1 Peter 1:24-25 All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Peter quoted the prophet Isaiah to emphasize the enduring nature of God’s word compared to people. Like flowers that bloom and fade, the best and brightest come and go. But the word of God endures forever.
There’s no lack of intelligent people who disregard God’s word and persuade others it’s not true. Many have died, however, and the rest will surely follow. But the word of God which they despise continues to be the most influential book ever written. No education is complete, in fact, without a thorough knowledge of the Bible because of its massive historical influence. More important by far, it is the word of God.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
One of the best indicators of spiritual vitality is a craving for God’s word. Peter’s readers were born again through God’s word (1 Peter 1:23), and he wanted them to grow up through God’s word. Feeding on God’s word is essential to spiritual growth.
A young man was the coolest kid in his class. He was smart, funny, wealthy and from a prominent family. He could’ve done almost anything, but he didn’t want to go to college, learn a trade, or even get a job. He just wanted to play with his friends and live at home with his parents. On his thirty-fifth birthday his parents put all his possessions by the road, and changed the locks on their doors, in a desperate attempt to help him grow up.
Many who believe in Jesus Christ refuse to grow up in their salvation, but this isn’t pleasing to our heavenly Father. We must feast on God’s word, and do what it says, to make our Father proud. The moment we believe in Jesus Christ it’s time to grow up in him.
1 Peter 2:5 [Y]ou also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.
The temple was the dwelling place of God in the Old Testament, but the church is the dwelling place of God in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 3:16). Whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they become a living stone, connected to all God’s people throughout history.
Like the temple of God in the Old Testament, the stones are being prepared off site. In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built (1 Kings 6:7). Christians are prepared down here, to be assembled up there. The chisel, hammer and saw aren’t always pleasant, but God is using our pain to fit us for heaven.
1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone.
Christians are often despised for their faith, but we aren’t allowed to despise others. Peter insists that we show proper respect to everyone. In fact, Christians ought to be the most respectful people in the world because we believe that everyone is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). To disrespect those who are made in God’s image is to disrespect God himself.
One lady died in a convenience store and the last thing she saw was people stepping over her to finish their shopping. Three times she tried to get up, but no one cared or showed concern. Some even took pictures, but no one bothered to call for help. In a culture of disrespect, Christians ought to shine by showing proper respect to everyone.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.
What would it be like to carry the weight of your own sins, plus the weight of your family’s sins, plus the weight of your friends’ sins? We would surely collapse! Our offenses and sins weigh us down (Ezekiel 33:10), wrote Ezekiel. And the greater our sins, the more they seem to weigh.
As Jesus hung on the cross he bore the sins of the world, so that whoever believes in him could be saved (John 3:16). By taking our sins on himself, Jesus took them off our backs so we could be relieved of their burden. If your sins are weighing you down, you can lighten your load by giving them to Christ. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.
1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.
Some of the women in the early church were concerned for their unbelieving husbands. Instead of giving them lectures, or making them feel guilty, Peter instructed Christian wives to win their husbands to Christ through submission and godly behavior.
Submission is out of style today, but most men will be less threatened by their wive’s religion if it improves their marriage. A submissive and godly wife won’t always convert her husband, but at least she’ll improve their relationship. And many husbands have been converted through the godly submission of their wives.
1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Peter is drawing on a more extensive passage from the prophet Isaiah. The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald. In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls (Isaiah 3:16-23), he wrote.
Fashion isn’t anything new, and women often focus on outward beauty rather than inward beauty. Outward beauty is praised by the world, but it’s not important to God. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Too much fashion can even corrupt the church.
When I was growing up, the Lord’s Supper was served at the front of the church, and people got in line to receive it. Since everyone watched everyone else pass by, many of the ladies got dressed up. I was so impressed by the hair, shoes, jewelry and makeup that, by adolescence, this was my favorite part of the service. Peter may’ve noticed this pattern, and wanted it to stop. Women shouldn’t neglect their appearance, but neither should they flaunt it.
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner.
Peter wanted Christian men to treat their wives respectfully, but then he referred to them as the weaker partner. My wife doesn’t like being called the weaker partner because, in some ways, she’s stronger than I am. She needs less sleep, has more energy, and is able to work longer hours. But she’s not as strong physically, or emotionally, so I need to be considerate in those areas.
The difference between husbands and wives can be compared to coffee cups. Men are like mugs, and women are like fine china. Fine china is precious, and if you treat it like a mug it’ll break. A wise husband will treat his wife like the treasure she is, and he’ll be happier for it.
Reflection and Review
Why do some believers refuse to grow up in their salvation?
Why should wives submit to their husbands?
How should husbands respect their wives?
