Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 2:1-3”
Categories: First Peter“Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”
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Since Christians are born again when they obey the Gospel, God expects us to arise from the grave of baptism to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). Peter urges us to leave the old, dead person of sin behind—to strip the old, sinful way of life off like a dirty shirt and fling it far away from us (verse 1). This can be a very difficult challenge for people who have lived their whole adult lives steeped in the ways of the world, and especially if their futile way of life was inherited from their predecessors (1 Peter 1:18). But if we are going to “fervently love one another from the heart” that is pure (1 Peter 1:22), we must cast aside those things that only incite disharmony within the body of Christ.
Our disposition must be free from the presence of “malice”. Malice is a “vicious character” of heart that, for no good reason, only wishes misfortune upon other people. Like our Savior, there should be no “deceit” or “deceptive treachery” found in our mouths (1 Peter 2:22). We must not be hypocrites who serve others with ulterior motives or who only make a pretense of holiness. We should not “envy” other people for what they have, but love them for who they are. And we must be careful to not verbally abuse others with a slanderous tongue and a hateful heart, but rather build them up and encourage them.
So how do we cast off the old, malicious, sinful self and “put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Colossians 3:10)? In a word: EFFORT! By spending much time in prayer. By spending much time in worship and fellowship with brethren. And by spending much time in “the word” (verse 2). People who have experienced a rebirth in Christ must develop a strong craving for “the pure milk of the word, so that by it” they “may grow.” This is especially true for babes in Christ and also important for Christians of every level of spiritual development. But if we “have tasted the kindness of the Lord” (verse 3), it should be easy to heighten our spiritual appetites for an even closer and stronger life in Him.
Please read 1 Peter 2:4-8 for tomorrow.
Happy first day of September!
-Louie Taylor
