Ed Urzi

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

In keeping with his practice throughout this portion of his letter, the Apostle Peter alludes to an Old Testament passage here in verse nine…

“‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:5-6).

Consider how God describes His people within these passages: a chosen generation, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Perhaps we have never thought of ourselves as royalty, but that is how God views His people. Thus, “All that God said of His ancient people may be realized by us in and through Christ.” ₍₁₎

Another source frames this passage in a manner that is highly accessible to modern-day audiences…

“People often base their self-concept on their accomplishments. But our relationship with Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. We have been chosen by God as his very own, and we have been called to represent him to others. Remember that your value comes from being one of God’s children, not from what you can achieve. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.” ₍₂₎

To build upon this idea, let’s envision the various exhibits that one might encounter in a museum…

“It frequently happens that the value of a thing lies in the fact that someone has possessed it. A very ordinary thing acquires a new value, if it has been possessed by some famous person. In any museum we find quite ordinary things–clothes, a walking-stick, a pen, books, pieces of furniture–which are of value only because they were once possessed by some great person. It is so with the Christian. The Christian may be a very ordinary person but he acquires a new value because he belongs to God.” ₍₃₎

In a similar manner, our value is linked to the God who willingly sacrificed the life of His Son and calls us into a royal priesthood. We’ll continue our look at this concept next.

(1) Meyer, Frederick Brotherton. “Commentary on 1 Peter 2”. “F. B. Meyer’s ‘Through the Bible’ Commentary”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/fbm/1-peter-2.html. 1914.

(2) Life Application Study Bible [1 Peter 2:9-10] Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004 by Tyndale House Publishers Inc., all rights reserved.

(3) Barclay, William. William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, “1 Peter 2:1-25, (3) The Glory Of The Church.”

 “…They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:8).

This portion of 1 Peter 2:8 requires us to approach this passage with care in order to avoid reaching a conclusion that is not supported by the text or the Biblical Scriptures as a whole. We can begin our examination of this portion of Scripture with a look at this reference to “stumbling.”

As anyone who has ever fallen over a tripping hazard knows from personal experience, this word describes “those who strike against a stone or other obstacle in the path.” ₍₁₎ Christ is the “obstacle” in this instance, and the tripping hazard is salvation through faith in Him alone. That represents a stumbling block to anyone who seeks to relate to God based on their individual efforts.

The next characteristic given to us is “disobedience to the word.” One source informs us that the literal rendering of “disobedient” in this passage conveys the image of someone who is “non-persuasable.”₍₂₎ Since Jesus’ sinless life, miraculous works, and resurrection from the dead were proofs of His messianic credentials, those who rejected them clearly fell into the “non-persuasable” category.

One source illustrates this idea with two scenes from Jesus’ life…

“When news of the Messiah’s arrival came to the magi in the East, they determined to bring Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But when that same news came to King Herod in Jerusalem, his response was to attempt to kill Him.” ₍₃₎

Nevertheless, it is possible to read this passage and conclude that God appointed such individuals to stumble in this manner. However, a careful reading of this text identifies the actual cause: they were appointed to stumble because they were disobedient to God’s Word. The first action (disobedience to the Word) led to their corresponding appointment. Our final commentator clarifies this idea for us…

“God appoints those who stumble to stumble, because they do not believe. Their disobedience is not what God has ordained, but the penalty of their disobedience (‘stumbling’) is (cf. Acts 2:23; Rom. 11:8, 11, 30-32).” ₍₄₎

This same concept also holds true for us today. Therefore, a person who follows (or presents) a “Jesus” who differs from the Jesus of the Biblical Scriptures is someone who faces a dangerous appointment. In light of this, we must align our view of Christ with the Jesus of the Bible, lest we stumble when we discover Him to be someone who differs from from our perception of Him.

(1) G4350 Proskopto https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4350/kjv/tr/0-1/

(2) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [1 Peter 2:6-10] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

(3) GotQuestions.org, “What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone?” Retrieved 20 October, 2023 from https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Christ-cornerstone.html

(4) J. N. Darby, Synopsis of the Books of the Bible, 5:436; Bigg, p. 133; Marshall, p. 73. Quoted in Notes on 1 Peter 2023 Edition, Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/1peter/1peter.htm

“For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense’…” (1 Peter 2:6-8 ESV).