Peter quoted the prophet Isaiah to emphasize the enduring nature of God’s word compared to people. Like flowers that bloom and fade, the best and brightest come and go. But the word of God endures forever.
There’s no lack of intelligent people who disregard God’s word and persuade others it’s not true. Many have died, however, and the rest will surely follow. But the word of God which they despise continues to be the most influential book ever written. No education is complete, in fact, without a thorough knowledge of the Bible because of its massive historical influence. More important by far, it is the word of God.
1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
One of the best indicators of spiritual vitality is a craving for God’s word. Peter’s readers were born again through God’s word (1 Peter 1:23), and he wanted them to grow up through God’s word. Feeding on God’s word is essential to spiritual growth.
A young man was the coolest kid in his class. He was smart, funny, wealthy and from a prominent family. He could’ve done almost anything, but he didn’t want to go to college, learn a trade, or even get a job. He just wanted to play with his friends and live at home with his parents. On his thirty-fifth birthday his parents put all his possessions by the road, and changed the locks on their doors, in a desperate attempt to help him grow up.
Many who believe in Jesus Christ refuse to grow up in their salvation, but this isn’t pleasing to our heavenly Father. We must feast on God’s word, and do what it says, to make our Father proud. The moment we believe in Jesus Christ it’s time to grow up in him.
1 Peter 2:5 [Y]ou also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.
The temple was the dwelling place of God in the Old Testament, but the church is the dwelling place of God in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 3:16). Whenever someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ, they become a living stone, connected to all God’s people throughout history.
Like the temple of God in the Old Testament, the stones are being prepared off site. In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built (1 Kings 6:7). Christians are prepared down here, to be assembled up there. The chisel, hammer and saw aren’t always pleasant, but God is using our pain to fit us for heaven.
1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone.
Christians are often despised for their faith, but we aren’t allowed to despise others. Peter insists that we show proper respect to everyone. In fact, Christians ought to be the most respectful people in the world because we believe that everyone is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). To disrespect those who are made in God’s image is to disrespect God himself.
One lady died in a convenience store and the last thing she saw was people stepping over her to finish their shopping. Three times she tried to get up, but no one cared or showed concern. Some even took pictures, but no one bothered to call for help. In a culture of disrespect, Christians ought to shine by showing proper respect to everyone.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.
What would it be like to carry the weight of your own sins, plus the weight of your family’s sins, plus the weight of your friends’ sins? We would surely collapse! Our offenses and sins weigh us down (Ezekiel 33:10), wrote Ezekiel. And the greater our sins, the more they seem to weigh.
As Jesus hung on the cross he bore the sins of the world, so that whoever believes in him could be saved (John 3:16). By taking our sins on himself, Jesus took them off our backs so we could be relieved of their burden. If your sins are weighing you down, you can lighten your load by giving them to Christ. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.
1 Peter 3:1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.
Some of the women in the early church were concerned for their unbelieving husbands. Instead of giving them lectures, or making them feel guilty, Peter instructed Christian wives to win their husbands to Christ through submission and godly behavior.
Submission is out of style today, but most men will be less threatened by their wive’s religion if it improves their marriage. A submissive and godly wife won’t always convert her husband, but at least she’ll improve their relationship. And many husbands have been converted through the godly submission of their wives.
1 Peter 3:3-4 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Peter is drawing on a more extensive passage from the prophet Isaiah. The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, strutting along with swaying hips, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald. In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls (Isaiah 3:16-23), he wrote.
Fashion isn’t anything new, and women often focus on outward beauty rather than inward beauty. Outward beauty is praised by the world, but it’s not important to God. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Too much fashion can even corrupt the church.
When I was growing up, the Lord’s Supper was served at the front of the church, and people got in line to receive it. Since everyone watched everyone else pass by, many of the ladies got dressed up. I was so impressed by the hair, shoes, jewelry and makeup that, by adolescence, this was my favorite part of the service. Peter may’ve noticed this pattern, and wanted it to stop. Women shouldn’t neglect their appearance, but neither should they flaunt it.
1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner.
Peter wanted Christian men to treat their wives respectfully, but then he referred to them as the weaker partner. My wife doesn’t like being called the weaker partner because, in some ways, she’s stronger than I am. She needs less sleep, has more energy, and is able to work longer hours. But she’s not as strong physically, or emotionally, so I need to be considerate in those areas.
The difference between husbands and wives can be compared to coffee cups. Men are like mugs, and women are like fine china. Fine china is precious, and if you treat it like a mug it’ll break. A wise husband will treat his wife like the treasure she is, and he’ll be happier for it.
Reflection and Review
Why do some believers refuse to grow up in their salvation?
Why should wives submit to their husbands?
How should husbands respect their wives?