So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 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.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:1-12
Peter here almost is beginning to sound like Paul. So let’s look at some of the things in this short passage. First definitions.
Malice: Greek word Kakia meaning evil, trouble, wickedness, ill-will, desire to injure, and depravity.
Deceit: Greek word Dolos meaning craft, deceit, guile, subtilty, and trick.
Hypocrisy: Greek word Hupokrisis meaning a reply, answer, and playacting (someone acting under a mask).
Envy: Greek word Phthonos meaning envy, a grudge, and spite. (The miserable trait of being glad when someone experiences misfortune or pain.)
Slander: Greek word Katalaia meaning evil speaking, backbiting, detraction, and slander.
These are the things we need to ‘put away’ from our lives which come so naturally from our human flesh nature. If you ask the Holy Spirit if you have used any of these behaviors in the last week – you might be surprised by His answer. If instances come up – that is your cue to repent.
So what is the “pure spiritual milk” Peter is talking about? These are core components of the relationship with Jesus Christ via the Holy Spirit. They usually center around the ‘simple’ things He is asking you to do in daily obedience disciplines. Prayer / communication constantly with the Holy Spirit within your mind. Acts of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) towards others. Pondering the scriptures He is bringing to your mind to think about. Seeking Him out in deeper ways. In actually doing these things you will find out that the “Lord is good!”
Peter goes on to talk about your ‘identity’ in Christ. A chosen individual, a priest in His kingdom, a possession of Jesus Christ (Bondservant), and a person now walking in the Light. We must constantly remind ourselves who we actually are in Him.
What are sojourners and exiles?
Sojourner: Greek word Parepidemos meaning – literally someone “passing through” but still with a personal relationship with the people of that locale. This is a temporary and active relationship made necessary by circumstances. We are residing in a ‘strange’ country.
Exile: Greek word Paroikos meaning – someone living close to others in a specific locale as a non-citizen with limited rights (identification).
Did you know we are now ‘exiles’ of this earth? That our real home and citizenship is now in His heavenly kingdom? (read Pilgrim’s Progress for further explanation of this concept) Have you ever experienced being an ‘outsider’?
Again Peter urges us to be aware of our natural passions which means to have them under the Self-Control of the Holy Spirit so that our souls will remain healthy. Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit how your natural tendencies could be damaging to your soul?
Lastly Peter describes our current call and our mix within our culture. They still will call you ‘evildoers’ but your deeds and acts will say a whole different thing before God. This actually is happening at an increasing rate these days. More and more those who love Jesus are being called ‘evil’ by those who have rejected God.
If you ‘dig’ into scripture you will find that the Lord is good as the Holy Spirit enlightens your mind with understanding. I’d encourage you to look for this ‘treasure’ every day. This treasure will require your effort of ‘searching and digging’.