In addition to its use as a stone that joins two walls together, a cornerstone may also serve as the foundation stone of a building project. The following commentators explain the function of a cornerstone in this regard…

“A cornerstone is the visible support on which the rest of the building relies for strength and stability. Believers trust in Christ much as a building rests on its cornerstone.” ₍₁₎

The ‘corner stone’ refers to the main stone on which the building rests. It does not refer to a modern ‘cornerstone,’ or to the last stone the mason put at the top of the building, the ‘keystone’ (Isa. 28:16; cf. Eph. 2:20). In view of this, it seems that the rock (Gr. petra, a large stone), to which Jesus referred in Matthew 16:18, was not Peter (Gr. Petros, a small stone), but Himself. Jesus, not Peter, much less Judaism, is the Foundation upon which God has promised to build the church (cf. 1 Cor. 3:11).” ₍₂₎

Construction workers in the Biblical era also made use of a cornerstone as an alignment tool to position other stones in a building structure. Today, a 21st century building contractor has an array of electronic tools to ensure that a new building project adheres to an architect’s specification or local building code. But in Peter’s day, a carefully hewn cornerstone was used to measure and adjust the dimensional aspects of a building during the construction process.

That function leads to an easy application from our text here in 1 Peter 2:6-8. Just as the fixed point of an ancient cornerstone served to align the parameters of a newly constructed building, Jesus serves a similar role in our lives. As we prayerfully look to Jesus’ example in the Scriptures, we find the right standard for the choices and decisions we have to make over the course of our daily lives.

It is in this manner that we can “…set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 CSB).

(1) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary, note on 1 Peter 2:6 pg. 845

(2) Constable, Thomas. DD, Notes on 1 Peter 2023 Edition “3. Building on Christ 2:6-8” [2:6] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/1peter/1peter.htm

“Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense’…” (1 Peter 2:6-8).

It should hardly come as a surprise to find that Peter turned to the idea of “Christ as a cornerstone” here within this passage. After all, this is not the first time Peter has used this imagery.

For instance, Acts chapter three relates the account of a disabled man who looked to Peter and the Apostle John for a charitable offering. In response. Peter said, “…’Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk'” (Acts 3:6). Following that miraculous healing, the local religious authorities took Peter and John into custody. When those authorities questioned the Apostles over what had taken place, Peter responded in the following manner…

“If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:9-12).

If Peter thought enough of this word-picture to use it in his sermons and writings, then we should take the time to study and apply it as well. For example, a cornerstone serves many functions. Just as the name implies, the work of a cornerstone often involves joining two walls together. In this respect, Jesus is the cornerstone of all who place their faith in Him. He is the one who joins us all together, no matter where we come from.

On the other hand, Jesus had also became “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” for the religious authorities who arrested Peter and John in Acts chapter three. The same holds true for many today. This stands in stark contrast to those who accept Christ in faith, for they “…are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God’s people and members of God’s family. You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20 GW).

“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

The work of a stonemason often serves as a critical element in the building construction process. For instance, various forms of stonework serve a decorative function that brings beauty and character to an office or residence. In other instances, a stonemason or bricklayer is responsible for establishing a wall or foundation that supports other portions of a building.

With this in mind, let’s consider the work that involves the construction of a brick wall. This process does not involve a terribly complicated procedure; the mason adds a layer of brick, secures it with mortar, checks to ensure that the layer is plumb and level, and then repeats the process with another layer. This procedure lacks complexity because bricks are inanimate objects that generally stay where we put them, sometimes for centuries.

But what if the contractor in our illustration is working with living stones? In other words, what if our stonemason is dealing with bricks that interact with the other bricks that are placed above, below, or alongside? In that instance, the work of our mason becomes much more complex. The same is true of the relationship of every stone to every other stone within the building.

