1Peter:2

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* Verse 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 . mhcc @1Peter:2:11 ,12 @ Verse 11 ,12 - Even the best of men , the chosen generation , the people of God , need to be exhorted to keep from the worst sins . And fleshly lusts are most destructive to man 's soul . It is a sore judgment to be given up to them . There is a day of visitation coming , wherein God may call to repentance by his word and his grace ; then many will glorify God , and the holy lives of his people will have promoted the happy change . * Verse 13-17 - A Christian conversation must be honest ; which it cannot be , if there is not a just and careful discharge of all relative duties : the apostle here treats of these distinctly . Regard to those duties is the will of God , consequently , the Christian 's duty , and the way to silence the base slanders of ignorant and foolish men . Christians must endeavour , in all relations , to behave aright , that they do not make their liberty a cloak or covering for any wickedness , or for the neglect of duty ; but they must remember that they are servants of God . * Verse 18-25 - Servants in those days generally were slaves , and had heathen masters , who often used them cruelly ; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence , with a fear to dishonour or offend God . And not only to those pleased with reasonable service , but to the severe , and those angry without cause . The sinful misconduct of one relation , does not justify sinful behaviour in the other ; the servant is bound to do his duty , though the master may be sinfully froward and perverse . But masters should be meek and gentle to their servants and inferiors . What glory or distinction could it be , for professed Christians to be patient when corrected for their faults ? But if when they behaved well they were ill treated by proud and passionate heathen masters , yet bore it without peevish complaints , or purposes of revenge , and persevered in their duty , this would be acceptable to God as a distinguishing effect of his grace , and would be rewarded by him . Christ 's death was designed not only for an example of patience under sufferings , but he bore our sins ; he bore the punishment of them , and thereby satisfied Divine justice . Hereby he takes them away from us . The fruits of Christ 's sufferings are the death of sin , and a new holy life of righteousness ; for both which we have an example , and powerful motives , and ability to perform also , from the death and resurrection of Christ . And our justification ; Christ was bruised and crucified as a sacrifice for our sins , and by his stripes the diseases of our souls are cured . Here is man 's sin ; he goes astray ; it is his own act . His misery ; he goes astray from the pasture , from the Shepherd , and from the flock , and so exposes himself to dangers without number . Here is the recovery by conversion ; they are now returned as the effect of Divine grace . This return is , from all their errors and wanderings , to Christ . Sinners , before their conversion , are always going astray ; their life is a continued error . Henry ' _1__3 **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary **** _

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