cf. Hebrews 13:15 , διʼ αὐτοῦ , where the thankoffering is singled out as the fit type of the Christian sacrifice.