This serves to describe those who are “…being built up into a spiritual house” (AMP) as we’re told here in 1 Peter 2:5. Fortunately, the foundation for these living stones is a cornerstone that has been rejected by the world but is chosen and honored by God. That cornerstone of our “spiritual house” is Christ. He serves as our foundation and the example for our relationship with the other living stones that comprise the household of God

Therefore, we must determine how we will integrate with these other living stones as we look to Christ as our example. Since a house divided against itself cannot stand, we should ensure that we are not the cause of such division.

Nevertheless, we should not be surprised if God chooses to position us near other living stones who challenge us in different ways. Some of those living stones may help us develop the qualities of patience, charity, or graciousness. Others serve to grind down the rough edges of our personalities. We may serve similar purposes in the lives of others as well. Thus, we have an encouraging reminder from Colossians 3:13…

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:12-13 NLT).

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:4).

It seems that life is full of ironies. For example, the race isn’t always won by the fastest runner, recognition doesn’t always come to the most talented person, and the best team doesn’t always win the championship. In Romans chapter nine, Paul the Apostle noted another irony that relates to our text from 1 Peter 2:4: God had been found by those who weren’t looking for Him, while God’s chosen people had largely failed to recognize Him (see Romans 9:30-32).

How did such a thing occur? Well, Paul provides us with that answer…

“…they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, ‘I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced'” (Romans 9:32-33 NLT).

So the message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ impeded those who sought to approach God through their own efforts. Those who preferred to approach God on their own terms thus rejected God’s plan for their salvation. Then there were others who dismissed Jesus for other reasons…

“Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense” (1 Corinthians 1:21-23 NLT).

Therefore, the Scriptures offer some important counsel for those who build their foundation upon the living, chosen, precious stone that is Christ…

“…no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames” (1 Corinthians 3:11–15 NLT).

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious” (1 Peter 2:4).

The construction of a new building generally starts with an idea in the mind of an architect. The architect then transfers that concept to a set of design prints for review, approval, and construction. That process also serves to illustrate God’s personal building program as described over the next few verses of 1 Peter chapter two.

Here in verse four, our author will return to the archives of God’s building department, so to speak. Those archives are embodied in the Old Testament Scriptures and serve to facilitate our understanding of God’s building program. For instance, every new building rests upon a foundation. In a similar manner, this verse identifies the foundation of God’s building program: “You are coming to Christ, the living stone…” (GW).

In searching through the Old Testament archives of God’s building department, we also find a reference that describes the characteristic quality of that foundation…

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken'” (Isaiah 28:16).

However, those archives also contain some references to certain building contractors as well…

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22).

“God will become a sanctuary— but he will be a stone to trip over and a rock to stumble on for the two houses of Israel; a trap and a snare for those living in Jerusalem. Many of them will stumble and fall, and be broken, snared, and captured” (Isaiah 8:14-15 CEB).

Jesus made use of those Scriptures in speaking of Himself in a parable that is recorded for us in Luke 20:9-19. Unfortunately, a portion of Jesus’ audience for that parable consisted of those who exemplified the individuals who appear in these excerpts from the Book of Psalms and the prophet Isaiah. Those who heard Jesus’ message had an opportunity to respond by making the necessary changes that would bring them into alignment with God’s design. Instead, they chose to respond in a different manner…

“The legal experts and chief priests wanted to arrest him right then because they knew he had told this parable against them. But they feared the people” (Luke 20:19 CEB).

In light of these things, one source leaves us with an important reminder…

“If we are going to be used in God’s building program we must come to Christ. Our only suitability to be building materials is derived from our identification with Him.” ₍₁₎

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [pg. 2258]

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

This passage offers the first of several analogies (or comparisons) that appear here in 1 Peter chapter two. The first of these analogies serves to encourage us to develop an appetite for the Word of God. Just as milk is essential to the growth and development of an infant, the consumption of God’s Word is essential in nourishing our spiritual development.

However, we should also note the reference to purity within this passage. Milk that is tainted or diluted cannot nourish us properly. In the same way, we should recognize that books, videos, or messages pertaining to spiritual matters should never serve as a substitute for God’s Word, no matter how helpful they seem.

