Free Bible Commentary
“First Peter 2:4-8”
Categories: First Peter“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.’ This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.”
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Peter (the rock) describes Jesus as a “living stone,” “a choice stone,” “a precious corner stone,” and a “stone of stumbling”. Christ is “the Rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4) of providence and strength who shelters and protects God’s people and has established a dwelling place for them greater than any earthly temple. Jesus said of the holy temple in Jerusalem that “not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down” (Matthew 24:2). All earthly structures will ultimately meet the same doom as Herod’s temple when it was destroyed in 70 AD, but Christ has been set as the “precious corner stone” for a spiritual structure (His church) that the Gates of Hades could not prevail against and that neither time nor hostility can overthrow.
Even though Jesus was rejected by men, He is “choice” and “precious” in the sight of His Father in Heaven. It is also precious in the sight of the Lord when we come to Him (verse 4) and remain rock-steady and steadfast even as we “endure various trials” (1 Peter 1:6) and temptations. God has also imbedded His children as “living stones” in His “spiritual house” and established them as a “holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to” Him (verse 5). Earthly stones are lifeless and mindless building materials, but the stones in Yahweh’s temple are living and vibrant and flourishing together as a holy sanctuary. We are simultaneously the dwelling place of God and the priests that offer up worship and praise to His holy name and ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).
Friend, to disbelieve (verse 7) or choose to be “disobedient to the word” (verse 8) is to reject the Living Stone who died for you. If you are not “coming to Him” (verse 4) you are kicking against Him and stumbling over Him. “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction” and God knew in advance that most would choose to “enter through it” (Matthew 7:13). He has “appointed” certain “doom” for those who select the highway to Hell over the narrow way to salvation. As surely as heaven is the inheritance of the faithful (1:4), eternal misery awaits those who spurn the Lord’s overtures of grace and love.
Please read 1 Peter 2:9-12 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