This offers several important considerations for today. For instance…

• Spiritual messages that consistently revolve around the speaker’s subject of interest cannot (and should not) substitute for the verse-by-verse study of God’s Word.
• A ministry that specializes in a specific area of Biblical doctrine should not regard their area of expertise as the only valid measure of legitimate spiritual belief. Such expertise does not negate the validity of other Biblically-grounded perspectives.
• A book, video, or spiritual message that simply purports to help us live happier or more successful lives may fail to represent the “…pure milk of the word” as quoted above.

These considerations should lead us to ask some important questions:

• Do we spend more time engaging with books, videos, or messages that explore various spiritual themes rather than the Bible itself?
• Do our devotional readings primarily consist of topical messages that are supplemented with a small selection of Bible verses?
• Are the sermons at my place of worship devoid of Biblical content, or feature minimal references to the Scriptures?

Devotional studies and the acquisition of spiritual knowledge are valuable and necessary pursuits. But if we follow those pursuits to the exclusion of the Scriptures (or carefully selected commentaries that help us understand the Scriptures better), we ultimately do ourselves a disservice. It is crucial to have a working knowledge of God’s Word in order to interpret it correctly. For this reason, we should seek to read and study the Biblical Scriptures for ourselves.

While some Biblical texts may seem dull or repetitive, those portions of Scripture are comparable to the meals we might consume over the course of a week. Even though we may not recall the specifics of those meals, they still provided us with nourishment. The same is true of the Word of God in our spiritual lives.

“So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech” (1 Peter 2:1 NLT).

When faced with the natural inclination to strike back against those who hurt us, it is often difficult to respond in a manner that aligns with the admonition given to us here in 1 Peter 2:1. Whenever we struggle with the desire to engage in such behaviors (or others like them), it is important to be honest with God concerning such things as we seek His help to overcome them. Since “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13), honesty is the best policy in this area.

In addition, there are two important Scriptures that should influence our thinking on this subject…

“If we’ve become united with him in a death like his, certainly we will also be united with him when we come back to life as he did. We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin. The person who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:5-7 GW).

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24 NIV).

We can overcome the inappropriate and unhealthy behaviors listed here in 1 Peter 2:1 when we recognize that they have been crucified with Christ. Thus, we can acknowledge that Jesus has carried those sinful attitudes and behaviors into death.

Nevertheless, we should also remember that death by crucifixion was often slow and agonizing. Those who were subjected to crucifixion might live for several days before they succumbed to death on the cross. The same could said of the inappropriate attitudes and behaviors that once defined our lives as well. Much like the physical act of crucifixion, the crucifixion of our old nature may involve a painful and difficult process that occurs over time.

Therefore, the Scriptures offer us a warning and a promise…

“So then, my friends, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Those who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children” (Romans 8:12-14 GNT).

“So rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander” (1 Peter 2:1 HCSB).

Have you ever had someone lie about you behind your back? Have you ever encountered a situation in which someone appeared friendly but secretly tried to undermine you? Have you ever had someone speak to you in a courteous manner but talk very differently about you when they were engaged with others? These examples all represent various forms of slander.

Slander involves the intentional communication of a false statement that is designed to injure another person’s reputation. It signals an attitude of contempt and/or disrespect for someone else. Slander is the oldest form of character defamation and traces its origin back to the Garden of Eden. Consider the serpent’s interaction with Eve concerning the forbidden fruit in Genesis chapter three…

“…the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…'” (Genesis 3:2-5).

That represented a false statement that was intended to damage God’s reputation, for it implied that He had not been truthful in His earlier warning.

From there, we move from the first book of the Bible to the last book of the Bible to consider Jesus’ letter to the ancient church at Smyrna. In Revelation chapter two, we learn that the Christians in the town of Smyrna were suffering from the slanderous opposition of others. In His message to the church there, Jesus assured His followers that He was aware of the situation and identified the root cause as well…

“I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9b NET).

Unfortunately, the individuals who were slandering the Christians in Smyrna were people who appeared to be spiritual, but actually had more in common with the devil than with God. That brings us to the following observation…

“There is a sense in which slander is the most cruel of all sins. If a man’s goods are stolen, he can set to and build up his fortunes again; but if his good name is taken away, irreparable damage has been done.” ₍₁₎

(1) Barclay, William. William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible, “The Qualities Of Godlessness (2Ti_3:2-5 continued)”